Cros Popular Concello de Carballo

The Cros Popular Concello de Carballo is a cross-country race launched in 2026 by Carballo town council through its sports department, Carballo Deporte. The town, capital of the Bergantiños district in A Coruña province, lies on the edge of the Costa da Morte and has a long spa tradition centred on its thermal baths beside the River Anllóns. The race is on the official calendar of the Galician Athletics Federation as a regional-level event. It is held on a Saturday afternoon in early November, the day after a schools' cross-country race, taking over from it for teenagers and adults.

The race is run on a loop of about one kilometre laid out in the green area of the Bértoa business park, north of the town centre. Runners complete five full laps, making 5 km, with a single start at 16:45. The course is fully closed to the public and to vehicles from thirty minutes before the start, and runners must stay within the marked area or risk disqualification. The lapped format lets friends and family follow the race without moving and helps runners judge their effort from one lap to the next.

The race is open to everyone from the under-18 category upwards. Seniors, masters and under-18s run together, and athletes with disabilities join the race that best suits their needs. The 45-minute time limit works out at roughly 9 minutes per kilometre, leaving plenty of margin for joggers and newcomers to cross-country. Entry is capped at 500 runners.

Trophies go to the top three women and men overall and in the senior, masters and under-18 categories; an under-16 category may be added depending on entries. There is also a men's and a women's team ranking for teams of four to six runners, with the best four scoring. Officiating is provided by the Galician federation's panel of judges, and timing is by chip. The prize-giving is scheduled for 17:45.

Bibs and chips can be collected in advance from the reception desk at the Vila de Noia sports complex, on the day before from 10:00 to 22:30 and on race day from 10:00 to 13:00, or at the race office up to thirty minutes before the start, on presentation of ID. Pacers on bikes, pushchairs and dogs are not allowed on the course. Entries are made online and close a few days before the race.