The initiative celebrates its third edition with the participation of five schools from inland areas of the province of Castellón

The cross-country tracks at Universitat Jaume I hosted this morning the final event of Penyagolosa a l’Escola, where 600 primary school students took part in a non-competitive race with distances adapted to their age — 400, 600 and 800 metres — in a shared and safe environment.

Beyond today’s event, Penyagolosa a l’Escola is a project that runs throughout the entire school year, with the aim of bringing sport and nature closer to younger generations from an educational perspective.

In this regard, the programme is developed in the classroom through a multidisciplinary approach, integrating different areas of knowledge such as physical education, environmental studies, arts, music and language, always using the territory and the MiM and CSP routes as a common thread.

As the central element of this edition, participating schools have jointly created an educational comic featuring Pele and Grina as main characters, telling their journey along the MiM and CSP routes through the different municipalities that form part of the course. This work has allowed students to interpret the territory from a creative and narrative perspective. The project will be published soon, continuing the work carried out throughout the school year.

This third edition has included participation from CEIP l’Hereu (Borriol), CEIP Sant Miquel (Vilafamés), CEIP Sant Joan de Moró, CRA Penyagolosa — comprising Les Useres, Atzeneta and Vistabella — and CRA l’Aiguaneu, with students from Catí, Culla, Torre d’en Besora and Vilar de Canes.

The director of FUGA Penyagolosa Trails, Tico Cervera, highlighted the key role of teachers: “Since the first edition, the role of teachers has been fundamental. They have been able to work on the project throughout the year in the classroom, adapt it across different subjects and integrate it into everyday education beyond the sporting aspect.”

The programme, which was launched in 2024 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Marató i Mitja (MiM), has evolved in just three editions to become a consolidated educational initiative within the region, with the support of the Diputación de Castellón and the Comunitat de l’Esport, both of which have backed its growth from the beginning.

In this context, the Provincial Deputy for Sports of the Diputación de Castellón, Iván Sánchez, stated that:
“Penyagolosa a l’Escola is a clear example of how sport can be integrated into education to convey values such as effort, teamwork and respect, while connecting younger generations with their territory.”

Meanwhile, the Director of the Sports Service at Universitat Jaume I, Carlos Hernando, emphasised that:
“This project demonstrates the potential of sport as a global educational tool, capable of integrating different areas of knowledge and generating meaningful experiences for students.”

Penyagolosa a l’Escola opens the week of FUGA Penyagolosa Trails, which will conclude on Saturday, April 18, with the celebration of its main races.