Owners and their canine companions can lace up their running shoes as the popular ‘Can We Run’ event returns to Santa Coloma de Gramenet. The family-friendly race will take place on May 17 at the scenic Parc Fluvial del Besòs, with registration now officially open for all who wish to run or walk alongside their pets for a good cause.
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First held in 2017, this popular event has since gathered thousands of participants across Spanish cities, including Palma, Málaga, and Zaragoza. Now back in the Barcelona metropolitan area, it aims to promote a trio of core values: physical activity for both humans and animals, responsible pet ownership, and community solidarity. Organisers hope to surpass the approximately 500 registrations from last year’s edition.
A Race for a Cause
Crucially, a significant part of the event’s mission is its charitable component. According to the organisers, 30% of all registration fees will be donated to Veu Animal, a non-profit animal protection association. Founded in Santa Coloma in February 2002 by a group of local volunteers, the organisation works to protect the rights of animals, care for abandoned dogs, and find them new, permanent homes.
The funds raised directly support the charity’s efforts in providing essential care and medical attention to animals in need. This focus on local welfare drives the event, organised by media outlets El Periódico and Sport.
How to Participate
Prospective participants can sign up via the official registration form, as reported by El Periódico. Designed to be inclusive, the event offers two distinct categories to suit different fitness levels. More serious athletes can opt for the 6-kilometre ‘runner’ course, while those preferring a gentler pace can join the 3-kilometre ‘march’ or walk.
Participants may bring up to two dogs. The event welcomes adults, minors, and families, ensuring broad community appeal. The chosen venue, the Parc Fluvial del Besòs, offers a flat and accessible course, making it an ideal setting. The park is a major green space for Santa Coloma de Gramenet, an area which has recently seen other ambitious public amenity proposals, such as a planned metropolitan thermal spa.
A Community Effort
A coalition of public and private entities backs the event. The Ayuntamiento de Santa Coloma de Gramenet provides institutional sponsorship, underscoring the city’s support for community and animal welfare initiatives. The race is also part of wider efforts to improve and highlight the Besòs area, which has been the subject of significant urban renewal discussions, including a €15 million housing regeneration plan and debates over funding for the Besòs tram connection.
Corporate sponsors for the 2026 event include Aena, BonÀrea, Eurofitness, Josera, Trixie, Musky, Galerías del Tresillo, and Ownat. In addition, the race receives support from collaborators Rucan, Canitas, Viladrau, and the Club d’Agility Ciutat Comtal. This broad support highlights a collective commitment to fostering a healthy, active community for residents and their pets, a trend also seen in the city’s vibrant fitness scene, which recently saw an H&M Move collection launch with a top local designer.
