Maratón Capital Guanajuato
The Lowdown
Maratón Capital (Capital Maratón) is held in Guanajuato Capital, the historic colonial city in the highlands of Guanajuato, Mexico, with its start and finish at the central Plaza de la Paz. The event has grown over consecutive editions into a popular winter race on the Mexican calendar, offering 42K marathon, 21K half marathon, and 10K distances. Runners take on the demanding, scenic terrain of one of Mexico's most picturesque cities, winding past landmarks such as the Basílica Colegiata, the Teatro Juárez, and the iconic callejones and plazas of the Centro Histórico. The III Edición was held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, starting at 06:00, with a participant cap of 3,500 and a prize purse for top finishers. Organized through the Marcate registration platform, the race emphasizes a festive city-center atmosphere and a challenging course through Guanajuato's hilly, cobblestoned colonial core.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Plaza de la Paz
Central plaza in Guanajuato's Centro Histórico, the official start and finish of the race
Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato
Iconic yellow baroque basilica facing Plaza de la Paz
Teatro Juárez
Landmark neoclassical theater in the city center near the route
Centro Histórico de Guanajuato
UNESCO World Heritage colonial core of plazas, callejones, and cobbled streets
Universidad de Guanajuato
Distinctive monumental staircase landmark in the historic center
Túneles de Guanajuato
Network of underground tunnels characteristic of the city
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
MX
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Must be at least 18 years old on race day to register for the full marathon
- All participants must complete online registration and sign the race waiver
- Photo ID required to pick up race bib and packet
- Participants with pre-existing medical conditions are advised to obtain medical clearance before racing
- No headphones that impede race marshal/traffic instructions are allowed (earbuds with open-ear designs may be permitted at organizer discretion)
- Strollers, pets, and inline skates are not permitted on the marathon course
- Participants must obey all race rules, traffic control, and marshal directions
- Wheelchair and handcycle athletes must register in the appropriate division and notify race officials in advance
- All runners must finish within the official course time limit to receive an official finish time and medal
- Bibs are non-transferable; transferring a bib may result in disqualification and bans from future events
Required Documents
- Government-issued Photo ID
- Signed Race Waiver / Liability Release
- Proof of Age (birth certificate or photo ID)
- Emergency Contact Information
Entry Methods
- Online Registration (Marcate platform / maratoncapital.com)
- OXXO / Bank Deposit Payment
- In-person Registration during packet pickup (subject to availability)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Full refund until 30 days before race
50% refund until 14 days before race
No refund within 14 days of race start
Bib transfer to another runner allowed until 7 days before race with a MXN 200 administrative fee
Deferral to the 2027 edition permitted until 7 days before race with a MXN 200 processing fee
If the event is canceled by organizers due to force majeure, option for full refund or automatic deferral to next edition
Maratón Capital starts and finishes at Plaza de la Paz in Guanajuato Capital's Centro Histórico, on a challenging course through the city's hilly, colonial terrain.
The race offers 42K marathon, 21K half marathon, and 10K distances, with a participant cap of 3,500 (cupo limitado).
Race day starts at 06:00; participants are asked to arrive by 05:30. Packet pickup (entrega de paquetes) is the day before, 09:00–18:00.
Registration is handled through the Marcate platform; online card payments add a 10% surcharge over the listed MXN price.
The III Edición (2026) featured a prize purse of approximately $205,000 MXN for top overall and category finishers.
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