🇪🇨Quito, Ecuador
Maratón de Quito
Oct 18, 2026
Distance
42.2 km
Elevation gain
450 m
Terrain
Road
Entry type
Open entry
PB potential
Extremely challenging — focus on finishing, not a PB
Beginner friendly
Better suited to experienced runners
About this race
Quito's marathon is among the most physically demanding urban road marathons on earth. The course runs through and around the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town at 2,850m above sea level — among the highest marathon courses in the world outside of mountain races. The 450m of elevation gain compounds the altitude challenge, with climbs through Quito's steep volcanic hillside neighbourhoods. October is the dry season — temperatures of 12–18°C feel moderate but the altitude demands enormous physiological adaptation. For acclimatised Andean runners, this is a beautiful race through one of South America's most magnificent colonial cities; for unacclimatised runners, it's an extreme undertaking. The reward: cobblestone colonial streets, flower-draped balconies, and the volcanic peaks of Pichincha looming overhead.
Typical race-day weather
Temperature
11–18°C
Humidity
55–70%
Conditions
Andean dry season — deceptively cool but severely altitude-affected
Wind
10–20 km/h Andean gusts
Pace Band
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