20 · Ciudad de México, Mexico

The Mexico City Marathon

Run from UNAM to the Zócalo through the capital's monumental spine.

Road runningRoad raceRace coursePENDIENTE
42.2 kmDistanceHarderSite gradeMexico CityNearest base

Site grade

HarderSuggested · Book difficulty: PENDIENTE

Certified marathon distance compounded by altitude, weather, crowding and city-scale logistics.

The experience

The course begins at altitude and asks for patience through weather, crowding and scale.

The official event call describes a 42,195-metre course certified and homologated by Mexican and international bodies.

The course connects university grounds, monumental avenues and the historic civic center.

Where the sources disagreeRoute, closures and operations change by edition; this is the managed race, not open-road replication.

Trail path

The line
you follow.

StartAvenida Insurgentes Sur beside UNAM Ciudad UniversitariaFinishZócaloDirectionNorthbound point-to-point race course
  1. 01UNAM
  2. 02Reforma
  3. 03Chapultepec
  4. 04Centro Histórico
  5. 05Zócalo

Route sections

01 · The University StartUNAM to southern avenues
Leave Ciudad Universitaria into broad southern corridors.02 · The Long CitySouthern avenues to Chapultepec
Move through major boulevards toward the central park.03 · The Monumental MiddleChapultepec to Centro Histórico
Landmarks and accumulated distance reshape the rhythm.04 · The Plaza FinishCentro Histórico to Zócalo
Finish at the historic civic center.

Weather profile

What the sky
is likely to do.

High-altitude urban weather with sun, rain risk, cool starts and open-avenue exposure.

Season & timing

Managed seasonAnnual race weekend; confirm current editionBest windowOfficial race day with acclimatization and current organizer plan.Race timingUsually late August; confirm current editionSurfacePaved city streets and controlled race corridorsDirectionNorthbound point-to-point race course

Signature moments

What you will
remember afterwards.

01

UNAM start

02

Chapultepec

03

Paseo de la Reforma

04

Historic center

05

Zócalo finish

CERTIFIED DISTANCE

42.195 KM

From Ciudad Universitaria to the Zócalo

The official call describes a certified 42,195-metre route starting beside UNAM and finishing at the Zócalo.

Access & logistics

AccessUse official athlete transport and start-area instructions.PermitsRace registration is required.BookingsRegistration, bib collection and accommodation require advance planning.WaterUse official aid stations and the current race guide.FoodFollow the organizer nutrition plan.Mobile coverageGenerally available, but not a substitute for race instructions.DurationCurrent race time limit must be confirmed from the edition call.

Key hazards

  • ▲Altitude
  • ▲Heat or rain
  • ▲Traffic outside race controls
  • ▲Crowding
  • ▲Late-race fatigue
  • ▲Changing street-closure plan

SafetyOrientation only. Outside race control these are active city roads.

Check official race information →Request this run →

Official sources

Last verified 2026-07-30 · Record CETC-RUN-020 · Orientation only. Always use current official maps, alerts and safety guidance.

Photograph: Cocu15 · CC BY-SA 4.0