There is no race day registration and no refunds. Entries cannot be passed to another person; switching events costs $20 and must be done at early packet pickup or the expo.
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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | Marathon | Oct 18, 20267:00 AM | See registration | – |
| Marathon Relay | Relay | Oct 18, 20267:00 AM | See registration | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 18, 20267:15 AM | See registration | – |
| 5K Run | 5K | Oct 18, 20267:30 AM | See registration | – |
| 10K Run | 10K | Oct 18, 20268:15 AM | See registration | – |
Fees and dates are from the race's official website on the date shown below; confirm them there before you register.
A typical finisher at a marathon in New Mexico runs 4:56:55, about 11:19 a mile, based on 3 races with published results. Women typically finish in 5:10:53 and men in 4:51:08.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:13 AM, and the Marathon starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 4,970 feet above sea level, high enough that most runners from lower ground run noticeably slower.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Civic Plaza, 3rd Street and Tijeras Avenue, downtown Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Around October 18 the day usually runs from 47°F at dawn to 72°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 11% of days. Cold snaps dip to 41°F and hot years reach 81°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
What runners should know about Duke City Marathon, in brief, from the official race website.
Schedule and packet pickup
Runners who signed up by September 18 can collect packets at Big 5 Sporting Goods, 2720 San Mateo Blvd., from noon to 6 p.m. on October 13 to 16. Everyone else picks up at the free expo on Saturday, October 17, in Hall 3 of the Albuquerque Convention Center, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Race day pickup is a paid add on.
Course
The courses are flat, and city streets on the route are closed to cars on race day. The 5K turns at Kit Carson; the longer races reach the Paseo del Bosque Trail, where the 10K turns east and the others go west. All courses stay open until 2:00 p.m.
Parking and travel
Paid parking is available in the Civic Plaza garage, reached from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. off I-25, and in the Convention Center lots just west of Broadway. A clothing drop sits near the start and finish.
Shirt and medal
Every entry includes a long sleeve technical shirt, commemorative race coins, a timed bib, and food at the post race festival, which runs from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Marathon, half and 10K finishers also get a medal.
Rules and FAQ
Strollers are not allowed on any course. Water and Gatorade are served on the course, with fruit and bagels at the finish.
More from the race
Relay teams of five split the marathon into legs of 5.9, 6.8, 6.0, 3.6 and 3.9 miles, handing off at four points along the trail and in Old Town. Divisions cover men's, women's, co-ed, military, law enforcement and Pueblo teams.
Facts on this page come from the race's official website (dukecitymarathon.com, dukecitymarathon.com/race, dukecitymarathon.com/faqs, dukecitymarathon.com/register), checked Sep 27, 2026. Confirm dates and fees there before you travel.
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Albuquerque's marathon, held since 1984, starts and finishes at Civic Plaza downtown. The routes head west on Central Avenue (old Route 66) toward Old Town and then follow the Paseo del Bosque Trail along the Rio Grande, with the marathon reaching the Village of Los Ranchos.