sport
Local Running Clubs Transform Albuquerque Into Thriving Race Community
Local clubs and nonprofits have built a steady calendar of community races across the city's varied terrain.
How we reported this
Albuquerque lists 13 running and fitness events for 2026, with the ABQ Road Runners Club race calendar serving as the central listing for most of them.
The schedule matters because RunFit, a nonprofit started in 2006 to address childhood obesity, pairs with the ABQ Road Runners Club to keep weekly group runs and larger races accessible without corporate sponsorship layers. These groups use the city's existing trails and parks rather than building new facilities.
Club routes and weekly meetups
Routes pass through the Rio Grande Bosque Trail, Old Town Plaza, Elena Gallegos Open Space, Los Poblanos Open Space, Mariposa Basin Park, Mesa Del Sol and Balloon Fiesta Park. The ABQ Road Runners Club also lists Tuesday evening Dash and Dine runs at 6:30 pm from Bosque Brewing and Wednesday runs at 6 pm from Brew Lab 101. These repeat gatherings form the base layer that feeds participants into the bigger events.
The 2026 Outlast Albuquerque race on July 19 at Mesa Del Sol runs a 5K loop every hour for six hours. The Albuquerque Running Fiesta on August 1 at Old Town Plaza offers marathon, half-marathon, 5K and Kids Mile distances. The ABQ Foothills 10 Mile Run follows on August 8 at Elena Gallegos Open Space, and the 16th Annual Platypus Run on August 16 at Los Poblanos Open Space includes a 5K plus a one-mile fitness walk that benefits the Pericarditis Alliance.
Dates and distances on record
The Albuquerque Marathon and Half Marathon is set for April 11, 2026 and includes 5K, 10K and Kids K options. Additional listed races include the Lucky Half Marathon on September 1 at Mariposa Basin Park, the Run with Joy Half Marathon/10K/5K/1 Miler on March 28, 2026 from Canteen Brewhouse, and the Death By 5K 24-hour challenge of ten 5Ks at Balloon Fiesta Park. All distances sit at 5,312 feet elevation.
Anyone planning to enter can review the full ABQ Road Runners Club calendar online and register directly through the listed events. The same site shows registration status for each race as dates approach.