Record Field, New Downtown Course Highlight 2026 Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon

The annual race welcomed its largest field since 2007, with runners competing in the full marathon, half-marathon, and 5K events.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The 2026 Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon saw a record number of runners take to the streets of Downtown El Paso on Sunday. The event featured a new course that started and finished at the historic San Jacinto Plaza, offering runners and spectators a scenic backdrop. More than 700 runners competed in the full 26.2-mile marathon, marking the biggest field in the race's history. The Raiz Federal Credit Union Half Marathon and the Spine and Rehab Specialists 5K were also part of the day's events.

Why it matters

The El Paso Marathon serves as a qualifying race for prestigious events like the Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon, drawing competitive runners from across the region. The record turnout and new Downtown course highlight the growing popularity of the event and the city's commitment to hosting large-scale athletic competitions that bring the community together.

The details

The new marathon route began at San Jacinto Plaza, wound through Downtown El Paso, then headed east through Austin Terrace, Edgemere and the Cielo Vista neighborhood before turning around at Wedgewood Boulevard. Runners then retraced the course back to Downtown for the finish at the plaza. Race director Mike Coulter said the Downtown finish was designed to give runners a memorable experience surrounded by historic streets and public art.

  • The marathon began at 7 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
  • The half-marathon started at 7:20 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
  • The 5K race began at 7:40 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

The players

Mike Coulter

The race director for the 2026 Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon.

Eileen Chen

A medical student from Houston, Texas who ran her first long-distance event in the half-marathon.

David Valentine

A runner from Santa Teresa High School who competed in the half-marathon and aimed to break an under-20 world record time.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to be a great year, with a really cool finish venue Downtown. This year, all of our races will be starting and finishing at the San Jacinto Plaza. Once again, it's going to be an outstanding place for runners and spectators, with all the history, murals and fascinating streets in Downtown El Paso.”

— Mike Coulter, Race Director (kvia.com)

“I never ran before, never ran anything before actually, but over the past eight months we just, whenever we had free time, just ran maybe three times a week and we just really motivate each other and it was a lot of fun.”

— Eileen Chen (kvia.com)

“Just get up and do it. It's your brain you gotta convince. It's all mental at the end of the day.”

— David Valentine (kvia.com)

What’s next

The El Paso Marathon will return in 2027, with organizers hoping to build on the record turnout and success of the 2026 event.

The takeaway

The 2026 Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon demonstrated the city's ability to host a large-scale athletic event that brings together both seasoned competitors and first-time runners. The new Downtown course and record participation highlight the growing popularity of the race and El Paso's commitment to promoting healthy, active lifestyles in the community.