Caracas Marathon

Location:  Caracas
Country:  Venezuela
Website: https://www.caf.com/es/especiales/maraton/
2026 Marathon Date: 08/02/2026
Winning Time 2026: 02:33:23
% Sub-3s: 1-2%         # Sub-3s: 10-50   Total Finishers: 1-3k

The Caracas Marathon is Venezuela’s premier international marathon and one of the most prominent road races in South America. Organised by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, it is certified by World Athletics and AIMS, and serves as a focal point for elite and national championship competition within the region. Staged in the capital city of Caracas, the race is set in a valley at approximately 800–900 metres above sea level, framed by the imposing Ávila mountain range and centred around Parque Los Caobos, which traditionally hosts both the start and finish.

For sub-3 runners, Caracas is defined less by raw speed and more by resilience. The 42.195 km looped course traverses four municipalities - Libertador, Baruta, Chacao and Sucre - and is characterised by irregular topography and sustained elevation changes. Unlike flat, rhythm-based marathons, this is a course that demands controlled effort rather than strict adherence to even splits. Altitude, while moderate, adds a further variable, particularly for athletes arriving from sea level without acclimatisation. Intelligent pacing over undulating terrain is critical to avoid late-race deterioration.

The route moves through a mixture of dense urban corridors, historic landmarks and major green spaces, including Parque del Este. Sections such as El Calvario and central boulevards create natural transitions within the race, helping athletes mentally segment the distance. Support is typically strong, especially in central districts, but the course profile means that focus must remain internal - holding form on climbs and recovering efficiently on descents.

Since its inception in 2011, the event has rapidly established itself as a key fixture on the South American calendar, hosting national and continental championship races and attracting a substantial field of participants. For the sub-3 community, Caracas represents a different type of challenge: not a pure time-trial course, but a demanding urban marathon where strength, pacing judgement and terrain management determine outcome. A successful performance here reflects robustness as much as speed.