Great Balloon Chase Half Marathon
Where the 2026 race is now
- Registration closed
- Race daySunday, October 4, 2026
- Results posted2026 results
- Race day
- TBD Date not announced
- Distance
- 13.1 mi Half marathon
- Entry
- Unconfirmed Not verified yet
- Boston qualifier
- n/a
- Live tracking
- Not yet Shown here race week
Quick facts
- Flat course on open space and paved multiuse trail beside the Rio Grande.
- The 7 a.m. start is set to line up with Balloon Fiesta mass ascension.
- Half marathon field runs in the several hundreds, large for a New Mexico half.
- Course sits near 5,000 feet, worth a pacing adjustment for sea level runners.
Course
Start and finish are at Los Poblanos Fields Open Space in the North Valley. The route leaves the field and picks up the paved multiuse trail alongside the Rio Grande bosque, which keeps things flat and quick by New Mexico standards. Altitude near 5,000 feet is the main adjustment for visitors.
Race-day weather
Albuquerque mornings in early October are cold and dry at the gun and warm fast once the sun is up. Low humidity and thin high desert air make fluid planning matter more than the thermometer.
About the Great Balloon Chase Half Marathon
RaceNM times this race to overlap with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which is the entire reason to run it. The early start puts the field on the trail while the mass ascension is still going up over the Sandias, and the half draws several hundred finishers most years.
Past Great Balloon Chase Half Marathon dates and results
| Year | Date | Status | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, October 4, 2026 | Results available | Open results |
Your race experience
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Great Balloon Chase Half Marathon FAQ
When is the Great Balloon Chase Half Marathon?
We're waiting for the finalized date for the 2027 Great Balloon Chase Half Marathon. The most recent running was on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
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