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Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon 2025: Registration, course, what to know about the big race
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- Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon 2025: Registration, course, what to know about the big race
The Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon and the big events around it are coming home.
After three years of finishing at the Coliseum, the Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon , Raiz Federal Credit Union Half Marathon, and Spine & Rehab Specialists 5K Run/Walk are going to finish at San Jacinto Plaza in the heart of Downtown, going back to the race origins before the COVID pandemic.
Medals for the Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon include a different letter each year so finishers can eventually spell out "E-L-P-A-S-O." The 2025 race features the letter 'L'
San Jacinto Plaza will host a record number of runners, as more than 4,700 signed up for the race by midweek and the marathon (560 runners) and half-marathon (1,995) are already sold out. There are still spots open in the 5K fun run/walk. By comparison, there were 3,600 runners in the three races last year.
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"We're coming back Downtown," race director Mike Coulter said. "People are really excited to do that. We listened. People missed being Downtown. It has a great vibe. It's really a great place. It's beautiful."
A theme of the race the past two years was the revival of the El Paso Marathon (its first edition was in 2008) after the COVID pandemic as it rebuilt its numbers, but with a record-shattering field this year, the race is actually seeing benefits from the sadness of four years ago when the race was cancelled in 2021.
"A huge thing now is social running," Coulter said. "We have some big social run clubs in El Paso. In the pandemic it was a safe way to gather loosely in a group and still socialize. That carried over after the pandemic, it's grown by leaps and bounds. We have some big groups coming."
As always, the biggest is The District. Ysleta ISD is entering more than 300 runners.
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When is 2025 El Paso Marathon?
The three races are on Sunday, Feb. 23. The marathon and half marathon begin at 7 a.m. while the 5K fun run begins at 7:30 a.m. The marathon begins at the Eastside Athletic Complex while the half-marathon and 5K fun run/walk begin (and end) at San Jacinto Plaza.
How to register for the El Paso Marathon
While the marathon and half marathon are full, the Spine & Rehab Specialists 5K Run/Walk still has spots available. Online registration is open until Saturday, Feb. 22, or while spots last (around 600 spots were available Thursday morning).
What does it cost?
The Spine & Rehab Specials 5K Run/Walk costs $55 plus a $4.80 sign-up fee. Registration is online.
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When is packet pick-up?
Runners can pick up their packet with their number, timing chip and T-shirt from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the El Paso convention center Downtown. This will be concurrent with the Sarah Farms Health & Fitness Expo.
What is the course?
The marathon begins at the Eastside Athletic Complex , 14380 Montwood Drive. It mostly heads west, never too far but never on Montana Avenue before finishing 26.2 miles later at San Jacinto Plaza.
The half marathon and 5K begin and end at San Jacinto Plaza. The half marathon route reaches Pennsylvania Circle Park just east of US Highway 54, runs around the park then back to San Jacinto Plaza.
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For runners who request a bus ride when they register, there will be buses to take marathon runners from San Jacinto Plaza to the starting line.
What is the marathon cutoff?
There is a strict six-hour cutoff. Anyone not at the 20-mile mark by 11:30 a.m. will be picked up and taken to the finish line.
What else do you need to know?
The event has an FAQ on its website with more information.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon 2025: what to know about the big race
