---
title: "The Correcaminos Marathon is coming!"
published: 2016-01-22
updated: 2026-09-05
source: "https://abuenpaso.cr/en/articles/se-viene-la-maraton-correcaminos"
---

# The Correcaminos Marathon is coming!

**The prestigious Correcaminos Half Marathon will expand its horizons in 2016 and officially become the Correcaminos Marathon. The organizers will finally fulfill their dream of offering participants the mother distance of athletics and will do so while striving to maintain the same quality in logistics, organization, and details that have given so much prestige to the event.**

The news broke in early January and the excitement was such that the marathon distance quota sold out immediately. Faced with such demand, fortunately, the organizers decided to open 500 additional spots that are still available for purchase. As it could not be otherwise, the marathon route is also certified and recognized by AIMS and IAAF, which means the distance is exactly 42.195 kilometers and the times are valid for qualifying to international events.

The marathon will start at 5 a.m. from Cartago. The climate of Cartago at those early morning hours promises to be a great help to begin, as the cold will prevent unnecessary wear from the start. The route wisely takes advantage of the flatness of the Old Metropolis during the first 12 kilometers, going back and forth along each of its avenues, which will allow athletes to maintain a steady pace according to their goals. Everything changes, though, starting at kilometer 12...

That's where the big climb of Cerro del Ochomogo begins: four kilometers of uninterrupted, constant, and fierce ascent. In total, 138 meters above sea level are climbed in those 4k of Ochomogo, more than enough to break the steady pace that the first 12k of flat terrain had allowed. But the reward for those who persevere is waiting at the highest point of the mountain, at the end of the hill, at kilometer 16.0 to be exact.

To begin descending you have to reach the top and there, at kilometer 16, is the highest point of the Correcaminos Marathon. What comes from that point onward are 17 kilometers of wild descent; a drop of 412 vertical meters over those 17 kilometers from the peak of Ochomogo until just before reaching Plaza González Víquez. There the descent party ends and the stretch through downtown San José begins, alternating between moderate climbs and descents until La Sabana.

Finally, to cap off the odyssey, the famous last two kilometers of climbing through Sabana Norte to the finish line; but since by then you can't feel your legs it shouldn't be a major problem. In the end: an impressive medal (different depending on the distance 42k, 21k, or 10k), the glorious finish line arch, and the satisfaction of having run the first edition of the Correcaminos Marathon.

A Buen Paso uses [Massivo](https://massivoai.com), the event-registration platform that powers this article.