2026 San Antonio Marathon - Dec 6 Countdown

Q: When is the 2026 San Antonio Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 San Antonio Marathon is on Sunday, December 6, 2026, part of a December 4–6 race weekend. The full marathon and half marathon start together at 7:15 a.m. Central Time near downtown's Main Plaza, and all distances finish at the Finish Line Fiesta at Hemisfair.

Q: Is the San Antonio Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and an official Boston Marathon qualifier. The rolling but not severe profile and mild December weather make it a reasonable BQ attempt — just pace the rolling northside miles conservatively. You can map your target splits with our Boston qualifying calculator and pace calculator.

Q: Is the San Antonio Marathon flat or hilly?

It is best described as genuinely rolling, not flat. Total gain is around 909 ft (277 m), spread as repeated short rises rather than long sustained climbs. The flatter, more scenic stretches are early near the River Walk and downtown; the rolling work concentrates through Brackenridge Park, Alamo Heights and Olmos Park in roughly miles 8 to 13. Don't over-spend energy on the early downhill momentum.

Q: What is the time limit for the San Antonio Marathon?

The marathon has a 7-hour course limit, which works out to a minimum pace of about 16:01 per mile. There are three timed cutoff points along the route; runners falling behind may be asked to pick up the pace, redirected to the half marathon, or offered transport to the finish (which is recorded as a DNF).

Q: How much does the San Antonio Marathon cost and how do I register?

Registration is handled online through RunSignUp and is tiered, so it rises as the race fills. The full marathon has typically run in the roughly $99 (early presale) to $159 range. Sign up early — the 2025 inaugural sold out at more than 18,000 participants across all distances, so the full marathon field is limited.

Q: What is the weather like for the San Antonio Marathon?

Early December in San Antonio is mild and sometimes humid — a typical morning starts near 45°F (7°C) and warms toward the mid-60s°F (~19°C) by late morning, with dawn humidity often around 80%. It is one of the warmer December marathons in the U.S., so dress for the finish, carry throwaway layers, and hydrate on the warmer back half.

-- DAYS

-- HRS

-- MIN

-- SEC

Want personality modes & weather integration? Try the full countdown experience

Race Information

Race	2026 San Antonio Marathon - Dec 6
City	San Antonio
Date	2026-12-06 at 07:15
Field Size	~3,335 runners
Time Limit	7 hours
Cutoff pace	9:57/km
Timezone	America/Chicago
Official Site	San Antonio Sports
Registration	Register

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	12.3°C / 54°F
Humidity	71%
Wind	21.4 km/h
Rain Chance	17%
Typical Conditions	Mild, often humid early-December South Texas morning — cool at the gun, comfortable by mid-race

What to Prepare: Expect a start around 45°F / 7°C climbing toward the mid-60s°F / ~19°C by late morning, with humidity often near 80% at dawn before it drops. It is one of the warmest December marathons in the country, so dress for the finish, not the start: a singlet or short sleeves plus throwaway gloves and an old long-sleeve you can shed. A light rain chance (~18%) means a cheap poncho is worth packing.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 21.4 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	6.3°C	12.2°C	19.2°C
Dew point	-4.1°C	5.7°C	16.1°C

Wet-day chance: 17% Runnability: 76/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Point-to-point through downtown and northside neighborhoods
Elevation Gain	277m
Terrain	Road (paved downtown streets, riverside paths and tree-lined neighborhood avenues)
Profile	A scenic, culture-soaked tour of San Antonio rather than a pancake-flat time trial. The course rolls off near downtown's Main Plaza and the San Fernando Cathedral, threads past the historic Alamo and along the cypress-lined River Walk, then runs through the leafy King William and Southtown districts, up the St. Mary's Strip, into Brackenridge Park and on through Alamo Heights and Olmos Park before turning down Broadway to finish at Hemisfair beside the Tower of the Americas. It is genuinely rolling — roughly +909 ft (277 m) of gain delivered as short, manageable rises rather than long climbs, with the steepest pinches in the northside miles around 8 to 13. The route is fully USATF-certified and an official Boston qualifier; with mild winter weather it is a realistic BQ and PR target for runners who respect the rolling middle and don't bank too much time early.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 San Antonio Marathon - Dec 6

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

Use Calculator →

Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

Use Calculator →

Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

Use Calculator →

What to Wear Running by Temperature — Clothing Guide

Enter temperature, wind, and rain to get specific clothing picks for head, torso, legs, hands, and f...

Use Calculator →

Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

Use Calculator →

Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

Use Calculator →

View all running tools

Featured In

Most Scenic Marathon Courses in the World (2026) Best Marathons with Historic Routes & Heritage in 2026 Best US Marathons 2026 Best Winter Marathons 2026-2027

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 San Antonio Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 San Antonio Marathon is on Sunday, December 6, 2026, part of a December 4–6 race weekend. The full marathon and half marathon start together at 7:15 a.m. Central Time near downtown's Main Plaza, and all distances finish at the Finish Line Fiesta at Hemisfair.

Is the San Antonio Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and an official Boston Marathon qualifier. The rolling but not severe profile and mild December weather make it a reasonable BQ attempt — just pace the rolling northside miles conservatively. You can map your target splits with our Boston qualifying calculator and pace calculator.

Is the San Antonio Marathon flat or hilly?

It is best described as genuinely rolling, not flat. Total gain is around 909 ft (277 m), spread as repeated short rises rather than long sustained climbs. The flatter, more scenic stretches are early near the River Walk and downtown; the rolling work concentrates through Brackenridge Park, Alamo Heights and Olmos Park in roughly miles 8 to 13. Don't over-spend energy on the early downhill momentum.

What is the time limit for the San Antonio Marathon?

The marathon has a 7-hour course limit, which works out to a minimum pace of about 16:01 per mile. There are three timed cutoff points along the route; runners falling behind may be asked to pick up the pace, redirected to the half marathon, or offered transport to the finish (which is recorded as a DNF).

What happened to the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon?

The Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio ended after its 2024 event, closing a 16-year run. The City of San Antonio and the nonprofit San Antonio Sports launched a new, locally organized San Antonio Marathon as its successor, with the inaugural edition held in December 2025. The 2026 race is the second running of this new, city-rooted event.

How much does the San Antonio Marathon cost and how do I register?

Registration is handled online through RunSignUp and is tiered, so it rises as the race fills. The full marathon has typically run in the roughly $99 (early presale) to $159 range. Sign up early — the 2025 inaugural sold out at more than 18,000 participants across all distances, so the full marathon field is limited.

What is the weather like for the San Antonio Marathon?

Early December in San Antonio is mild and sometimes humid — a typical morning starts near 45°F (7°C) and warms toward the mid-60s°F (~19°C) by late morning, with dawn humidity often around 80%. It is one of the warmer December marathons in the U.S., so dress for the finish, carry throwaway layers, and hydrate on the warmer back half.

What landmarks does the San Antonio Marathon course pass?

The route is built around the city's heritage: it passes the Alamo, the San Fernando Cathedral and the River Walk downtown, the historic King William and Southtown districts, the St. Mary's Strip, Brackenridge Park, and the tree-lined avenues of Alamo Heights and Olmos Park before finishing at Hemisfair beneath the Tower of the Americas.