Antequera Trail Race 2026: date, routes and entry details

Plan your race pace

Antequera will host the fifth edition of its mountain race on Saturday, November 28, 2026, with the start and finish near Molino Blanco. The event brings together two competitive distances, a participation and hiking option, and youth races within a programme designed for runners with different levels of experience.

The main race covers 24 kilometres with 1,300 metres of positive elevation gain; the middle distance is 14 kilometres, with reported elevation figures ranging from 600 to 700 metres in the available coverage. The day will also include Andalusian championships and a charitable element linked to Aventura Solidaria. Registration was announced through the Andalusian Athletics Federation website from September 15.

A mountain event with a confirmed date and venue

The race is scheduled for the last Saturday in November. Molino Blanco, beside the Nacimiento de la Villa, will serve as the reference point for starts and finishes, in an area connecting paths, trails and natural spaces around Antequera. The long-distance race is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.; the 14-kilometre race at 9:30 a.m.; and the promotion and hiking option at 10 a.m.

The event reaches its fifth edition while retaining a format that combines competition, public participation and grassroots sport. It is not limited to a single race: the programme includes several distances and categories, so the morning is not reserved exclusively for experienced runners. Staggered start times help spread out the field and accommodate participants with very different aims.

The date, venue and published start times make it possible to plan travel in advance, but operational details may be clarified in the edition’s regulations. Information such as bib collection, youth race schedules and the specific conditions for each category is not included in the reference material. The federation’s regulations will be the practical reference for confirming any details missing from the initial announcement.

Distances, elevation and different participant profiles

The main course covers 24 kilometres with 1,300 metres of accumulated ascent. That combination points to a demanding race: elevation, more than distance alone, affects effort and the time runners may spend on the course. The long race is aimed at people with mountain-running experience and suitable preparation for changes of pace, climbs and uneven ground.

The 14-kilometre option offers a shorter alternative, though it should not be mistaken for an easy walk. The reports consulted do not agree on its positive elevation gain: one published figure is 700 metres and another is 600. The difference may reflect an updated route or different versions of the data, so the final elevation should be checked in the regulations before being used as a training reference.

The roughly 10-kilometre distance is associated with both promotion and hiking. The hiking option is described as noncompetitive, while the promotion race lets participants run on the same course. Races for children are also announced, with routes adapted to age, although their exact distances have not been provided. The range of events broadens family participation without turning every category into the same race.

Distance labels help compare the event with other races, but in trail running mileage does not tell the whole story. A 14-kilometre route can demand more time and effort than a much longer road race if it includes climbing, technical sections and changing surfaces. In Antequera, elevation and natural terrain are central parts of the challenge, not incidental details.

A route through trails, woodland and hillsides

The announced route passes through the Nacimiento de la Villa area and along the Arroyo de las Adelfas, with references to the Fuente de la Alhajuela and the foothills of the Sierra de las Cabras. The long race enters steeper sections and combines trails, woodland and rocky stretches. The landscape changes texture as the course climbs, demanding attention as well as endurance.

The 24-kilometre race reaches the Alhajuela area and the slopes of the Sierra de las Cabras. Reports describe more technical sections at higher elevations alongside paths where runners can maintain a steadier pace. That alternation requires careful pacing: pushing hard on a comfortable track can take its toll when the trail narrows or the gradient steepens.

The shorter race shares part of the area but avoids the highest sections, according to the published description. The hiking route also uses the natural landscape, although its noncompetitive nature changes the priority: a steady walk and taking in the surroundings replace race pace. In every category, natural terrain calls for suitable footwear and attention, particularly if there is loose rock, mud or damp ground.

The available information says that much of the previous edition’s route will be retained. It does not include detailed maps or elevation profiles, so it is not possible to specify crossings, maximum gradients or the exact surface type at every kilometre. Participants should treat general descriptions as guidance and consult the official route once published, rather than assuming every trail will remain unchanged until race day.

The Provincial Cup and Andalusian championships

One sporting development is the inclusion of the long distance in the first Provincial Trail Cup, promoted by Málaga’s provincial government together with the Andalusian Athletics Federation. The 24-kilometre race will count toward the competition, which includes events in Antequera, Humilladero, Cártama and Nerja. The race therefore adds a provincial ranking element to its route and open participation format.

Antequera will also host the Andalusian club championships in the senior and masters categories, as well as promotion races for under-18 and under-20 runners. That combination brings together different aims: some runners will compete for their clubs or age groups, while others take part in the public races or hiking option. The federation programme adds sporting significance to the event within the Andalusian calendar.

Those seeking to compete in the regional championships should note that simply registering for the public race may not be enough. Published information says athletes wishing to contest those titles must first register for the event itself. Full eligibility and club representation conditions are set out in the regulations, which should take precedence over any journalistic summary.

The promotion categories also bring mountain running closer to younger participants. Age-adapted courses allow the event to set appropriate demands, although specific distances and rules are not detailed in the available information. Youth races bring sports development into the programme, which might otherwise focus solely on senior competition.

Registration, places and announced entry fees

Registration was announced to open on Tuesday, September 15, through the Andalusian Athletics Federation website. The total limit is 500 participants, divided into 150 places for the long race, 250 for the 14-kilometre event and 100 for the remaining categories and formats. The cap on entries affects availability, although the supplied information does not confirm how many places remain.

Announced initial fees are 25 euros for the 24-kilometre race and 18 euros for the 14-kilometre option. The organisers’ information also lists hiking at 18 euros; under-18 and under-20 categories cost 10 euros, while the fee for younger children is 2 euros. The initial rates were announced as valid through October 13, so the applicable fee after that date should be checked in the registration system.

Price differences between categories matter when comparing the overall cost of participation. The reference information does not say whether there are booking fees, category changes, refunds or special conditions for clubs. Nor does it confirm a later price. The published figures therefore describe the announced entry fees but do not replace the current registration listing.

The federation website is the stated channel for registration and regulations. For an event with a participant cap, several categories and associated championships, entrants should check that their chosen registration matches the correct format. That is also where any licence or club membership requirements for the regional titles should be clarified, if applicable.

A charitable dimension alongside the competition

Race proceeds are linked to Aventura Solidaria, an organisation that directs funds to initiatives supporting therapy for children. Published information also says the organisation intends to assist two families whose homes were damaged by recent storms. The charitable dimension is part of the event’s purpose, although no specific donation amount or allocation has been provided.

This aspect sits alongside a sporting organisation involving the Andalusian Athletics Federation, Club MataTrail and municipal representatives, as well as sponsors and partners. Club MataTrail contributes to work related to the route, course marking and clean-up. In a mountain race, these tasks matter: markers need to guide runners without intruding on the landscape, and the route should be left in suitable condition after the field passes.

The organisers have announced a runner’s bag, a T-shirt and aid stations. The exact contents of the bag, the locations of water points and the quantities available have not been specified. Those details depend on final logistical information and should not be treated as guaranteed beyond what was announced at the presentation.

Respect for the surroundings is part of trail running itself. Following course markers, leaving no litter and avoiding shortcuts protect the paths and reduce the impact on natural areas. Caring for the route is not a decorative extra: the landscape that makes the race appealing is also a shared space that should remain accessible throughout the year.

What to know before choosing a distance

The choice between 24 and 14 kilometres should not be based only on the difference in distance. Accumulated elevation, trail experience and the ability to sustain effort on climbs account for much of the difficulty. For someone who does not regularly compete in the mountains, the shorter option can still be a substantial challenge, particularly if it retains technical sections and steep gradients.

The discrepancy in the 14-kilometre elevation deserves particular attention. A difference of 100 metres of climbing will not always change a race completely, but it can affect effort estimates and preparation. Until organisers publish a final figure, it is prudent not to treat either number as confirmed and to rely on the official profile when available.

The hiking option, by contrast, offers a way to experience the area without competing. The stated distance is around 10 kilometres, although the time required will depend on group pace and course conditions. The promotion option is roughly the same length but is designed as a race. Understanding the distinction helps participants choose an experience that matches their expectations and avoids confusing a walk with a timed event.

It is also worth distinguishing between entering the general race and competing in a regional championship. The club championships and youth races have their own registration rules, and choosing a distance may not be enough to qualify for the relevant classification. The registered category and regulations define the competition framework; summaries do not replace those conditions.

Antequera as the setting for a trail-running day

The race places sport in a landscape very different from an urban circuit. Trails around the Nacimiento de la Villa, the stream and the hillsides bring changes in surface and elevation that shape the route. Starting near Molino Blanco places the event beside a natural area, where logistics must coexist with runners, supporters and people who regularly use the surroundings.

That setting explains part of the event’s appeal, but it also limits what can be said in advance. Without an official map and full elevation profile, it is impossible to state what proportion of the course crosses woodland, tracks or rocky ground, or how long runners spend in each section. Geographical references provide orientation, but the published route will be decisive in understanding the 2026 course precisely.

The mix of races, hiking and grassroots categories may create a long morning of activity around the start and finish. Staggered times help organise the programme, although cut-off times and maximum completion times have not been published. Those limits matter in a hilly race, especially for participants tackling a mountain route of this length for the first time.

A trail race is measured by more than its results. Well-maintained paths, clear marking and considerate use of the area matter as much as the clock, particularly at an event combining competition with public participation. The quality of the experience will depend on keeping the sporting challenge and the setting in balance.

An edition bringing together challenge, competition and participation

The fifth edition comes with a confirmed date, three main participation options, Andalusian championships and a place in a new provincial cup. The long race carries the greatest physical challenge; the 14-kilometre event offers a shorter route, while promotion and hiking bring the day to a wider audience. The programme aims to combine competition and participation without focusing on a single distance.

For runners, the key details are clear: Saturday, November 28, the start and finish at Molino Blanco, and separate start times for each format. Other details still need confirmation, including the final elevation gain for the middle distance, the full information for younger categories and the fees after October 13. Checking the regulations prevents preliminary figures from being mistaken for final ones.

The event also reaches beyond the results through its charitable partnership and local work supporting the route. The mountains provide a demanding setting, but their appeal depends on preserving them; participation, in turn, carries more meaning when it goes hand in hand with clear organisation and a purpose beyond the race bib. In Antequera, November’s challenge is as much about sharing the trail as running it.