CxM Nico Molina 2026: date, routes and key details

Plan your race pace

The 13th edition of the Nico Molina mountain race is scheduled for November 15, 2026, in Dúrcal, Granada, with the start and finish at Parque de la Estación. The programme includes two events: the longer one, identified as CxM-23K and listed at 24.5 kilometres with 1,420 metres of elevation gain, and the shorter CxM-11K, covering 11.5 kilometres with 644 metres of gain. The courses use mountain trails, paths and tracks in the Sierra de Dúrcal, in an area connected to Sierra Nevada Natural Park.

The longer distance is described as having a high technical difficulty; the challenge is about more than adding up kilometres or elevation. The surface, the climbs and descents, and the concentration required on mountain terrain all matter. The event is organised by Dúrcal Town Council and the Andalusian Federation of Mountain Sports, Climbing and Hiking, with support from the Cerro del Caballo Mountain Club. Available information confirms the date and a 9:05 a.m. start, but does not specify the entry fee.

Race date, start and venue

The event is scheduled for Sunday, November 15, 2026, in Dúrcal, a municipality in Granada province. Parque de la Estación will serve as the start and finish area, bringing together the opening and closing of both events at one location. The published start time is 9:05 a.m. These details establish the basic schedule, although the start time for each distance and other operational arrangements may depend on the final race regulations.

The venue also helps clarify the basic logistics: runners will return to the same point after completing their respective courses. However, there is not enough information about parking, bib collection, road closures or services for spectators. Parque de la Estación is the confirmed venue, but any practical details not included in the available information should be checked in the event’s official communications before travelling.

Two distances with different profiles

The event offers a longer option called CxM-23K and a shorter one, CxM-11K. The first covers 24.5 kilometres with 1,420 metres of cumulative ascent; the second runs for 11.5 kilometres with 644 metres of gain. Although the event names round the distances, the more precise figures better describe the expected effort. In both cases, the elevation makes this a mountain race rather than a straightforward endurance run on flat tracks.

The difference between the two options is not simply a matter of running twice as far. The longer race includes more climbing and is described as technically demanding, while the shorter option reduces total distance and time on the terrain. That does not make it easy: 644 metres of gain over 11.5 kilometres still calls for fitness on climbs and descents and stable footing on uneven ground. The right choice depends on each runner’s experience, fitness and familiarity with mountain running.

What the figures say and why they differ

Different distance figures appear in the information for the longer race: its sporting name is CxM-23K, detailed event information gives 24.5 kilometres, and another event listing describes it as 23.7 kilometres. The short course is also presented as CxM-11K, with a specific distance of 11.5 kilometres. The 23K and 11K names appear to serve as event-category labels, while the decimal figures provide a more precise measurement of the advertised courses.

Such differences are common when traditional event names, route measurements and listings from different platforms are combined. They should not be taken as confirmation that the course has changed. For effort planning, the most detailed information available gives 24.5 kilometres and 1,420 metres of gain for the longer race, and 11.5 kilometres and 644 metres for the shorter one. Even so, the final route file or race regulations should take precedence if the organisers publish an update before race day.

Mountain trails between the range and the river

The routes cross the Sierra de Dúrcal and the area around the course of the Dúrcal River. The terrain combines marked mountain trails, paths and tracks, a mix that may alternate between firmer footing and narrower, stony or uneven sections. The available information does not include a detailed map or identify each climb, junction or checkpoint, so it is not possible to describe the exact sequence of the course.

The river gives the route a distinctive feature, but it does not establish that the race crosses the water or follows the riverbank for a particular distance. What is confirmed is that the courses pass through the mountain area and alongside the river in some sections. The elevation profile and surface will shape the pace: on a technical trail, maintaining a constant speed can matter less than choosing each foot placement carefully and saving energy for changes in gradient.

An environment connected to Sierra Nevada Natural Park

Much of the course lies within Sierra Nevada Natural Park, a setting that adds scenic value and environmental responsibility to race day. In places like this, runners share the terrain with a sensitive ecosystem and other mountain users. Because participants will be moving along marked routes, it is especially important to follow the marked course and avoid shortcuts, even when a climb or descent seems to invite a more direct line.

A mountain route is not a closed asphalt circuit: the ground can change in a few metres, and the landscape can affect how distance feels. Local and race-day weather conditions are not specified in the available information, so it would be unwise to assume the ground will be dry or temperatures uniform. The forecast and actual state of the course can affect both pace and comfort, particularly for an event held in November.

The technical demands of the longer distance

The organisers describe the 24.5-kilometre event as having a high technical difficulty. That points to a course where control matters as much as endurance: uneven ground may require a shorter stride, a slower pace and sustained concentration. Alongside 1,420 metres of positive elevation, the descents place a different kind of muscular stress on the legs from a steady climb.

For a race like this, endurance alone is not enough. Trail experience, balance and the ability to regulate effort help runners handle changes in surface and gradient. The shorter race should not be mistaken for an effortless recreational event either: 644 metres of gain over 11.5 kilometres still calls for legs accustomed to climbing. Difficulty depends on the combination of distance, elevation and terrain, not just the number in the event name.

Aid stations and a personal cup or bottle

The organisers plan aid stations during the races and another at the finish. They also state that every runner must carry their own container. This condition matters for hydration planning: participants should not assume disposable cups will be available at aid stations. A reusable container is part of the required kit and should be easy to use on the course, in line with the regulations set by the organisers.

The available information does not specify how many aid stations there will be, where they will be located, what food or drinks they will offer, or the distances between them. It is therefore unwise to calculate hydration needs using unconfirmed locations. Runners can plan around their expected race duration and what they have tested in training, but should compare that plan with the event’s official details. Aid stations supplement self-sufficiency; they do not replace the stated requirement to carry a container.

What the preparation should take into account

Preparation for the longer event should account for elevation and technical difficulty as well as distance. Building mileage on flat ground can improve endurance, but it does not reproduce the effort of climbing and descending on mountain paths. Sessions on slopes and trails can help runners adapt to changes in pace, footing and uneven surfaces, while strength work may help them handle the climbs and the impact of descents. Terrain-specific preparation matters as much as running volume.

The shorter option covers less ground, but its elevation-to-distance ratio should not be overlooked: 644 metres of gain over 11.5 kilometres makes it a hilly race. In the weeks beforehand, training should progress according to each runner’s experience and fitness rather than trying to make up for inadequate preparation all at once. It also makes sense to practise with the shoes and container intended for race day. Equipment tested in advance reduces surprises on a course where the terrain demands constant attention.

Equipment and race-day conditions

The combination of trails, paths and tracks makes grip and stability important considerations in footwear. The organisers have not specified a required shoe model, but the mountain setting calls for shoes suited to the surface and the runner’s experience. Clothing should also match the actual conditions: a November race may bring changing temperatures, although the available information does not include a weather forecast.

The container for the aid stations is expressly included in the organisers’ instructions. Other mandatory equipment, such as a phone, windbreaker, emergency blanket or hydration system, is not specified. These should not be presented as event requirements without confirmation. The updated regulations will determine whether there is a compulsory kit list and which items the organisers recommend. Distinguishing confirmed rules from general advice avoids confusing standard mountain-running recommendations with the specific rules for this edition.

Organisers and details not yet published

The event is organised by Dúrcal Town Council and the Andalusian Federation of Mountain Sports, Climbing and Hiking, with support from the Cerro del Caballo Mountain Club. The involvement of local and sporting organisations places the race within Andalusia’s mountain-running calendar. It also means that information about the sport, routes and rules may appear through different channels as the date approaches. The date, venue and two distances are established, but not every practical detail is included in the available reference information.

The entry fee, registration period, participant limits, separate start times and cut-off times are not listed. Nor are the full regulations, a downloadable map or the locations of aid stations. Their absence here does not mean they do not exist; simply, they cannot be verified from the information available. The cost and registration status cannot be confirmed with confidence, so any figure or claim about available places would be speculative.

A mountain-race day in Dúrcal

The event offers two ways to cross the same landscape: a longer race with 1,420 metres of climbing and high technical difficulty, and a shorter option that still includes 644 metres of gain. Both start and finish at Parque de la Estación and head into the Sierra de Dúrcal, with sections linked to the river and the Sierra Nevada area. The profile makes this a demanding mountain event, rather than a race defined only by its kilometre count.

For trail runners following the calendar, the 2026 edition has a confirmed date: November 15. The available information distinguishes the two events and gives a sense of the terrain, while the final regulations will need to clarify registration, timings and the exact route. In a race through natural areas, the experience is about more than crossing the finish line: it also means moving thoughtfully through the mountains and respecting the landscape that makes the event possible. Dúrcal will host two mountain challenges in a setting that rewards attention.

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