Trail running in Haría in 2026: date, distances and course

Plan your race pace

Haría will once again bring mountain runners together in Lanzarote on Saturday, November 14, 2026, the scheduled date for the event’s third edition, which combines trails, dirt tracks and demanding elevation gain. The main race day is part of a programme running from November 12 to 14 in the island’s northern municipality.

Available information describes several formats, from a long course of around 42 kilometres to a short distance of about 14.5 kilometres and a 5-kilometre introductory race. Published schedules place the starts at 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., although distances and some details differ between listings; the final rules and the organiser’s updates will be definitive.

Confirmed date and venue in northern Lanzarote

The town of Haría will host the race on November 14, 2026, as part of a programme announced for Thursday, November 12, through Saturday, November 14. This distinction matters when planning travel: the dates of the overall event do not necessarily mean every race starts on each day. Published details place the competitive events on Saturday, so it is important to distinguish race day from the preceding activities.

Haría lies in northern Lanzarote, in a landscape shaped by ravines, hills and volcanic terrain. The area is known as the valley of a thousand palms, a green image that contrasts with the dark rock and dry soils typical of the island. The setting is not separate from the race: it affects the surface, climbs and runners’ exposure along the course.

One listing places the start of the longer formats in Haría’s main square, while the detailed description of the short course identifies Haría’s school residence as both start and finish. Since those details do not match, it would be unwise to give one address as correct for every distance. The location assigned to each format should be checked in the final documents before travelling.

Distances: a long race and several options

The main format is described as a race of about 42 kilometres and 2,200 metres of positive elevation gain. It is a demanding mountain distance: the challenge comes not only from covering more than a marathon, but also from accumulating climbs on uneven terrain. The elevation figure gives a sense of the effort, although it cannot replace the official course profile or explain the technical difficulty of every section.

The intermediate format is listed at around 22 kilometres and 1,000 metres of climbing. Some listings give it as 22 kilometres and others as 22.5; the same applies to the long race, described in some data as 42 and in others as 42.5 kilometres. These differences may seem small, but they matter to anyone planning pace, fuelling and split times, so the measurement confirmed by the organiser should take precedence.

The short race is listed as 14.5 kilometres with 609 metres of positive elevation, and the same amount of accumulated descent. It has also been presented as a 14-kilometre course with 600 metres of climbing. One description also mentions a 5-kilometre discovery format; the material reviewed does not confirm all its details or participation conditions. The exact 2026 programme should be checked against the current rules.

Broadly speaking, the different distances mean the event is not limited to a single race: there is a long option for experienced mountain runners, an intermediate course, a short format and, according to published information, a brief introductory race. That does not make them interchangeable in terms of ability. Elevation, surface and time limits can make even a relatively short distance require specific preparation.

What is known about the 14.5-kilometre course

The short format has the most complete description. It starts at Haría’s school residence, passes through La Faja and Boca de Temisa, and continues along the Elvira Sánchez ravine to the Rincón de Aganada viewpoint. The return route goes via Los Castillos, El Castillejo, the Vega de Máguez, La Atalaya and the Charca de Julio before completing the circuit in Haría.

The mix of surfaces is one of the route’s specific features: published figures allocate about 49% to trails, 50% to dirt tracks and 1% to asphalt. That breakdown describes a race mainly away from paved roads, with a few transitions over asphalt. The total distance alone is not enough: trails may require more careful footing, while tracks can allow a steadier pace if the elevation and surface permit.

The published profile gives maximum gradients of around 35.2% uphill and 37.2% downhill. These are peak figures, not the average gradient, but they help explain why 609 metres of climbing do not tell the whole story. Steep ramps can disrupt a steady pace, while sharp descents demand control, especially on uneven or loose ground.

According to the listing for this distance, the organiser sets a three-hour time limit. That provides a framework for assessing the race, but it does not determine how long each participant will need: trail conditions, weather, stops and mountain-running experience all play a role. The start is listed for 9 a.m., after the longer formats, whose published start times are 7 and 8 a.m.

The challenge of the 22- and 42-kilometre formats

The format of around 22 kilometres is listed with 1,000 metres of positive elevation gain. That puts it above a road race of the same distance in terms of muscular load and changing effort. On mountain terrain, a long climb may require runners to alternate between running and walking, while a fast descent can fatigue the quadriceps and ankles even when the heart rate drops.

The long distance combines a published 2,200 metres of positive elevation with around 42 kilometres, equivalent to close to 64 effort kilometres in the calculation shown in one listing. That measure combines distance and elevation to represent an approximate workload, but it is not a guaranteed finish time and does not replace studying the course profile. The key measure of the challenge is the combination of kilometres and climbing, not an isolated estimate.

Published schedules assign the first start, at 7 a.m., to the long distance and the 8 a.m. start to the intermediate format. Another listing places the starts of both at Haría’s main square. Since the available sources do not resolve every difference in naming, distance and location, those details should be treated as published information awaiting confirmation in the latest official documents.

The races are also said to be linked to the UTMB Index. This reference places the event within an international trail-running results index, but it should not be confused with automatic qualification for another event or a guarantee of a specific score. The conditions and scope of that link depend on the format and applicable rules, so they should be checked through the event’s official channels.

Volcanic terrain, trails and race conditions

Lanzarote is known for its volcanic scenery and generally mild climate. The island’s geological history can be seen in lava fields and the dark texture of much of the terrain, although conditions are not uniform across the course. A route may alternate between firm ground, narrow trails, dirt tracks and exposed sections, with changes in pace that call for an adaptable stride.

Timanfaya National Park appears in general information about the island, but that does not prove the race crosses the park. It should not be assumed that the course passes through a protected area without confirmation on the official map. The safe description is the island’s volcanic setting; the organiser’s published route should be checked for boundaries and authorised passages.

Lanzarote’s weather cannot be reduced to the idea of constant heat either. In November, wind, cloud cover and local temperature changes may all have an effect, particularly in exposed areas or at different elevations. The forecast for a specific date can change and cannot be confirmed months in advance. Race preparation should account for variable conditions, rather than rely on assumptions based on the island’s climate reputation.

Wind deserves attention on an Atlantic island, both because running into it can use more energy and because it affects how warm or cold conditions feel. On climbs, effort can rise even at a slow pace; on descents, footing and visibility affect safety. Knowing the course profile and checking race updates helps put the terrain into context better than a distance figure alone.

Registration, rules and details still to confirm

The event’s website has registration and document sections, and published information refers to rules, forms for minors, third-party bib collection and runners’ environmental commitments. However, the reference material does not give the entry fee, exact opening and closing dates or a participant cap. There is no verifiable price that can be treated as confirmed from the information available.

The presence of a registration page is not enough to conclude that entries are open. Status can change, and the race date alone says nothing about bib availability. Before arranging travel, runners should check participation terms, mandatory equipment, final start times and bib-collection procedures in the latest official documents.

The rules are particularly important in mountain races because they set out safety and participation requirements: eligible ages, checkpoints, cut-off times, outside assistance, equipment and possible grounds for disqualification. The material reviewed does not detail those requirements for each format. Rules from other races should not be applied here, nor should previous editions’ documents be treated as current without checking.

Information about services also points to accommodation and transport resources, but does not specify prices, availability or particular arrangements. In November, demand and the distance to each start may affect logistics, making the exact location of each format essential. The discrepancy between the main square and the school residence makes it especially important to wait for confirmation of meeting points.

Haría and the character of an island race

Choosing Haría gives the event a character distinct from urban races. Instead of avenues and turns on asphalt, the landscape of northern Lanzarote offers ravines, paths and vegetation appearing between dry slopes. The town, associated with the valley of a thousand palms, gives the event a recognisable setting without proving that every route passes through the same landmarks.

For an island race, travel is part of the sporting plan. Getting around, finding accommodation and reaching the start may require more planning than a local event, especially when there are several formats and early starts. Event documents announce practical information, but the reference data do not specify connections, transport schedules or parking. Logistics depend on the final location of each start and should not be settled using conflicting listings.

The event also refers to volunteering and runners’ environmental commitments. These are familiar organisational elements in a mountain race, where protecting the surroundings, managing waste and respecting trails are part of the experience. Specific requirements, however, should be checked in the 2026 edition’s rules rather than inferred from general information.

The range of distances may attract different types of runners, but all share a setting that demands respect for the terrain and island conditions. A short race is not necessarily easy, just as a valley’s inviting appearance does not reveal the difficulty of its ramps. Mountain running changes scale once you are on the course: each kilometre may involve elevation, loose stones and decisions about pace.

A November race awaiting final details

The date of Saturday, November 14, 2026, and a new edition in Haría are confirmed in the information provided. There is also a consistent outline of three main starts at 7, 8 and 9 a.m., alongside references to four distances. Even so, variations between 42 and 42.5 kilometres, 22 and 22.5, and 14 and 14.5 show why preliminary listings should not be treated as race rules.

The short route has the most public detail: 14.5 kilometres, 609 metres of climbing, a mix dominated by tracks and trails, a circuit through several parts of the Haría area and a three-hour limit. Approximate distances and elevation are available for the longer formats, but there is no complete course map here to describe every section confidently. The most useful information for final planning will be the edition’s map and rules, together with confirmation of starts, prices and availability.

For now, Haría is set to host a multi-distance trail-running day in northern Lanzarote, with a technically varied short course and two longer challenges involving greater distance and elevation. The volcanic landscape gives the event a distinctive identity, but the precise route and race rules will ultimately define the experience. In a mountain race, those lines in the rules matter as much as the lines of the trail on a map.