Anaga K42 2026: dates, distances and course details

Plan your race pace

The K42 Canarias Anaga Marathon will hold its 16th edition from Dec. 4-6, 2026, with the flagship race scheduled for Sunday in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. The mountain marathon covers 42.2 kilometers and gains 2,365 meters through the Anaga massif. Its mix of trails, forest tracks and urban sections demands more than maintaining a steady pace.

The program spans three days and includes six formats: KVertical, K12, K21, K30 and K42, plus a pairs option for the K42 and a children’s race. The main Sunday race is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. from Plaza del Cristo, which also serves as the finish. The event is part of the K42 Adventure Marathon Series and takes place in a natural area designated a Biosphere Reserve.

Three days of racing in the Anaga massif

The program begins Friday, Dec. 4, with the KVertical, a 5-kilometer climb gaining 525 meters. The race is scheduled to start at 4 p.m., after the planned transfer to the start area. The day also includes bib pickup at Plaza del Cristo, the event’s logistics hub and the shared finish area for the different race formats.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, runners take on the K30 and K12, starting at separate locations nearby. The 29.5-kilometer race begins at Plaza de San Marcos in Tegueste at 8 a.m.; the 12.8-kilometer K12 starts in Jardina at 10 a.m. Bus transfers to both starts are included in the day’s published schedule.

Sunday, Dec. 6, features the longer distances: the K42 starts at 9 a.m. and the K21, covering 20.3 kilometers, at 9:45 a.m. Both begin at Plaza del Cristo. The race is scheduled to close at 6 p.m. This sequence takes the weekend from the vertical climb to the longest routes, each with its own start time and level of difficulty.

The main event: 42.2 kilometers and 2,365 meters of climbing

The main distance covers 42.2 kilometers and gains 2,365 meters. The route reaches approximately 1,000 meters above sea level and descends to elevations near 335 meters. This is not a road marathon transferred to the mountains: changes in gradient, uneven ground and the combination of trails, tracks and urban sections affect the effort, making the management of climbs and descents central to the finish time.

The race has six aid stations and a nine-hour cutoff. That time limit shapes the day as much as the distance: runners need enough margin to pass checkpoints, eat and drink without turning every stop into a lengthy break. In the mountains, a strategy based solely on pace per kilometer is often less useful than responding to elevation gain, trail conditions and how the body feels.

The K42 is also offered as a pairs race. The format retains the challenge of the long course while adding the requirement to run and finish together, according to the selected entry. The event’s listed fee is 55 euros for individual and pairs entries; prices for other distances and packages may vary by format, so current terms should be checked before registering.

Distances for different levels of experience

The event goes beyond the marathon. The K30 covers 29.5 kilometers, the K21 runs 20.3 kilometers and the K12 is 12.8 kilometers. The KVertical, a 5-kilometer climb, completes the adult program. These figures help distinguish options by distance but do not tell the whole story: in mountain racing, elevation gain, surface and the distribution of steep sections matter as much as mileage.

The K12 and K21 offer alternatives for runners seeking a shorter course than the main event, although both remain mountain races and require preparation suited to the terrain. The K30 falls between those distances and the marathon in duration and workload. The K42 has the greatest overall mileage and elevation gain. Choosing by race name alone, without considering the profile and time available to finish, can lead runners to underestimate the effort.

The program also includes a K Kids race for children on Saturday afternoon at Plaza del Cristo. A three-day format combines several events and offers an overall classification known as the Grand K. Taking on several stages in consecutive days demands something different from a single race: recovery between stages becomes part of the challenge, alongside the competition itself.

A course connected to the Biosphere Reserve

The setting is central to the event. Tenerife’s Anaga Rural Park is designated a Biosphere Reserve and features ridges, ravines and mountain paths. The race crosses parts of the massif, combining trails with forest tracks and urban stretches. The landscape is not just a backdrop: it determines the kind of support runners need and explains why effort can change sharply from one section to the next.

Cruz del Carmen, La Goleta and Chinamada are associated with the route and help place the race within Anaga’s geography. Varied terrain calls for adjustments in stride: a narrow trail demands focus and control, while a track may allow a steadier pace. Long climbs and technical descents, where present, work different muscle groups and make energy management essential.

The shared finish is at Plaza del Cristo in central La Laguna. For the Sunday races, the square is also the starting point for the K42 and K21; the other formats begin at different locations according to their routes. The contrast between mountain paths and a finish in an urban setting gives the event a shared identity and brings the different races together in one place.

Start times, locations and cutoff times

On Friday, Dec. 4, bib and race-pack pickup is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Plaza del Cristo. The transfer to the KVertical start is listed for 2:30 p.m., with the race beginning at 4 p.m. On Saturday, pickup again runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the K30 starts in Tegueste at 8 a.m. and the K12 in Jardina at 10 a.m. The children’s race is scheduled for 4 p.m.

On Sunday, the K42 starts at 9 a.m. and the K21 at 9:45 a.m. from Plaza del Cristo. The general race closing time is listed as 6 p.m., although each route has its own cutoff: nine hours for the K42, six and a half hours for the K30, four hours for the K21, two and a half hours for the K12 and one hour for the KVertical. Knowing the intermediate checkpoints for each format is important, too.

Transfers and pickup times are part of the logistics, particularly for events that do not start at the main square. The K30 and K12 have starting points separate from the finish, making the transport arranged by the organizers relevant to planning the day. Published schedules are a reference for the 2026 edition, but runners should check the latest official information in case of changes.

Gear and the demands of trail running

For the K42 and K30, the race information lists mandatory equipment including a water container holding at least 500 milliliters, an emergency blanket and a mobile phone with the number provided during registration. A windbreaker or rain jacket may also be required if weather conditions make it necessary. Poles are allowed, and cups are not provided at aid stations, so runners must carry their own reusable container.

The required emergency blanket must measure at least 1.20 by 2.10 meters. This requirement and the possibility of being asked to carry a waterproof layer reflect an important difference from an urban race: conditions can change while runners are on the mountain, and equipment is part of safety. Requirements for each distance should be checked before race day, since the shorter events do not have the same mandatory gear unless organizers announce otherwise.

The event information lists a chip-equipped bib, accident insurance, aid stations and transport to some race starts. The K42 has six aid stations, with fewer on shorter distances. With no cups provided, hydration remains each runner’s responsibility throughout the race. Carrying the right container and practicing with it beforehand avoids relying on improvised solutions on the course.

Registration, fees and combined formats

The reference information lists the K42 individual entry at 55 euros, with the same fee for the pairs format. Other races and three-day packages have separate prices; the packages combine events and may qualify runners for an overall classification. Since fees depend on the format and may be updated, the main race fee should not be treated as a single price for the full program.

The published registration deadline is Nov. 30, 2026, or until places are filled. That date does not guarantee that every race format will remain available until the deadline: capacity may vary by event. Entries must match the selected distance and its specific conditions, particularly for formats combining more than one race over the weekend.

For the longer races, the listed minimum age is 18 for the K42 and K30; the K21 accepts runners from age 16 and the K12 from age 15, with age calculated as of Dec. 31. The race has checkpoints, and outside assistance is prohibited except at aid stations. The FEDME rules apply as a supplement, according to the event information, while specific participation terms vary by format.

What sets the Anaga K42 apart

The event’s distinctive feature is the combination of a demanding marathon with a program that turns the weekend into a mountain-running festival. Participants can choose a short distance, an intermediate event or the K42, as well as pairs and multi-day formats. That variety broadens the event’s appeal without obscuring the difference between a 5-kilometer vertical race and more than 42 kilometers over changing terrain.

The course also links Tenerife’s communities and natural areas with a finish in La Laguna. For runners, the challenge is managing effort, water and equipment; for spectators, the schedule offers several moments and locations worth checking in advance. The combination of sport and conservation also calls for respect for trails and race instructions in a protected area, without leaving the designated routes.

The 2026 edition runs Dec. 4-6 and ends Sunday with a 42.2-kilometer K42, 2,365 meters of climbing and a 9 a.m. start. Those figures convey the sporting scale, but not the event’s full character: Anaga provides the terrain and scenery, while the different distances turn the event into a three-day gathering. Much of its identity lies in that balance between challenge and landscape.

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