The 2026 Conjuro hill race is set for Dec. 13

Plan your race pace

The 27th Subida Pedestre al Conjuro will take place on Dec. 13, 2026, in Motril, Granada. The date and location are the confirmed details for the next edition; so far, no reliable information has been provided about the start time, route, official distance or entry fee.

The race returns to the local sports calendar as an event with a long history and a name tied to the climb to the Conjuro. Information available from the previous edition described a demanding course, but it does not establish that those details will remain the same in 2026. That distinction matters: a confirmed date does not mean all participation conditions have been published.

Date confirmed for the 2026 edition

The 2026 event is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 13, in Motril, a municipality in Granada province. The race reaches its 27th edition, a continuity that reflects its place in the local sports calendar. A December event also has its own character: shorter days, potentially cool temperatures and a different atmosphere from summer races.

Confirmation of the date allows runners to reserve the day, but it is not enough to plan participation precisely. The available information does not give a start time, meeting point or finish location. The registration period, field limit and bib pickup deadlines have also not been announced, so it is important to distinguish published details from information that is still pending.

For a race that climbs toward higher ground, those details are not minor. The schedule affects daylight and cold; the start location shapes travel plans, and the finish area influences return logistics. Until specific instructions for the 27th edition are published, information from previous years should not be treated as a current race plan.

What is known about the course and what remains unconfirmed

Information from the previous edition described an 18.5-kilometer paved route with 810 meters of elevation gain, starting at Plaza de la Coronación in Motril and finishing at the facilities of Air Surveillance Squadron No. 9, known as EVA 9. That profile suggests a sustained climb, not a flat race where maintaining an even pace is enough. However, there is no confirmation that the distance, elevation or start and finish points will be repeated in 2026.

The route published for that edition passed through urban sections and local roads, crossing the municipalities of Motril, Lújar and Gualchos-Castell. The gradual ascent made the road a thread connecting the city with the mountains. No map, elevation profile or official list of roads has been released for the 2026 event, so any precise description of the current course would be premature.

The difference between knowing a race’s general character and having its updated route is essential when preparing for an event with elevation gain. The total climb, road changes, wind exposure and aid-station locations all affect both effort and each runner’s needs. The previous edition’s 810-meter figure is useful historical context, but it should not guide 2026 preparations without express confirmation from the organizers.

A climb that demands more than speed

An uphill race usually rewards pacing more than a fast start. In the first miles, feeling fresh can tempt runners to go beyond their limits; later, when the gradient continues, that early excess can show up as heavy legs and ragged breathing. If the next edition retains an uphill course, managing effort will matter more than chasing the same pace on every section.

Elevation gain also changes how runners read the course. On an uphill road, pace per mile or kilometer may slow even when effort remains steady. Experienced runners often pay attention to breathing, muscle fatigue and whether they can maintain a comfortable stride, rather than treating every change on the watch as a sign that something is wrong. That approach is especially relevant when the final profile of the race has not yet been published.

A downhill section, if included in the final route, is not automatically a rest. Repeated impact can strain the quadriceps and joints, while fatigue makes foot placement less precise. General preparation for a road-based mountain race therefore often combines endurance, strength work and familiarity with hills, tailored to individual ability. The specific demands of the 2026 race will depend on its official course, not its name alone.

Motril and the Conjuro, two parts of one race

The identity of the Subida Pedestre al Conjuro comes from the contrast between Motril’s urban setting and the climb toward higher ground. That transition makes the race more than a sequence of kilometers: the landscape changes as the effort increases, and a finish at elevation — as in previous editions — makes a natural endpoint to the climb. For 2026, the precise finish location still needs official confirmation.

The previous edition was described as finishing inside the facilities of EVA 9, an unusual feature that set it apart from a conventional urban race. Access to a facility of this kind requires specific coordination and organizational measures. It should not be assumed that the same finish will be used again: the location announced for that edition is a precedent, not a guarantee for the next one.

The race also has a regional dimension. Earlier routes connected several municipalities and roads, meaning the event required coordination beyond the starting line. Traffic restrictions, safety and medical support are discreet but vital parts of making a road race work. The complete 2026 information will need to clarify those arrangements and identify which areas will be affected on race day.

Charity and organization: background from previous editions

The previous edition included a charitable element linked to the Josep Carreras Foundation Against Leukemia: organizers announced a one-euro donation from each entry and the option of contributing through a zero bib, with proceeds going to research. This is useful context for understanding the race’s recent history, although there is no confirmation that the same arrangement will return in 2026. The cause and donation method need to be verified for this edition.

That event was also described as being supported by the Pazito a Pazito Athletics Club, Motril City Council and EVA 9, alongside coordination with security services and Civil Protection. Aid stations approximately every five kilometers and basic life-support ambulances were also mentioned. These details show the logistical demands of an uphill road race, but they do not replace the safety plan that will be announced for the new date.

The distance between municipalities and the elevation gain mean safety depends on more than having staff at the start and finish. Monitoring intersections, communication between teams, medical care and responding to weather changes all matter. The 2026 rules will provide the precise information on participant requirements and resources planned along the course.

Registration, entry fee and logistics have yet to be announced

The entry fee, opening and closing dates, and field limit for the 27th edition have not been published. The previous event had a stated fee of 17 euros, a limit of 250 runners and a registration deadline a few days before race day. Those conditions belong to an earlier edition and should not be taken as the terms for 2026.

It is also unclear how bibs will be collected or whether transport, bag drop or a ride back from the finish will be provided. Previous information listed a bus and bag-drop service between Plaza de la Coronación and EVA 9, as well as race-day bib pickup. Those arrangements were tied to specific start and finish locations; if the course changes, logistics may change too. Updated rules will be essential for knowing which services remain.

Until these details are announced, the most sensible approach is to reserve the date without assuming costs, schedules or conditions that have not been published. In particular, there is no basis to say that race-day registration will be allowed or that previous time cutoffs will be repeated. The earlier edition had checkpoints at La Garnatilla and the Gualchos-Castell junction, but the locations and limits for 2026 have not been confirmed.

A December race awaiting its official rules

The 27th Subida Pedestre al Conjuro already has one essential detail: it will take place on Dec. 13, 2026, in Motril. Its long-standing name and previous editions point to a race with a distinct identity, associated with the effort of climbing from the city toward the Conjuro area. The rest of the event information — distance, profile, schedule, registration and services — still needs to be completed with official details for this edition.

Caution does not make the race less interesting; it prevents memories of a previous edition from being confused with the next edition’s rules. Even a familiar route can change from year to year because of safety, permits or logistics. The most reliable reference for participants will be the specific 2026 announcement, particularly for the course and access arrangements at the finish.

With the date set, Motril will once again host a winter race that brings sport and local terrain together. Once the remaining details are known, the challenge, schedule and organization of the day can be assessed precisely. For now, the calendar points to Dec. 13; the final profile of the climb is still to come.