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Bogotá Half Marathon Draws 40,000 Runners to Simón Bolívar Park July 26
The capital's flagship event will send more than 40,000 runners through central streets from the same park that anchors weekly training options.
How we reported this
The Bogotá Half Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, with 10K and 21K distances that start and finish at Simón Bolívar Park.
The timing places the event after another local race in early July, giving runners a window to test routes they already use for training. Organizers expect the field to exceed 40,000 participants, underscoring how the park and surrounding streets have become core infrastructure for the city's running community.
Venues that anchor daily and event training
Simón Bolívar Park serves as the focal point for the half marathon and a location for individual runners. Nearby, El Virrey Park offers tree-lined paths that locals describe as safe and consistent for daily mileage, while Parque de la 93 provides another accessible green space for workouts throughout the week. These sites give athletes fixed locations to build volume before tackling the half marathon's urban course. The elevation of 2,640 meters adds a training element that athletes incorporate into sessions at these spots, building capacity ahead of the event and other races later in the year such as the October full marathon.
Weekly street infrastructure that supports volume
Every Sunday the city closes 120 km of streets to cars from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM under the Ciclovía program, creating protected space for runners and cyclists. Bogotá sits at 2,640 meters above sea level, an elevation that naturally builds aerobic capacity and prepares athletes for other high-altitude races such as the October full marathon. Runners preparing for the July 26 start often combine park sessions with these weekly closures to adapt to both terrain and altitude. Those planning to enter the half marathon are advised to include hill work and steady efforts at elevation in the remaining days. Comfortable clothing, shoes already broken in on local surfaces, and attention to hydration remain the practical steps repeated by participants who train in the same parks and closed streets that the event will use.