Balloon Run
About this race
A Better Way to Start Balloon Fiesta Weekend!
Balloon Run 2026 takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, the first day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Choose from the Half Marathon (new this year), 10 Mile, or 5K and enjoy a scenic race morning at Bosque School with Rio Grande views, hot air balloons, great swag, music, and a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
Why Balloon Run
Local. Scenic. Fun. Worth It.
Balloon Run is built to give runners and families a high-quality race experience with real value.
- Organized by locals
- Supports local causes
- Scenic Rio Grande course
- Hot air balloon views
- Start and finish at Bosque School
- Family-friendly atmosphere
- Professional chip timing
- Great swag and race-day perks
- Run with Olympians!
Distances
Something for everyone
Half Marathon — New for 2026
10 Mile
5K
Whether you are racing hard, running for fun, or making it part of a family weekend, there is a distance for you.
Participant Perks
More included. More to enjoy.
All participants receive:
- Long sleeve race shirt
- Big 'Ol Finisher medal
- Chip timing
- Custom fun bib
- Post-race snacks and brews
Half Marathon and 10 Mile participants also receive:
- Race hat
- Spike bag
- Sunglasses
- Energy gel station
Race-Day Experience
More than just a race
Music
Hot air balloon views
Great photo opportunities
Costume contest prize
Overall and age group awards
5K warm-up led by a 2020 and 2024 Olympian
It is a race morning that feels festive, polished, and easy to enjoy.
Join fellow runners on October 12, 2025 for the Balloon Run. It's a fantastic 16.1K, 5K featuring a flat and fast course in Albuquerque.
Pick your distance
Running
10 mile
10 miles of beautiful views. Out and back course. Energy gels and water halfway through. Every participant will receive a high-quality long-sleeve event shirt and a custom finisher medal.
5k
Out and back course. Every participant will receive a high-quality long-sleeve event shirt and a custom finisher medal.
Virtual 5k
If you aren't able to participate in person, don't worry - you can still do it at any location for a whole week leading up to the event. We will mail you your t-shirt and medal!
Weather Overview
These values reflect historical conditions on the race dates in Albuquerque in 2025, from Open-Meteo archive data.
About Albuquerque
Balloon Run takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. The local timezone is America/Denver.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.