The Race
This page covers the August LIVE!42K, run by Instituto Eu Vivo Esporte. The April Maratona Brasília and the November Monumental marathon are separate events with their own organisers, routes and rules. Check the month and the website before you enter.
| Next Race Date | Sunday 1 August 2027 (start time to be confirmed) |
|---|---|
| Course type | Road, three out-and-back arms from the central district, starting and finishing at the cathedral |
| Registration | Paid online entry through LIVE! Experience; no ballot found |
| Ballot opens | No ballot |
| Total finishers | Not confirmed (inaugural edition, 2026) |
| Average race day temperature | Dry August; one 2026 guide gives morning lows of 14 to 15°C |
| Cutoff time | Timing closes at 11:35 in the 2027 rules |
| Free race-day transport | None for runners; Sunday public transport is fare-free but the metro opens at 07:00 |
| Course certification | CBAt national permit (27/2026 in 2026); no certificate found |
History
LIVE!42K is a new marathon. The full distance was first run on Sunday 2 August 2026 as the longest event of the LIVE! running circuit in Brasília, and the organiser billed it as the first marathon to be run entirely inside the Plano Piloto. The circuit itself is older, with half marathons and shorter races, and the April Maratona Brasília and the November Monumental marathon are separate events with their own histories.
The 2026 weekend ran over two days. The children's race, 5 km and 10 km took place on the Saturday, and the half marathon and marathon followed early on Sunday morning, with numbers handed out at the Mané Mercado in Asa Norte before the festival moved to an arena opposite the cathedral. The Brazilian band Banda Eva was on the programme. About 6,000 runners were reported across all distances, and the half and the full were reported sold out by 29 July.
Charles Paiva and Gisely Carvalho were named as the first winners. Their times are reported two ways: 2:36:43 and 3:07:24 in one set of results, and 2:31:40 and 3:02:22 in another for the same athletes. A corrected results file would settle it, so neither pair should be taken as a course record.
A second edition is advertised for 31 July and 1 August 2027, with the marathon on Sunday 1 August.
The course
The marathon starts and finishes at the Esplanada dos Ministérios, in the second quadrant beside the Metropolitan Cathedral. Instead of one long loop, the 2026 course was a set of three out-and-back arms, all starting from the central district: east along the Esplanada to a turn near Avenida das Nações at km 5, north along the Eixo Rodoviário Norte through Asa Norte to a turn on the Estrada Parque Torto at km 18, and south along the Eixo Rodoviário Sul through Asa Sul to a turn at km 34. Each arm returns by the same road, and the three meet again at the centre.
Brasília stands on a plateau, and the whole course sits between 1,007 and 1,099 m. It is not flat. The east arm drops 67 m over the first 4.8 km and climbs 77 m over the 7.7 km back to the centre, a gradient of about 1%. The north arm falls to 1,007 m at km 17.3, climbs 35 m in 0.9 km (3.8%) to the turn at km 18.2, and then climbs 39 m over 1.5 km (2.6%) and 49 m over 2.5 km (1.9%) on the way home, to 1,092 m at km 24. The south arm starts near the course's high point of 1,099 m at km 27.9, drops 43 m to the turn and climbs 42 m over 5.7 km (0.7%) back to 1,097 m at km 39.4. The last 2.8 km ease down to the finish at 1,084 m.
The 2026 organiser map marked drink stations at roughly every 1.6 to 2 km, toilets at km 11, 20 and 30, water spray at km 18.3 and 36.6, a sponge point at km 34 and a special food point at km 36. Music and dance groups were placed at paired points along the arms.
Street-level detail, the turning points and the 2027 finish approach depend on a map that has not been published.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 10: east and back. The marathon starts beside the cathedral and runs east along the Esplanada, with drink stations at 1.6 and 3.2 km in 2026. The road eases downhill for about the first five kilometres, 67 m in all, to a turn near Avenida das Nações at km 5, then you come back the same way. The first five kilometres are the easiest of the day, and the five that follow are the first long drag back to the centre, 77 m at about 1%. In 2026 the start was at 05:00 to 05:05, in the dark, so you run this arm to the first light.
Km 10 to 26: north through Asa Norte. At about km 10 the line meets the central district again and turns north along the Eixo Rodoviário Norte. This arm runs for roughly 8 km to a turn at about km 18 on the Estrada Parque Torto, with toilets at km 11 and 20 and drink stations on both legs. It drops to 1,007 m at km 17.3 over the first half of the arm, and the climb back from km 19 to km 24 is the second long effort of the race, 88 m in all. Fitness groups and a fanfare were placed along this arm in 2026.
Km 26 to 34: south through Asa Sul. You pass through the centre again at about km 26 and set off along the Eixo Rodoviário Sul, which curves south-west to a turn at about km 34. This arm starts at the course's high point of 1,099 m and gives it up gently, 43 m over 5.8 km. It has the most music in the 2026 plan, including a trio elétrico near km 33 to 34, and a water-spray point at km 36.6 on the return. By now it is mid-morning for most runners.
Km 34 to 42.2: back to the cathedral. The return up the southern arm climbs 42 m over 5.7 km to 1,097 m at km 39.4, with a sponge point at km 34 and a special food point at km 36. The last two kilometres ease down to the finish beside the cathedral. The route passes the central district three times before you are allowed to stop, which is a test of discipline as much as legs.
Pacing. The 2027 rules set a timing closure at 11:35, with the start time still undecided. If the start stays at 05:05, that is 6 hours 30 minutes, or about 9:15 per km. The rules do not give intermediate checkpoints. Check the 2027 map before you build a pacing plan.
A gentle 67 m descent out to a turn near km 5, then a long drag back to the centre. Start slowly.
An arm of about 8 km to a turn near km 18. The climb back from km 19 is the second long effort.
The southern arm curves south-west to a turn near km 34. This arm has the most planned music.
A steady rise of 42 m to 1,097 m at km 39.4, then an easy final two kilometres to the finish.
Course Map
The 2026 course from the cathedral on the Esplanada, three out-and-back arms east, north and south through the Plano Piloto. Tap a marker for details, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
The 2027 rules allow registered pacers, but no pace teams had been announced when this page was written. Check the organiser's channels nearer the race.
The 2026 course was three out-and-back arms from the central district, so you pass through the centre at about km 10 and km 26 before the finish. Each arm falls on the way out and rises on the way back.
The 2027 start time has not been announced. In 2026 the general start was at 05:00 or 05:05 depending on the source, and the metro opened at 07:00. Plan for a pre-dawn start and a taxi or a walk.
In 2026 numbers were handed out at the Mané Mercado on weekdays and at the arena on Saturday. The 2027 details are not yet published.
August is the dry season in Brasília, one of the driest months across the Centro-Oeste, so rain is unlikely and the larger risk is dry air. Dehydration can arrive even in mild weather, so drink in the hours before the start and not only on the course.
One running guide for the 2026 race gave morning lows of 14 to 15°C and afternoons of about 27°C in early August. That is a guide figure and not a station normal. At the 2026 start of about 05:00 the air is cool, and by the time a four-hour runner finishes the sun is well up. A light layer for the wait, a cap and sunscreen are sensible. The 2027 kit includes a windbreaker, but it is a kit item and the rules do not say you can leave it on the course.
No clothing-donation scheme was found. The rules provide courtesy baggage at the arena, but valuables are left at your own risk.
Entry
Entry for 2027 is advertised as open through the organiser's registration platform, LIVE! Experience. There is no ballot. The regulation lists five price bands for the marathon: R$489.90 for a presale limited to 2026 entrants, then R$499.90, R$509.90, R$519.90 and R$529.90. The dates of each band are not published, and processing charges were not seen.
The rules say entries can close the day before the race or when capacity is reached. The general marathon cap is not published, but 20 full marathon places are held for runners with disabilities and 50 for older runners. The half and the full were reported sold out before the 2026 race, so do not count on a last-minute place.
Start groups follow predicted finish times. Group A is up to 2:30, B up to 2:50, C up to 3:30, D up to 4:10 and E slower than 4:10. These are starting bands and not qualifying times. Elite admission is separate: men need a marathon of 2:37 or a half marathon of 1:22, and women 3:07 or 1:37, within 2023 to 2026, with active federation registration. Approved elite runners receive an entry exemption. There are 120 elite places across the male and female half and full categories.
Two clauses need a final ruling. The age rule says 18 by 31 December of the race year in one place and a minimum of 18 elsewhere, so a runner who turns 18 close to race day should ask. The transfer rules say entries are personal and non-transferable but then allow a change of holder until 15 days before the first kit-collection day, with distance and shirt changes closing 30 days before. Collection dates are not yet published, so neither deadline can be turned into a date. The seven-day withdrawal right is handled through the organiser's customer service before the kit is delivered.
Foreign card acceptance and Brazilian identity fields have not been tested. No nationality restriction was found.
See LIVE! Experience →Race Weekend
Bib collection
Collection details for 2027 are marked as coming soon, so nothing is confirmed. In 2026 the numbers were handed out in two places: the Mané Mercado in Asa Norte (SRPN 0) from 29 to 31 July between noon and 22:00, and the race arena on Saturday 1 August between 08:00 and 17:00. A runner who followed the market address on the Saturday could have gone to the wrong place. Race-morning collection is not assumed for 2027.
The 2027 marathon kit includes a shirt, sports bag, cap, windbreaker and bib with chip. Finishers receive a medal, a towel and a finisher shirt, which you collect yourself with your bib. Size changes have limits in the rules, so choose your size with care.
In 2026 someone else could collect for you with your photo identification. A full checklist for foreign runners, including passport acceptance and authorisation letters, has not been published, so keep your confirmation on your phone and wait for the 2027 instructions before you plan your arrival.
The market is also a food hall, and its restaurant hours are separate from the organiser's collection hours. It is about 3.0 km from the cathedral in a straight line.
Getting to the start
The 2027 start time is not yet set. In 2026 the arena opened at 04:00, the wheelchair category started at 04:55, the elite runners at 05:00 and the general field at 05:05, although a news report and a running guide both said 05:00. The 2027 rules ask you to arrive at least one hour before your start. Treat a pre-dawn start as the working assumption.
Sunday travel on public transport in the Distrito Federal is free for everyone under the Vai de Graça programme, but it is not a race benefit, and the metro opens at 07:00 on Sundays. That is after the 2026 start. No early metro, race shuttle or free transport for runners has been found. Plan on a walk if you stay close to the Esplanada, or a taxi or app car to a drop-off the organiser allows.
Staying near the cathedral removes some transport, but you still have to cross wide roads and race barriers, and nobody has measured a walk from any hotel. The start and finish are in the same place, which makes it easy to find your way back.
The rules promise chemical toilets and courtesy baggage at the arena. They give no toilet count, bag-size limit or closing time, and they warn against leaving valuables. After the finish, the full distance kit includes a medal and towel and a finisher shirt collected with your bib. Arena recovery in 2026 included stretching, massage, hydration and live music.
Do not plan to be at a taxi rank at a fixed minute. Collect your bag and leave through the designated public exit first.
Nutrition on course
The only detailed list is from the 2026 organiser map. It is for the full marathon, and it is a plan and not a record of what was served. The map labels hydration points without saying whether they gave water, electrolyte drink or both. Hydration points ran at roughly every 1.6 to 2 km, with the early ones shared with the half marathon. Toilets were marked at km 11, 20 and 30, water spray at km 18.3 and 36.6, a sponge point at km 34 and a special food point at km 36.
Carry the gels you have trained with, because no gel was promised. Ask the organiser before you plan to leave a personal bottle at a point, since the rules limit outside assistance and hydration, and a supporter handing you something is not assumed to be allowed. The 2027 rules promise hydration but publish no list.
Spectating
The simplest plan is the finish beside the cathedral, once the organiser publishes the public access. The shared start and finish give a reunion point that needs no chase. No spectator ticket rule, live-tracking specification or approved crossing diagram has been found.
Because the three arms start from the same part of the city, the route returns to the central district at about km 10 and km 26 as well as at the finish. A spectator near the central bus station could see a runner at those points as well as at the start and finish. At 5:00 per km from a 05:00 start, that is about 05:50 at km 10 and about 07:10 at km 26, and a runner at an even 5:00 per km finishes in about 3 hours 31, around 08:30. Confirm the public side of the road before choosing a spot. A pre-dawn walk or a taxi is more reliable than the metro, which opens at 07:00.
The organiser placed music and dance groups at paired positions on both arms in 2026, so a point near a paired station gives two sightings, a few minutes apart. No bus stop, crossing or footpath to those points has been confirmed. Crowd density has not been measured. Do not plan a multi-stop transport chase.
- Stay in the central district and watch the start from a permitted point.
- Wait for the finish and arrange the reunion point outside the athlete area, because barriers may change the walk.
Post-race food
Finish food has not been described, so do not rely on it. The kit list names a medal, a towel and a finisher shirt and nothing edible.
The Mané Mercado, at the Arena BRB Mané Garrincha in Asa Norte, was the 2026 collection point and is a food hall with several kitchens, including sushi and grilled dishes, with table ordering and reservations. Its own site gives Sunday hours of noon to 22:00, while another listing shows 11:00 to 23:00. Ring or check before you go, because an early finisher should not assume lunch is ready. A taxi from the finish is more sensible than a walk on tired legs.
Nearer the northern hotels, Brasília Shopping lists Sunday food-court and restaurant hours of noon to 22:00. This tells you a food venue is open, not what any tenant serves or how long the queue is.
Where to Stay
The start and finish share one place, so a central hotel serves both ends. Even so, the Esplanada and the hotel sectors are separated by wide roads and large blocks, and the organiser has not published its gates. Compare a real walking route against a booked car before you trust a map pin.
Setor Hoteleiro Norte (SHN)
The first place to look. One operator, Hplus, lists five hotels here with exact addresses, on blocks Q01, Q04 and Q05, and they cover a range of service levels. Two of them, on Quadra 01, geocode about 1.3 to 1.4 km from the cathedral in a straight line. It suits a runner who wants several bookable alternatives in one area. It does not give you a guaranteed five-minute walk to the start.
Asa Norte long-stay
The same operator lists furnished long-stay properties in the north, including Biarritz in SHN. A kitchenette helps on a longer trip, but minimum stays and short-weekend availability depend on the unit. A long-stay address can mean more transport than a hotel.
SHTN and the lakeside
Premier Residence and Life Resort are listed in the lakeside hotel sector. They suit a longer visit for a traveller willing to use road transport, and the cathedral is not within walking distance. No early public connection to the start has been found.
Sudoeste and Guará (Park Sul)
Multiparque in Sudoeste and Vista Park Sul in Guará are long-stay options. They widen the choice, but they are secondary for this race until you have a start-transfer plan.
No noise survey, price ladder or hotel sell-out data was found. Ask each hotel about room orientation, breakfast times, luggage storage and cancellation before you book.
Recommended hotels
SHN Quadra 04, Bloco E. The operator's Premium product. Ask whether a pre-dawn breakfast and a late checkout are available, and how to reach the Esplanada on race morning.
SHN Quadra 05, Bloco D. The operator places it near the Eixo Monumental. Quadra 05 is a different walk from Quadra 01, so check the route.
SHN Quadra 01, Bloco F. An Executive option in the same sector. No race allocation or measured walk.
SHN Quadra 01, Bloco B. An Express product. Confirm breakfast hours and checkout individually.
SHN Quadra 01, Bloco D. Another Express-level option. No live weekend rate or guaranteed availability.
Booking timeline
The 2027 race is advertised for 1 August with entries open, so there is no ballot to wait for. The presale band is limited to 2026 entrants, and the dates of the later bands are not published. Confirm that your payment has completed and that you are in the marathon, not the half, before you book flights.
The first edition was reported sold out in both the half and the full before race week. That is a sign not to count on a late place, though no sell-out date was published. No hotel block, release calendar or race-weekend premium was found, so compare cancellable rooms.
Arrival planning depends on the collection schedule, which is not yet published. In 2026 numbers were handed out at a market on weekdays and at the arena on Saturday, so do not assume a Sunday arrival works. Choose flights around confirmed collection hours.
Recheck the start time, cutoff, map, change deadlines and Sunday transport policy before any booking becomes irreversible.
See & Do
Distances are from the cathedral at the start and finish, in a straight line, kilometres first, where they could be measured.
Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida
The cathedral is the race reference. The visitor page gives Tuesday to Friday 08:00 to 16:45, Saturday 08:00 to 16:30 and Sunday 09:00 to 17:30, and shows no Monday opening. Visits pause for worship. Guided visits need email confirmation in advance and cost R$15 per person. Cover shoulders and remove caps, so change after the run.
Congresso Nacional guided visit
Guided visits usually run from 09:00 to 17:00 in half-hour groups of up to 50, with booking and identity required. Tuesday and Wednesday are closed to ordinary visits and Thursday is reserved for schools. Foreign visitors need a passport or an accepted regional identity document. The tour involves standing and security checks, so take a taxi and do not go straight after the finish.
Torre de TV and Memorial JK
A local tourism directory lists the TV tower open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 18:45 and the Memorial JK from 09:00 to 18:00 on the same days. These are directory hours, so confirm them with the operators. Check the accessible route and ticketing before you go.
After the Race
The marathon is on a Sunday, and the cathedral's main schedule shows it closed on Mondays, so the Monday after the race suits a booked Congress visit by taxi and a short seated walk on the Esplanada. Pirenópolis, a colonial town in Goiás, is about three hours away and works as a quiet extension once your legs have recovered. Check hours and bookings before you commit.
A booked Congress visit on the Monday after the race, a short walk along the Esplanada and an early dinner. The cathedral's main schedule shows it closed on Mondays.
Congress on Monday, then the cathedral, the TV tower and the Memorial JK on Tuesday, with a seated lunch.
Two nights in a colonial town in Goiás, with short flat walks between churches and small museums.
A rest night and a morning of sights in Brasília, then two nights in Pirenópolis before the road back.