The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 14 February 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop: four laps of a 10.5 km circuit |
| Registration | Open online entry, no ballot; overseas eligibility needs written confirmation |
| Ballot opens | No ballot |
| Start | Plaza de España, 09:00 (with the half marathon) |
| Finish | Plaza de España |
| Total finishers | Not confirmed |
| Avg race-day temp | 1 to 20°C (organiser’s January and February range, mean 13°C) |
| Cutoff time | 5 hours, with a maximum time at every kilometre |
| Free race-day transport | No |
| Course certification | Homologated by the Extremadura athletics federation |
History
Don Benito ran its first marathon on 8 February 2026. The town’s sports department announced it in November 2025 after about nine months of planning, as part of a public-health programme called "Don Benito te cuida", under the slogan "Sumando zancadas, sumando latidos": adding strides, adding heartbeats. Four local clubs organise it with the council: Club Atletismo Don Benito, AD Atletas Don Benito, Triatlón Don Benito and Club Maratón Vegas Altas.
The town already had a long-running half marathon, the Media Maratón Virgen de las Cruces, but no full marathon. Course designer Joaquín Calderón drew a single loop of about 10.5 km from Plaza de España: the 10.5 km race runs it once, the half marathon twice and the marathon four times. The council said the format would concentrate police, aid stations and entertainment and let families see runners again and again. The marathon and half were homologated and hosted the Extremadura championships.
The first edition brought more than 1,000 runners across the three distances, after weeks of winter rain that had flooded parts of the region. Race morning was dry and windy. Carlos Gazapo of Valencia de Alcántara won the marathon in 2:28:00. One marathon runner who wrote about the day found the loop hillier than expected and praised the police and volunteers, but said that by the time he finished, the shorter races had cleared the finish of everything but water.
The second edition, on 14 February 2027, keeps the four laps and publishes more detail: 316 m of climbing, six start corrals, a cutoff for every kilometre, a 1,600-runner cap and prize money for the first 40 men and women.
The course
The marathon starts and finishes in Plaza de España, the main square of Don Benito, and runs four laps of an urban circuit of about 10.5 km, all on asphalt. Each lap ends in the square, which is the lap point, main aid station and spectator area at about 10.5, 21.1 and 32 km. The half marathon starts with the marathon at 09:00 and runs two laps; the 10.5 km race starts at 09:20 and runs one.
The organiser publishes 316 m of climbing, 79 m per lap, within an altitude range of only about 30 m. Each lap drops west from the square to the lowest ground on Avenida del Pilar, about 270 m, and back towards the centre, then climbs 21 m in 1.4 km, about 1.5 per cent, from Avenida República Argentina to the lap’s high point, 292 m, around Calle Cañón on the south side. It crosses the higher eastern streets, then falls about 20 m over 5 km north along Avenida Primero de Mayo and Avenida de Madrid to the railway station side, and returns south on Avenida de la Constitución to the square. The circuit folds back towards the centre several times, so the square is never far away.
Don Benito sits on the open plain of the Vegas Altas del Guadiana, and wind crosses the outer roads. No official list of streets has been published; the organiser’s map is the reference.
Kilometre by kilometre
The loop. Every lap is the same: about 10.5 km from Plaza de España and back, with the organiser’s 79 m of climbing in short pieces. The one rise that shows on the chart is the 21 m climb to Calle Cañón, about 4 km into each lap, at 1.5 per cent; the rest is a gentle drop to the north and short rises back to the square.
Km 0 to 10.5: the first lap. Marathon and half-marathon runners leave the square together at 09:00 from six corrals. The first lap is the busiest: the 10.5 km race sets off 20 minutes later from the same square, and its faster runners come through from behind. Use the lap to learn the course: where the climb is, where the wind comes from and which corners are sharp. Water is at 5.5 km and 10 km, then the full station in the square at 10.5 km.
Km 10.5 to 21.1: the second lap. The half marathon is still alongside. Aid now adds 226ERS Hydrazero and bananas to water. At the end of the lap, half-marathon runners turn into the finish. Marathon runners follow the signs and carry on; do not drift into the finish funnel. The first man and first woman through halfway win €150 each, provided they finish the marathon.
Km 21.1 to 32: the third lap. The field thins out sharply and the outer roads may now be quiet. This is where four laps become hard: you know exactly what is left. Run the climb to Calle Cañón by effort, ease over the top and let the long drop north do some of the work.
Km 32 to 42.2: the fourth lap. The station in the square at 32 km is the last chance to reset. Wind on the open sections will have hit you three times already; adjust your target. By now the shorter races have finished and a runner on four-and-a-half-hour pace may be almost alone. Stations at 37 and 41.5 km carry water, Hydrazero and banana. The finish is back in Plaza de España.
Chip timing records the start, every lap and the finish; missing a control means disqualification. Only registered runners may pass under the finish arch, and crossing with a child, friend or dog risks disqualification.
A crowded start with the half and the 10.5 km. Note the climb, the corners and the wind.
The half marathon turns off to finish; follow the signs for the marathon.
The field thins. Run the climb to Calle Cañón by effort.
The last reset is at 32 km in the square. Carry a spare gel.
Course Map
Four laps of the same circuit from Plaza de España, west to Avenida del Pilar, up to Calle Cañón and north to the station side. Tap a marker for the square, the high point, the north end and the stations, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
No pace groups appear in the second-edition regulation or registration page. Six corrals seed the start by declared marathon target: under 3:00, 3:00 to 3:15, 3:15 to 3:30, 3:30 to 3:45, 3:45 to 4:00 and over 4:00. Marathon and half-marathon runners share them, and no proof of time is asked for.
Each of the four laps ends in Plaza de España, where the half marathon finishes after two laps and the 10.5 km after one. Follow the marathon signs at every pass, especially at 21.1 km, where the half-marathon runners around you turn for the finish.
The cutoff is five hours, and the regulation sets a maximum time at every kilometre, an even pace of about 7:06 per kilometre: 35 km by 13:08:50 and 40 km by 13:44:23, for example. The course closes behind the last runner on the final lap and traffic returns.
The regulation uses standard Spanish federation wording that admits Spanish athletes, foreign residents who can document residence or work permission, and Portuguese athletes who have not represented their country in the previous five years. A visitor from the UK or elsewhere does not clearly fit. Email the organiser at maraton@donbenito.es and get written confirmation that you can enter before paying.
Mid-February in Don Benito can be anything from a frosty start to a mild, sunny late morning. The organiser gives a planning range for January and February of 1°C to 20°C, with a mean of 13°C. The 09:00 start is usually the coldest part of the day.
Wind is the bigger factor. Don Benito lies on the open plain of the Vegas Altas, and the first edition was run in strong wind; four laps mean four passes of every exposed road. A long-sleeved top or arm warmers and gloves you can pocket suit most mornings; a vest and shorts may be enough on a calm, sunny one. Take an old layer for the corral, which opens at 08:30, and leave it only where race staff allow. Check the hourly wind forecast the day before: it tells you which side of the loop will hurt.
Entry
Entry is direct online, first come, first served, with 1,600 places across the marathon, half marathon and 10.5 km. There is no ballot. Overseas runners should read the eligibility rule above before paying.
The marathon costs €25 from early March to early August, €30 from early August to 1 November, and €40 from 2 November to early February. Runners without a federation licence pay €5 more for accident insurance. Clubs entering more than ten runners get €2 off per entry. Marathon runners must be born in 2007 or earlier.
Refunds, a change of runner or a change of distance are allowed until 4 January; after that, no refunds. If the race is cancelled or moved by force majeure, the entry carries over to the new date. Entries by 22 January are guaranteed their chosen shirt size.
Fast runner standards
There is no good-for-age, charity or tour-operator route. Prize money is generous for the size of the race: €600 to the male and female winners, with payments down to 30th place for men under three hours and women under 3:45, entries to the next edition for places 31 to 40, and category and team prizes.
Don Benito town council (race organiser) →Race Weekend
Bib collection
There is no expo. The regulation promises a runner bag and says bibs will be handed out at a venue and on dates announced nearer the race, with collection on race morning as well. None of those details had been published by late September 2026.
Bring the payment confirmation email and official photo ID. Someone else can collect with those, your written authorisation and a photocopy of your ID. The bib carries the chip and, on the back, an emergency contact label: fill it in before leaving your room.
Collect on Saturday once the venue is announced. Race-morning collection exists, but with corrals opening at 08:30 for a 09:00 start there is little margin if the desk is busy. No medical certificate or chip deposit is needed.
Getting to the start
The marathon and half marathon start together at 09:00 in Plaza de España. Corrals open at 08:30. The 10.5 km starts at 09:20 without corrals.
Getting there. Walk. Central hotels and apartments are a few minutes from the square. From Hotel Vegas Altas, 1.4 km west, the square is a 20-minute walk or a short taxi; book the taxi the night before. No runner transport or parking area is published, and parking near the square is lost to road closures.
Bag drop. In Plaza de España, beside the start and finish. Show your bib to leave and collect a bag. Hours and size limits have not been published. The square is also the lap point, so do not try to reach the bag during the race.
Rules. Bib on the chest, uncut and unfolded, with the emergency label filled in. No bicycles, motorbikes, prams or other wheels unless authorised; police remove vehicles following runners. Waste goes in marked zones only.
The finish. In Plaza de España, with medals and recovery near the awards area and medical and toilet provision in the square. Showers are at the municipal sports complex on Avenida del Deporte, not at the square, and there is no shuttle.
Nutrition on course
The second-edition regulation publishes the full aid layout. Water is available throughout; 226ERS Hydrazero, a low-sugar electrolyte drink, and bananas are added from the first lap point onwards. No gels are provided. Carry all your gels, plus one spare for the last lap: Hydrazero is low in carbohydrate and will not replace a gel.
In the first edition, one late marathon finisher reported that the finish had run out of everything but water after the shorter races had been through. The second-edition layout is more detailed, but bring your own recovery snack for the finish.
| Km | Water | Hydrazero | Food | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | Yes | |||
| 10 | Yes | |||
| 10.5 (Plaza de España) | Yes | Yes | Banana | Toilets, medical |
| 16 | Yes | |||
| 20.5 | Yes | Yes | Banana | |
| 21.1 (Plaza de España) | Yes | Yes | Banana | Toilets, medical |
| 26.5 | Yes | Yes | Banana | |
| 31 | Yes | Yes | Banana | |
| 32 (Plaza de España) | Yes | Yes | Banana | Toilets, medical |
| 37 | Yes | Yes | Banana | |
| 41.5 | Yes | Yes | Banana | |
| Finish | Yes | Yes | Banana | Toilets, medical |
Spectating
Stand in Plaza de España and you see your runner at the start, at about 10.5, 21.1 and 32 km, and at the finish: five times, with cafés around you and no transport. The square gets busy as the half-marathon and 10.5 km runners finish, so agree a side and a landmark, such as the church of Santiago or the town hall.
No tracking app has been named. With chip mats only at the start, each lap and the finish, online splits may come every 10.5 km at best. A four-hour runner passes the square at about 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00 and finishes around 13:00.
- Stay in Plaza de España for the whole race
- See the 09:00 start, the three lap passes and the finish
- Watch the start in the square
- Walk out towards the station side of the loop, 1 km north, for a quieter sighting
- Walk back for the lap pass in the square, and repeat each lap
- One person stays in the square
- Another stands part-way round the loop, crossing the course only where marshals allow
- That gives a quiet-road sighting and a square sighting each lap
Post-race food
Extremadura cooks for cold days: Iberian pork, migas (fried breadcrumbs with chorizo and peppers), tomato soup, stews and the region’s sheep’s cheeses. Don Benito has a handful of restaurants close to the square. Taberna Sebastián is a known Spanish and Mediterranean restaurant near the centre, and Komoloc has a broader, more modern menu.
Book for 14:30 or 15:00 for a four-hour runner, later if you are near the cutoff. Collect your bag first; February wind cools a finished runner quickly. Ask restaurants in advance about vegetarian options, which are not common on local menus.
Where to Stay
Stay near Plaza de España, where the race starts, finishes and passes every lap. A modest room five minutes from the square is worth more than a better hotel on the edge of town.
Plaza de España and the centre
The streets around Plaza de España are the best base: no transport problems at 09:00, the finish and bag drop at the door, and cafés for companions between laps. Most accommodation here is hostales and apartments. Avoid a room over Saturday-night bars if you sleep lightly.
Avenida de la Constitución and the station side
The streets towards the railway station, 1 to 1.4 km north, have shops and restaurants and suit runners arriving by train. The course runs up this side of town every lap; check whether the walk to the start crosses it.
Hotel Vegas Altas, west of the centre
The town’s main full-service hotel sits 1.4 km west of the square, with a restaurant and parking. It suits drivers and club groups. Walk to the start as a warm-up or book a taxi.
The eastern approaches
The Hotel Veracruz is 3 km east of the square on Avenida de las Vegas Altas, with road access and its own restaurant. It suits drivers looking for value, less so a runner walking back in the cold after the finish.
Villanueva de la Serena and Medellín
The neighbouring town of Villanueva de la Serena adds hotels and apartments, and historic Medellín, 8 km west, suits a companion’s weekend. Both need a car on race morning, when closures may complicate the route.
Don Benito has little accommodation. Book a cancellable central room when you enter.
Recommended hotels
The town’s main full-service hotel, with a restaurant and parking. Good for clubs and drivers; a 20-minute walk to the square.
A small modern hotel with a restaurant, on the north-western edge of town. A taxi or a 25-minute walk on race morning.
Road access and an on-site restaurant for drivers. Pre-book race-morning transport.
Booking timeline
Registration is open. The €30 band runs until 1 November; after that the marathon costs €40. Overseas runners should first get written confirmation from the organiser that they are eligible. Book a cancellable central room as soon as you enter: the 1,600-place cap is less of a constraint than the small number of beds near the square.
Getting there takes planning. Badajoz Airport (BJZ) has few routes; Madrid (MAD) is about four hours by road and Seville (SVQ) is another option by car. Don Benito is on the railway from Madrid to Badajoz, but trains from Madrid take 4.5 to 5 hours and run infrequently; coaches take about four hours. A hire car is often simplest. Arrive on Friday evening or Saturday. Make any refund or distance change by 4 January, and check the bib venue, the map and the shower location in late January.
See & Do
The finish is in the main square, and the town’s few sights are within a short walk of it; the bigger history is a short drive away.
Plaza de España and the church of Santiago
The race’s square and the town’s centre, with its church and town hall. The natural starting point for a short walk.
Museo Etnográfico
Local social history and everyday objects in a traditional house, just off the square. Small and indoor. Check opening days.
Medellín
A Roman theatre, a castle on the hill and the statue of Hernán Cortés, who was born there. See the itinerary for a half-day visit.
After the Race
February on the plain of Extremadura is cool and quiet, good weather for walking Roman stones on tired legs. Medellín is 15 minutes away, Mérida a short train ride, and Trujillo and Cáceres, two granite towns of conquistador palaces, reward a night or two.
A Roman theatre dug out of the hillside, a castle above the Guadiana and the square where Hernán Cortés stands in bronze. A short, low-key morning.
Spain’s largest Roman ensemble: theatre, amphitheatre, a 60-arch bridge over the Guadiana and a national museum of Roman art. The museum closes on Monday.
A granite town of conquistador palaces around one of the largest plazas mayores in Spain, with a Parador in a former convent.
A walled medieval town of towers and palaces, with UNESCO status, a Parador and a three-Michelin-star restaurant.