Don Benito Half Marathon 2027

The Don Benito half marathon is named after the town’s patron saint, the Virgen de las Cruces, and the route actually goes to her. Since the route was redesigned in 2025, the race has started and finished in the renovated Plaza de España. The course covers about 4.5 km through town, then follows the road to Las Cruces out to the hermitage, loops once around it, and returns to finish in the square. The 25th edition is at 10:00 on Sunday 18 October 2026.

The course

The Vegas Altas del Guadiana around Don Benito is flat irrigated farmland, so the challenge is the long, open road out to the hermitage and back, not hills. With little shelter, both wind and sun matter. By 10:00 in mid-October in Extremadura it can already feel warm.

The time limit is 2 h 30 min, and you must be 18 or over for the half. The race is registered with the Extremadura athletics federation.

Entry and group discounts

	Until 9 October	10–15 October
Half marathon	€15	€20
7K “La Velá, Tradición y Gastronomía”	€12	€20

Groups of 8 or more get reduced rates of roughly €7–12 per runner, depending on group size. That’s worth organising if you run with a club. Entries go through ChipSerena.

7K option

The 9th 7K “La Velá, Tradición y Gastronomía” runs alongside the half. It’s named after the traditional velá festivities, and it’s a good option for anyone joining you who doesn’t want to go as far as the hermitage.

The race is organised by Club Maratón Vegas Altas with Don Benito council’s sports department. Villanueva de la Serena is next door, and Mérida is about 45 minutes away if you want to make a weekend of it.