An Inside Look at the 2026 Race Course: Creating Routes That Work

By: Jon Bird, Run Calgary Operations Director

Please note, all information below is subject to change.

In case you missed it, please check out my first blog in this three part series, outlining operational changes to this year’s event.

The Servus Calgary Marathon hit record numbers in 2025, growing 20% year over year and surpassing our previous 2014 high by over 17%. While that growth is exciting; the Run Calgary team has not lost sight of producing a course focused on high energy and grounded in strong support. Each year we look to make 100 things one percent better and we feel a couple of these changes far exceed that one percent. 

When planning the course routes, some of the things we have to consider include: road closures, city impact, construction projects, city permits, police resources, participant volume, road width, elevation, and so much more.

This year we are excited to implement changes designed to minimize and, in some cases, even eliminate the impacts of fields overlapping on course. Check out the 2026 Interactive Map (downloadable PDF maps coming soon!) for a first-look at this years routes, and note you can toggle to isolate specific routes and amenities on the left menu.

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The Marathon and Half Marathon Changes

The First 11km – Reverse Loop

For the half marathon / marathon field, you will be running clockwise through the East Village, Bridgeland and Inglewood instead of counterclockwise. This will ensure that the lower deck of the Center Street bridge is not congested for the first 15% of the half marathon field (sub 1:40); as they will not have to work their way through the tail of the slower half marathon field.

Out & Backs

Events use the out & backs to ensure that the distance is accurate to Athletics Canada ‘Grade A’ standard.

• This year we have brought the Telus Spark out and back southward by 200m to give the field more road width on their 180 degree turn.  
• The Kensington out and back (half marathon only) has moved westward by 850m to account for the change in startline and the slight change in the Telus Spark out and back.
• The Bowness out and back (marathon only) has significantly changed to find distance in Bowness while doing our best to not further trap more residences.

Half Marathon Split Point (11km & 20km)

Why this section is used twice: To minimize overall road closures and reduce impact on the city, this part of the course is shared for both distances.

What You Need to Know

• You will pass this same section of 9 Ave SE (between Olympic Way SE & 5 St SE) twice
• Once at 11km and again at 20km
• The area will be clearly signed, marshaled, and marked with a large inflatable arch
• Know your distance:  it’s your responsibility to follow the correct route 

At 11 km (Head West on 11 Ave SE)

• Move into the north curb lane of  9 Ave after passing 5 St SE
• Turn left onto Olympic Way SE
• The turn will move you into the west curb lanes of Olympic Way SE
• Turn right onto 11 Ave SE

At 20 km (Head East to the Finish)

• Move from the north curb lane into the south curb lane of 9 Ave after exiting 5 St SE
• Turn left onto Olympic Way SE
• The turn will move you into the east curb lanes of Olympic Way SE
• Take a left onto 12 Ave SE toward the finish line

Marathon / Half Marathon Split Point (Memorial Dr & 16 St NW)

Why this split matters: This design helps keep runners safely separated while minimizing road closures and overall impact.

What You Need to Know

• The split occurs at Memorial Dr & 16 St NW
• The area will be clearly marked with an inflatable arch and course marshals
• Know your registered event distance and follow signage and volunteer direction

Half Marathon (Turnaround)

• Stay in the median lane of westbound Memorial Dr
• Follow marshals to complete a 180° turnaround around the median
• Head back toward the finish

Marathon (Continue Out & Back)

• Stay on westbound Memorial Dr
• Continue straight toward the Bowness out-and-back section

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10km Changes

The 2026 ASICS Runkeeper 10km remains largely the same as the previous edition with one small exemption. Runners and walkers will proceed northbound on St. Georges Drive up the hill for 400m and then turn around. We chose this section of road for the turn around width; with over 5000 runners participating in the 10km we need more than 14m of road width to ensure people can complete the out and back safely. These changes for the 10km course are due in part to the change in our start line location. 

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General Course Updates

Aid Station Consistency

Each year we try to improve the aid station experience for both runners and volunteers by preparing the volunteers for what to expect and educating the runners on how to behave. We have over 90% of our aid station groups return each year and they know what to expect when they have over 700 runners per minute pass by. Each year we have a couple of groups that experience this for the first time and we do our best to support them through the rush. We aim to have water first, followed by XACT Lightly Lemon Electrolyte; at the nutrition aid stations the XACT Fruit Bars will be served last (see 2026 Interactive Map for more details).

New Electrolyte Partner

We have expanded our partnership with a Canadian company: XACT Nutrition to include both XACT nutrition and XACT electrolytes on the course. XACT Lightly Lemon electrolyte will be at every aid station on course in all fields (5km, 10km, 21.1km, 42.2km). Please note we will have XACT fruit bars at one aid station on the 10km, two aid stations on the 21.1km and three aid stations on the 42.2km.

Course Time Limits

As mentioned in Part 1 of this blog series, in order to maintain our road closure permits we will be moving runners & walkers to the sidewalk to finish if they are outside these times. Please note that this is the time limit for the finish line and we start to open roads up earlier in Bowness, Montgomery & Parkdale.

Participants may not receive full support from aid stations and traffic safety personnel. An official finishing time may not be recorded, and it is not guaranteed that the finish line will be open.

Saturday
10 km: Start Time 6:45 AM | Start Line Closes 7:10 AM | Course Time Limit 2:50 total (H:MM)
5 km: Start Time 9:15 AM | Start Line Closes 9:45 AM | Course Time Limit 1:50 total (H:MM)

Sunday
42.2 km: Start Time 6:45 AM | Start Line Closes 7:05 AM | Course Time Limit 6:30 total (H:MM)
21.1 km: Start Time 6:45 AM | Start Line Closes 7:05 AM | Course Time Limit 4:30 total (H:MM)

*all times subject to change

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On-Course Support You’ll See (and Feel)

Course Marshals: Your eyes and ears on the route, guiding runners, managing intersections, and keeping everyone moving safely and confidently.

Aid Stations: Hydration, fuel, and encouragement exactly when you need it most, powered by incredible volunteers.

Entertainment: Lively cheer stations, professional musicians and playful activations strategically placed throughout the course to give you energy where you need it most. 

Signage Teams: From kilometre markers to directional arrows, these teams make sure the course is clear, intuitive, and easy to follow.

Course Captains: Section leaders who oversee key areas of the route, support volunteers, and troubleshoot in real time.

Lead Cyclists & Tail Cyclists: A dedicated group of volunteers that ensure runners are supported with directions at the lead and tail of each distance.

Calgary Marathon Medical Team: We are fortunate to have an extremely strong roving medical team made up by Canadian Ski Patrol and its members on course. They are supported by medical transport vehicles moving runners to our finish line for further assessment and treatment. The finish line will have one of the top medical teams in the country supporting all types of medical care. Note: the medical transport vehicles on course are positioned to support a duty of care and will triage based on actual need to go to the finish line medical tent not just get a ride back to the finish line.

Photography/Videography: Keep an eye out for our giant camera flags along the course and strike a pose for the Marathon Photos team. These can also be found on the 2026 Interactive Map by toggling on “Marathon Photos Location” on the main menu. Be sure to check your inbox after the race for your chance to grab your snapshots and share the moment!

Calgary Police Service, Calgary Transit & Calgary Bylaw Services: Helping manage traffic, safety, and city operations so the event can run smoothly alongside daily life.

Calgary Mobility (roads department): Supporting route planning, road closures, and infrastructure to ensure a safe and efficient course.

ATS (Certified Flaggers & Cone Deployment): The professionals behind the scenes placing cones, managing lane closures, and keeping the course clearly defined and secure.

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Final Thoughts

It is our aim from the first kilometre to the last, that runners should feel supported, clearly guided, and connected to the energy of Calgary. The course should be safe, easy to navigate, and alive with encouragement so that even in the hardest moments, runners feel carried forward by the community around them.

It is ultimately the runners responsibility to know the course; seed yourselves correctly and understand how to run in a large field size. 

And most importantly, when you see a volunteer, thank a volunteer!

My final blog in this three-part series will be shared closer to the race. It will bring you home to Enmax Park and the finish line so you know what to expect and can plan your reunion with friends and family, anticipate the special celebration and visualize that well-earned finish line moment.

HAVE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US

Jon Bird
Operations Director, Run Calgary