What You Need To Know About The Inca Trail Marathon
One of the most impressive races on the planet, the Inca Trail Marathon truly is a special one for running enthusiasts.
Here you will be following the same trail as the ancient Inca once did, where you’ll pass by glacial lakes, through steep mountain passes and more during your journey through the Peruvian Andes.
In this guide we’ll explore what the Inca Trail Marathon is, and how you can properly prepare for it. We’ll also answer your most burning questions in our FAQ section.
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What Is The Inca Trail Marathon?
Quick Answer: Known for its incredible archaeological ruins and jaw-dropping vistas, the Inca Trail has always been a popular hiking route to take on.
However, more recently a marathon along this route was established by Andes Adventures. Here you will begin in Piscacucho, running through the valleys of Vilcabamba until you finally reach the finish line in Machu Picchu.
Runners can choose between both the full 26.2 mile full marathon (42.1km), as well as the shorter 13.1 mile half marathon (21km). It’s usually held annually between the months of June and September, given these months fall within the dry season.
As you will be running in high altitudes here, it’s important to prepare properly which we’ll now explore below.
How To Prepare For The Inca Trail Marathon
The Inca Trail Marathon is no standard Marathon, and for this reason really is one of the main bucket-list challenges a runner can take on.
Whilst you will want to follow your usual marathon preparations, here we also need to consider and prepare for the high altitudes which you will be running at. The altitudes here range from 2430m to 4215m, which sees quite a substantial elevation gain and drop throughout.
This can make for much harder conditions, given there is less oxygen available. We recommend spending more time in higher-altitude countries such as Peru beforehand to get used to running in higher altitudes (such as around Cusco).
As a bare minimum, you’ll want to spend 4-5 days beforehand in Cusco so your body can get used to operating as normal in these more demanding altitudes. During this time it would be ideal to head on some hikes such as to Rainbow Mountain and around the Sacred Valley.
The Inca Trail Marathon FAQ
Below we’ll now answer some of the biggest questions we get from readers who want to tackle the Inca Trail Marathon.
What Is The Record For The Inca Trail Marathon?
It was in fact a local porter who works along the route who ran it the fastest! He completed the marathon in 3 hours and 23 minutes, whilst most runners tend to complete the full trail in 5-6 hours.
What Is The Elevation Gain Of The Inca Trail Marathon?
The lowest and highest points of the Inca Trail are 2430m and 4215m respectively, which means the elevation gain can be over 1750m! It’s important to remember that it’s not a straight-shot upwards, and you will have to ascend and descend two different mountain passes along the way.
What Is The Inca Trail Marathon Route?
The Inca Trail Marathon follows the same exact route of the standard 4 Day Inca Trail, meaning you will also see the same special ruins and landscapes along the way. This includes running through cloud forests, thick jungle vegetation and between chilly alpine mountain passes.
Overview Of The Inca Trail Marathon
And that’s all for our guide on what you need to know about the Inca Trail Marathon.
This incredible sacred route is full of ancient history and incredible scenery, and as a result now hosts an annual marathon. Given the high altitudes you’ll want to prepare properly if taking on this special challenge, and also to start training with plenty of time in advance.
Whilst you are preparing in Cusco before the marathon, why not enjoy a hike up to the infamous Rainbow Mountain?