Holloman Ace of Races Marathon 2026: Course Guide, Registration and Race Tips

One of the Most Unusual Marathons You Can Run Anywhere

Most marathons take you through city streets, past coffee shops and cheering spectators lining the sidewalk. The Holloman Ace of Races takes you through an active US Air Force base, past F-16 Viper jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones parked on the flightline. That alone puts it in a category of one.

Organised by the 49th Force Support Squadron at Holloman AFB in southern New Mexico, the race sits between the Sacramento Mountains and the glistening gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park. The course is about as flat as it gets — just 52 to 65 feet of elevation gain over 26.2 miles — and it carries full USATF certification, making it a legitimate Boston and NYC qualifier. If you want a PR-ready course that also gives you a story worth telling for the rest of your running life, this one delivers both.

There is one thing the flat profile doesn’t tell you: the course sits at roughly 4,300 feet above sea level throughout. Holloman occupies the Tularosa Basin at altitude, and for runners coming from sea level that matters, especially in the back half of the marathon. The 2026 race also moves to October for the first time after three December editions, which means warmer race-morning conditions and a different set of preparation priorities. Both factors are covered in detail further down this guide.

This is still a young event — 2026 marks the fourth edition — but it already draws runners from across the country. All proceeds go to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation fund supporting Holloman’s Airmen and their families, which gives the race a purpose beyond the finish line. And at $86 for a USATF-certified full marathon, the entry fee is among the most reasonable you’ll find anywhere in the US.

Race at a Glance

What Makes the Holloman Ace of Races Worth Running?

You Run on an Active Military Flightline — There Is Nothing Else Like It

Name another civilian road race where you run past operational F-16 Viper jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones. You can’t. Holloman is one of the largest USAF bases in the country and trains the majority of F-16 pilots and MQ-9 Reaper aircrew in the US military. On race day, the gates open and you run through it: the flightline, the operational areas, decades of Air Force history embedded in the landscape around you. The finish line takes you through a static display of aircraft and equipment. People who have run this race describe the experience differently from any other marathon they’ve done, and they’re right to.

It Is a Legitimate Boston Qualifier on a Seriously Fast Course

The course is USATF-certified with just 52–65 feet of elevation gain — a profile that FindMyMarathon rates a Course Score of 96.12, ranking it the 2nd fastest marathon course in all of New Mexico. If you are chasing a BQ time, the terrain is firmly on your side. The catch is that the altitude (4,300 feet) and October heat require genuine preparation rather than just showing up and expecting the flat course to do the work. BQ execution here comes down to pacing discipline and acclimatisation, not course difficulty.

The Altitude Is Real — Build It Into Your Race Plan

Holloman sits at approximately 4,336 feet above sea level. That will not knock you sideways the way high-altitude races like Leadville do, but it is more than enough to add meaningful time for runners coming from sea level — typically 1–3 minutes on a marathon, sometimes more depending on fitness and acclimatisation. The Desert Southwest dryness compounds things: you dehydrate faster than you expect even on a cool morning. Arriving a day or two early helps. If you can do even one long run at comparable altitude in the weeks before, your body will handle the back half of the race far better. Do not plan your goal time as though this were a sea-level course — it isn’t.

October Is a New Window For This Race — Prepare Accordingly

The first three editions ran in December. The 2026 race moves to October 10, which shifts the conditions meaningfully. Average October highs in Alamogordo reach 71°F (22°C) and the desert sun builds through the morning. The upside is that October lows sit in the low 50s°F — comfortable for the early miles — and humidity is consistently low around 41%. If the start gun fires early enough and you manage your pace and hydration, conditions are genuinely manageable. Just don’t arrive expecting December cool. Sunscreen, a cap and light breathable kit are non-negotiable here.

Entry Is Affordable and the Money Goes Somewhere Worthwhile

At $86 for the full marathon, this is one of the most affordable USATF-certified marathons in the US. No premium corrals, no commercial upsell, no race-weekend hotel partnerships inflating the experience fee. All registration revenue goes directly to the MWR fund that supports the Airmen and families stationed at Holloman. For runners who care where their entry fee lands, this is about as clean and purposeful as it gets.

The Event Is Open to Everyone — No Base Access Required

Despite being held on a military base, this race is fully open to the public. You do not need a Department of Defense card or prior base credentials. All participants and their vehicles go through a standard security inspection at the gate, the same as any base visit. Non-DoD cardholders can enter the installation between 6:30am and 8:30am on race day. Bring government-issued photo ID — this is a federal installation and ID is required. Prohibited on base: weapons of any kind, ice chests, recreational marijuana, pets other than certified service animals and tents or shade canopies.

The Course — Mile by Mile

Miles 0–3: The Flightline Start

The race begins on Holloman’s Flight Line with the Steel Talons Honor Guard firing the starting shot — a moment that tends to send runners out faster than they intended. You are immediately in the most visually arresting section of the course. F-16 Vipers and MQ-9 Reapers are parked along the flightline; their scale at running distance catches people mid-stride. The road here is wide, flat and ruler-straight. The temptation to bank time on this opening stretch is strong and almost universal. Resist it. The altitude and the open desert in the back half will collect that debt with interest.

Miles 3–8: Through the Central Base

The course moves into the operational interior of the base, through the support areas and facilities that run the 49th Wing’s day-to-day mission. The surroundings are less dramatic here but the road is consistently flat and well-maintained. Crowd support thins quickly once you leave the start zone. This is where your race truly starts — settle into your planned pace rather than your excited pace. Aid stations run every 2–3 miles from here with water, Gatorade, gels and fruit. Hit every one. The desert air at 41% humidity and 4,300 feet strips moisture faster than most runners realise, even when temperatures feel cool.

Miles 8–13: The High-Speed Test Track Corridor

The course passes alongside the Holloman High-Speed Test Track, a 10-mile-long monorail facility that holds the world land speed record for rocket sleds at Mach 8.6 — set in 2003 when a sled covered three miles in 6.04 seconds. Running past the “fastest place on Earth” at whatever pace you’re currently doing tends to provide some perspective. This section is open and exposed. If there is desert wind — and there often is — you’ll feel it here. By the time you approach the halfway point, the altitude should be registering clearly in your perceived effort, particularly if you came in from sea level.

Miles 13–20: The Back Half — Where the Desert Tests You

This is the section that separates runners who respected the course from those who didn’t. Nothing changes on the elevation chart — it is still essentially flat. But at 4,300 feet, on sun-exposed desert pavement with no shade and fading adrenaline, miles 13 through 20 are a different animal from the front half. The Sacramento Mountains rise to your east and the gypsum dunes of White Sands glow to the west — the scenery is genuinely beautiful — but the physical and mental grind is real here. Stay on your nutrition plan, don’t skip aid stations and don’t try to claw back time if you’ve slipped behind pace. The energy you preserve now is what carries you through the final six miles.

Miles 20–26.2: Heritage Park and the Aircraft Finish

The final leg brings you past Heritage Park before sweeping back toward the Flight Line. At this point in a marathon most runners have long stopped sightseeing, but the finish approach through the static aircraft display is a genuine jolt of energy when you need it most. The crowd reconcentrates at the finish zone. You cross the line on the Flight Line, within sight of the jets that framed your entire race. The finisher medal is waiting. The 8-hour time limit makes this section accessible to walkers and back-of-pack runners too — this is a course that wants you to finish.

Registration: Holloman Ace of Races 2026

Registration is open now via RunSignup. A fee increase takes effect on September 4, 2026. At time of publication, that window is under two weeks away — if you’re planning to run, the time to lock current prices is now. The registration deadline is the day before race (October 9); race-day registration is also available at the gate from 7am to 7:30am, but prices will reflect the post-September 4 tier.

Race Weekend Schedule — October 2026

Race Day Weather at Holloman AFB

October is generally regarded as ideal visitor weather for the Alamogordo area — and for spectators it genuinely is. For marathon runners, the key variable is how early the start gun fires relative to when the desert sun gains full strength. Morning lows in the low 50s°F are comfortable for running; by mid-morning temperatures push toward the average high and exposed desert roads hold heat with no shade relief. The air is consistently dry at around 41% humidity. That sounds mild but at 4,300 feet it accelerates dehydration faster than most runners from wetter climates expect. No rain is realistically expected: October averages less than 0.63 inches of precipitation across the whole month. Dress light and breathable, wear sunscreen and a cap and treat every aid station as mandatory from the start.

Past Results — Defending Champions

Individual winner times are not available in official published sources for any edition. Women’s podium data for confirmed editions is also not in the public record at time of writing. The 2025 race (Sept 6, 2025) had 2.2% of marathon finishers achieve Boston Qualifying times. Results for all editions are on RunSignup at runsignup.com/Race/Results/147588 — this table will be updated as 2025 results are confirmed and 2026 results come in post-race.

Spectator Guide

Where to Stay Near Holloman AFB

All accommodation options for race participants are in Alamogordo, approximately 7–9 miles from the Holloman AFB main gate via US-70. There is no civilian lodging available on base. Alamogordo is a small city and hotel stock is limited — book early for race weekend, particularly if you are arriving Thursday or Friday. The race also coincides with peak autumn visitor season for White Sands National Park, which is nearby.

A Short History of the Ace of Races

The Ace of Races is named for Maj. Richard “Dick” Bong, the United States’ highest-scoring flying ace of World War II. Assigned to the 49th Fighter Group, Bong was credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft during the Pacific campaign, earning him the Medal of Honor and the title “Ace of Aces.” The 49th Wing — the unit that organises this race — carries the direct lineage of Bong’s group. Running under that name is not incidental; it is a deliberate connection to the base’s own history.

The inaugural race ran on December 9, 2023, drawing 618 participants from 31 states across the full marathon, half marathon, 5K and kids dash. It was a striking debut for a first-year event: runners from across the country came to a base most civilians had never seen the inside of, ran the flightline past operational jets and finished through a static aircraft display. The second edition followed on December 7, 2024 with more than 300 runners and a marathon podium topped by SrA Reubhen Delfin of Cannon AFB. The third edition moved to September 2025, and for 2026 the race shifts to October — giving it a dedicated autumn slot and opening it to a broader pool of destination runners planning around the White Sands National Park season.

The race is one of several public-engagement events through which Team Holloman connects with the surrounding community — alongside the Legacy of Liberty air shows and Community Connections Day. Revenue goes into the MWR fund that funds quality-of-life programming for the base’s Airmen and families. For a race that is only in its fourth year, the Ace of Races has already built real national reach. The field numbers suggest a race that is growing, and the infrastructure — USATF certification, chip timing, multiple packet pickup locations, a generous time limit — is already ahead of many more established events. If it keeps its current trajectory, it will be significantly harder to get into within a few years.