The competition features both elite and popular (or recreational) sections within the half marathon and 10K races.

The elite race has featured a number of high-profile runners, including former marathon world record holder and champion Catherine Ndereba, two-time Saint Silvester Road Race winner James Kwambai, Olympic medallist and New York City Marathon champion Joyce Chepchumba and 2005 World Half Marathon champion Fabiano Joseph.

The half marathon course started at Bolívar Square and headed north past Avenida Jiménez and Parque Nacional, before turning west at Unicentro shopping centre.

[11][12] The race is not typically conducive to fast times as the city is located at 2,600 meters above sea level, some 8,530 feet, a factor which inhibits long distance runners.

[13] However, it is considered a perfect training ground for professional athletes and runners looking to run the World's Marathon Majors in Berlin, Chicago and New York happening in the fall each year.