María del Carmen Cárdenas (born 13 February 1959) is a Mexican former long-distance runner who competed in the marathon.

She emerged as a road runner in 1983 when she won the inaugural edition of the Mexico City Marathon in a time of 3:05:09 hours.

[3] After skipping the 1985 season, Cárdenas returned to the top of the Mexico City Marathon podium in 1986 with a women's course record of 2:42:25 (the second fastest of her career).

[4] She was one of two Mexican women to take athletics gold that year, alongside walker María Colín.

[5][nb] Her final appearances at high profile marathon competitions came in the United States in the 1988 season.