Cambridge Half Marathon Draws 8,700 Runners

Joshua Kalapos won the men's race in 1:03:02 as thousands lined the 13.1-mile course through Harvard and MIT.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Running

Joshua Kalapos won the men's race in 1:03:02 as more than 8,700 runners completed the ninth annual Cambridge Half Marathon on November 1 through Harvard and MIT. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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More than 8,700 runners took part in the ninth annual Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The race began and ended at CambridgeSide Mall and passed through the Harvard and MIT campuses.

Why it matters

The event drew a large field to Cambridge the day after Halloween, with spectators and university teams contributing to the race-day atmosphere. It reflects the city's continued role as a regional hub for organized community running.

Joshua Kalapos of Somerville won the men's race in 1:03:02, while Jacqueline Gaughan of Boston took the women's title in 1:12:33, her fourth straight year first among women. Organizers have not released finisher totals beyond the field of more than 8,700 runners.

The players

Joshua Kalapos

A runner from Somerville who won the men's race in 1:03:02. He is a local competitor whose result anchored the men's field.

Jacqueline Gaughan

A Boston runner who finished first among women in 1:12:33. She claimed the women's title for the fourth consecutive year.

Harvard on the Move

A campus fitness initiative that fielded a 52-member team of undergraduates, graduate students and faculty. It was formed to encourage outdoor exercise among students and faculty.

The details

The 13.1-mile course began and ended at CambridgeSide Mall and passed through the campuses of Harvard and MIT. Thousands of spectators lined the streets, including students from Winthrop House cheering at mile 10, and some runners competed in costumes such as banana suits, Lorax mustaches and a lobster outfit.

Halloween: the race was held the day after the holiday.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: the ninth annual Cambridge Half Marathon took place.

Season Trajectory

The ninth annual edition extends a multi-year run for the Cambridge Half Marathon as a recurring fall fixture in the city. Its repeat champion, Gaughan, has now won the women's division four years running.

Gaughan's fourth straight women's win and Kalapos's men's victory set benchmarks for local runners planning their own fall racing schedules. Fans who attended can track which Harvard and MIT campus routes the course used for future race-day viewing.

The takeaway

Local runners can use the course's CambridgeSide Mall start and finish, which passes Harvard and MIT, as a reference point when planning training routes in the city. Organized community events like this one show how university programs such as Harvard on the Move can draw broad participation.