Transmountain Half Marathon Returns to El Paso
The FirstLight Federal Credit Union Transmountain Half Marathon brought 500 runners back to El Paso for the first time since 2015.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Running
Live Poll
Would you sign up for a local road race like the Transmountain Half Marathon?
The FirstLight Federal Credit Union Transmountain Half Marathon was held in El Paso on Sunday, November 8, returning after its last edition in 2015. Around 500 people competed, with runners ranging in age from 14 to 69.
Why it matters
The race's return gives El Paso runners a local half marathon after a decade-long gap, with runners having repeatedly asked when it would come back. The event was revived through cooperation between the El Paso Runners Foundation, the City of El Paso, TxDOT and FirstLight Federal Credit Union.
The course includes at least 1,000 feet of elevation gain, and 500 people competed across an age range of 14 to 69. The source does not report finishing times, winners, or plans for future editions.
The players
El Paso Runners Foundation
The El Paso Runners Foundation is the local nonprofit that organizes the Transmountain Half Marathon and worked to revive it.
FirstLight Federal Credit Union
FirstLight Federal Credit Union is a financial cooperative that sponsored the race's return.
Mike Coulter
Mike Coulter is the director of the Transmountain Half Marathon.
The details
The El Paso Runners Foundation brought the race back with sponsorship from FirstLight Federal Credit Union, with cooperation from the City of El Paso, TxDOT and FirstLight. Race director Mike Coulter oversaw the event, which runs on a course that includes the Transmountain area.
Timeline
2015: The Transmountain race was last held.
November 8, 2026: The Transmountain Half Marathon returned to El Paso on a Sunday.
Big Picture
The 2026 Transmountain Half Marathon restores a race that last ran in 2015, after runners repeatedly asked for its return. Its revival follows the 2015 edition as a local event that had gone dormant for over a decade.
Runners in El Paso now have a local half marathon on the calendar after the event's 2015 absence. The course's at least 1,000 feet of elevation gain makes it a demanding race for those training for hilly half marathons.
The takeaway
Local races can return after long absences when community demand, sponsorship and city cooperation align. Runners interested in similar events should watch for announcements from local running organizations.
Further reading
For more local race coverage, see Running news in El Paso.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTSM 9 News.
Live Poll
Would you sign up for a local road race like the Transmountain Half Marathon?
