Binational Race 2026: Talitha Coffee's Guide to Race Weekend
Few races ask you to carry a passport along with your sneakers!
On Sunday, October 25, thousands of runners will line up at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Diego to cross the Mexican border on foot, starting in San Ysidro and finishing beside the Pacific at Playas de Tijuana. It is one of the most riveting (and unusual) marathon courses in the country.
Talitha Coffee is proud to be a part of the Binational Race 2026, both at the expo on Saturday and at the start line on Sunday morning. We’ll be pouring fresh iced coffees for runners and the friends and family cheering them on!
Binational Race 2026 at a Glance
- Race day: Sunday, October 25, with a 6:50am start for both the Half Marathon and 12K
- Start: Las Americas Premium Outlets, San Diego
- Finish: Faro de Playas de Tijuana, overlooking the Pacific
- Distances: Half Marathon, 12K (new this year), and 10K (starts in Tijuana)
- Expo and packet pickup: Friday, October 23 at Road Runner Sports on Copley Drive (3pm–7pm) and Saturday, October 24 at Las Americas Premium Outlets (10am–4pm)
- Registration and details: binationalrace.com (opens in a new tab)
Where to Find Talitha Coffee on Race Weekend
Saturday, October 24: The Expo at Las Americas
When you head to Las Americas Premium Outlets on Saturday to pick up your bib, look for the Talitha Coffee booth. Grab a coffee while you explore the expo and say hello to our team!
Sunday, October 25: Coffee at the Start Line
On race morning, we will be set up at the official start of the Binational Race, serving coffee to runners and spectators before the race begins.
If a pre-race cup is part of your ritual, make it part of your morning with us! And if you are only there to cheer, a warm coffee makes the wait for the start a lot more enjoyable.
What to Know Before You Run the Binational Race 2026
Here’s what you’ll need to know about this unique race.
The Paperwork
In this race, half marathon and 12K runners will cross into Mexico at the San Ysidro to El Chaparral checkpoint, so you will need valid travel documents!
Race organizers list a passport and a Multiple Immigration Form (FMM) for U.S. citizens, and official ID, such as a passport or INE voter ID card, for Mexican citizens.
Check the official race details page (opens in a new tab) for the latest requirements before you pack your bag.
The Terrain
The course itself is defined by Enchilada Hill, a climb of roughly a mile at about a 7 percent grade with more than 300 feet of elevation gain, followed by a fast descent to the finish.
Half Marathon runners also need to complete the first 10K within two hours, which is the official window for border processing.
For the trip home, a shuttle runs from the finish area back to the border between 9am and 12pm, and after customs, it’s a short walk across the PedEast pedestrian bridge to Las Americas.
Family and friends can catch a 7:20am shuttle from Las Americas to the finish line, so your crew can see you off, grab a coffee with us, and still be waiting when you reach the Pacific. (Hey, we’re not biased!)
Should You Drink Coffee Before Running a Race? Science Says ‘Yes’
For many runners, coffee before running is part of the race-day routine, and the research supports it!
The International Society of Sports Nutrition’s position on caffeine and exercise performance (opens in a new tab) is that moderate doses of caffeine taken about 60 minutes before exercise consistently improve endurance performance. A coffee shortly after you arrive, right at the start, gives it time to settle before you head to your corral.
That said, stick with what you have practiced in training! (Race morning is not the time to try something new.) And of course, pair your coffee with water… you shouldn’t be chugging coffee while you run.
If caffeine is not part of your routine, our Sunset Serenade Decaf (which took Gold in the decaf espresso category at the 2026 Global Coffee Awards) lets you enjoy the ritual without the buzz.
Why Talitha Sponsors the Races
The Binational Race brings two communities together, and through its Run With Purpose initiative it supports three nonprofits: Casa Familiar and the Emilio Nares Foundation in San Diego, and Fundación Castro Limón in Tijuana.
The spirits of these organizations are close to our hearts. Talitha Coffee exists to roast world-class coffee, as well as to create opportunities for the people who need it most. This includes the farmers who grow our beans south of America, to survivors of human trafficking here at home. Together, they’re the reasons for Talitha’s existence.
Our partnership with the race has already led to some memorable moments this year, from hosting the Bi-National Community Run 5K at our Bankers Hill cafe in August, to pouring coffee at the official press conference at Las Americas.
