Your complete guide to Lola Challenge Weekend this November

The Lola Challenge Weekend, a sporting event that has spent more than a decade raising funds to support nonprofit organizations in Puerto Rico, returns Nov. 7-9, 2025, with three main events that will finish at Castillo San Felipe del Morro.

Navigate it like a pro with this guide, which includes the schedule, parking options and available transportation services, among other relevant topics.

⏱️ Dates and times for the Lola Challenge

The main events of the Lola Challenge Weekend include a 5K, a 10K and a half marathon (21K), held on three consecutive days.

• The 5K takes place on Friday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 a.m., starting from Avenida Baldorioty de Castro, in front of the Román Baldorioty de Castro monument, next to Laguna del Condado.

• The 10K starts on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 4:30 a.m., from Puente Dos Hermanos on Avenida Ashford.

The events conclude on Sunday, Nov. 9, with the half marathon (21K). This race begins at 4:00 a.m. from the Escambrón area, in front of what was the Hotel Normandie.

Each event has a time limit: 1 hour for the 5K, 2 hours for the 10K and 4 hours for the half marathon.

🏃 Race routes

5K Route

The route begins at the Baldorioty de Castro monument at Laguna de Condado, heading toward Puente Dos Hermanos, which connects to Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera. The course continues through Playa del Escambrón and passes the Capitolio de Puerto Rico. At Plaza Colón, it turns right onto Calle Norzagaray. That street leads to El Morro. The route ends 100 meters past the roundabout at El Morro.

Water stations: This route will have three hydration stations, located at the start, mile 1.5 and the finish.

10K Route

The race begins on Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera, near the intersection with Puente Dos Hermanos, and continues along Autopista Román Baldorioty de Castro, running against traffic. Once on the highway, take the left exit to reach Avenida José de Diego. Then turn left on Avenida Ashford, which leads toward Puente Dos Hermanos. At the bridge, turn right on Avenida Muñoz Rivera. Continue to Calle Norzagaray, which leads to El Morro. The route ends 100 meters past the roundabout at El Morro.

Water stations: Five stations will be set up at strategic points from start to finish.

21K Route (Half Marathon)

The starting point is on Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera in the Escambrón area, near the pedestrian bridge, heading toward Puente Dos Hermanos.

• At Puente Dos Hermanos, turn left to reach Avenida Ashford. Continue along Avenida Ashford to the fork (Y) with Avenida Magdalena, staying on Avenida Ashford and running against traffic to the intersection with Avenida José de Diego, where you turn right.

• Continue along Avenida De Diego to the Autopista Román Baldorioty de Castro on-ramp, then turn right onto the highway. Follow the highway back to Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera, heading toward the Capitolio. At that point, turn left on Calle Reverendo Gerardo Dávila.

• At the intersection with Avenida De la Constitución, turn left again and continue to re-enter Autopista Román Baldorioty de Castro, heading toward Carolina. Then take the right exit onto the service road of Centro Gubernamental Minillas. At the traffic light at the Avenida José de Diego bridge, turn left from the right lane.

• Continue along Avenida José de Diego and turn left on Avenida Ashford toward Puente Dos Hermanos. At the bridge, turn right on Avenida Muñoz Rivera to Calle Norzagaray, which leads to El Morro. The route ends past the roundabout at El Morro.

Oasis: This route will have 10 hydration stations.

*All routes are subject to changes or modifications as determined by the organizers on the day of the event.

🚻 🚰 Restrooms and oasis

Portable restrooms will be available near the start and finish areas of each race, as well as at strategic points along the routes.

Water stations (oasis) will be distributed as follows:

Oasis 5K

• Monumento Baldorioty de Castro, Laguna del Condado (Start)

• Intersection of Ave. Padre Hoff and Calle Tadeo

• Entrada de El Morro (Finish)

Oasis 10K

• Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera, near the intersection with Puente Dos Hermanos (Start)

• Avenida José de Diego

• Puente Dos Hermanos

• Corner of the Capitolio de Puerto Rico

• Entrada de El Morro (Finish)

Oasis 21K

• Intersection of Hotel Caribe Plaza and Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera (Start)

• Traffic light at Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera, on Avenida Constitución

• Near the intersection of Ashford and Avenida Diego

• Water fountain with Olympic rings, near the Puente Dos Hermanos intersection

• Corner of the Capitolio de Puerto Rico building

• Water fountain with Olympic rings (toward Carolina)

• Near the intersection of Ashford and Avenida Diego

• Intersection of Hotel Caribe Plaza and Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera

• Corner of the Capitolio de Puerto Rico building

• Entrada de El Morro (Finish)

🏋️ Lola Health & Fitness Expo en el Centro de Convenciones

As a prelude to the races, the Lola Health & Fitness Expo will be held Nov. 5 and 6 at the Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This year, the expo will feature 40,000 square feet of exhibition space, with participation from international brands and businesses from Puerto Rico, Mexico and Colombia. Registered participants will be able to view sponsor exhibits, pick up runner packages and purchase exclusive event merchandise, including the new shirts, tops, athletic socks and compression socks from the official "Lola" merch line.

Admission to the expo is free for the general public.

📦 What to know when participating and picking up your package

To pick up your participation package, you must bring a photo ID and registration confirmation (email or QR code, which must be the most recent one).

If you cannot pick up your package, you may authorize a friend or family member to do so. That person must have a photo ID, a printed copy of the participant's photo ID, a signed authorization letter from the participant and registration confirmation.

What does the participation package include? Participation shirts, a bib number (BIB) and other promotional items. This will be the only opportunity to pick up participation kits, as there will be no distribution on the day of the event.

• The BIB is unique and non-transferable. It will be used to identify you at the events, award you medals and place you in the correct wave. Do not fold or alter it.

🚙 Where to park and transportation options

🚉 Tren Urbano

The Tren Urbano system is the official, free transportation option for participants. The schedule will be as follows:

• Friday, Nov. 7: 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 8: 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.

• Sunday, Nov. 9: 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.

Participants can park at Tren Urbano stations with available parking and take the train to the Sagrado Corazón station.

• Stations with free parking: 📍Bayamón, 📍Jardines, 📍Torrimar, 📍Martínez Nadal, 📍San Francisco and 📍Cupey

• The Sagrado Corazón parking lot will not be available to the public, as it will be used for event transportation operations.

🚍 Buses:

For train passengers: From Sagrado Corazón, there will be continuous bus service to the start points of each race.

• Transportation will operate from 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and until 3:00 a.m. Sunday, one hour before the start of each race. Arriving early is recommended to avoid delays and ensure a relaxed trip.

• After the races, return transportation will be available from Avenida Constitución, in front of Casa Olímpica, to the Sagrado Corazón station.

🛏️ If you're staying in Old San Juan

Participants staying in Old San Juan will have transportation available in front of Hotel Rumbao (at the I ❤️ San Juan sign), operating on the same schedule as transportation from Sagrado Corazón: from 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and until 3:30 a.m. Sunday, one hour before the start of each race.

🅿️ Parking in Old San Juan

Vehicle access to the San Juan area will be limited for security reasons. Available parking includes:

• Multipiso Doña Fela: open 24 hours, hourly rate

• Ballajá Parking Garage: open 24 hours, hourly rate

• Paseo Portuario: open 24 hours, hourly rate

• La Puntilla: hourly rate

Avenida Muñoz Rivera will be closed from midnight. Access to Old San Juan will be possible through the Bahía Urbana area by the piers, though that route will also have restrictions.

🚧 Road closures and hours

Due to the Lola Challenge Weekend, several roads will be closed this weekend during the races.

Friday, November 7: Closure from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

• Avenida Baldorioty de Castro (PR-26): closed from the Laguna del Condado toward San Juan

• Puente Guillermo Esteves (PR-1)

• Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera (PR-25R): closed from Puente Guillermo Esteves (next to Puente Dos Hermanos) to Plaza Colón (next to Calle Norzagaray)

• Calle Norzagaray: fully closed through the Escuela de Artes Plásticas

Saturday, November 8: Closure from 1:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.

• Puente Dos Hermanos (Avenida Ashford)

• Avenida Ashford: closed from Puente Dos Hermanos to the intersection with Avenida José de Diego (PR-37)

• Avenida José de Diego (PR-37): closed from the Baldorioty De Castro service road to Avenida Ashford

• Avenida Baldorioty de Castro (PR-26): closed from the intersection with Avenida José de Diego (PR-37) toward San Juan

• Avenida Muñoz Rivera (PR-25R): closed from Puente Guillermo Esteves (next to Puente Dos Hermanos) to Calle Norzagaray (Plaza Colón)

• Calle Norzagaray: fully closed, from Plaza Colón to the Escuela de Artes Plásticas

Sunday, November 9: Closure from 1:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

• Puente Dos Hermanos (Avenida Ashford)

• Avenida Ashford: closed from Puente Dos Hermanos to the intersection with Avenida José de Diego (PR-37)

• Avenida José de Diego (PR-37): closed from the Baldorioty De Castro service road to Avenida Ashford

• Avenida Baldorioty de Castro (PR-26): closed from the intersection with Avenida José de Diego (PR-37) to Puente Guillermo Esteves in both directions

• Avenida Muñoz Rivera (PR-25R): closed from Puente Guillermo Esteves (next to Puente Dos Hermanos) to Calle Norzagaray (Plaza Colón)

• Calle Norzagaray: fully closed, from Plaza Colón to the Escuela de Artes Plásticas

• Avenida Constitución (PR-25): from Puente Guillermo Esteves to the Capitol

• Calle Reverendo Gerardo Dávila: fully closed (the street just before the Capitol)

🤝 For a good cause

The Lola Challenge Weekend is presented by Run Like a Lola, Inc., with collaboration this year from the Autoridad de Transporte Integrado (ATI), the municipality of San Juan, the Departamento de Recreación y Deportes and the Compañía de Turismo.

This year, with an expected participation of more than 10,500 registered participants, the funds raised will go to the Fundación ALS de Puerto Rico, which supports patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Event sponsors and collaborations

El Lola Challenge Weekend 2025 features Adamari López, Karla Monroig, Wilson Santiago (creator of Mochileando) and comedian Jasond Calderón as event sponsors.

For the first time, the event will include a collaboration with Joyería Kury Universal, allowing athletes to have their finishing time engraved on the back of their medal. The medals have been designed with symbols of Puerto Rican identity, including the maga flower and the golden coquí.

This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).