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Race guides

Race guides: marathons and long trails, course by course

The date or the usual period, the distance, the climbing, and what each course does to your legs. Then the pace for your goal and a plan that ends on race day.

OpenAthlete is not affiliated with the organisers. This is an independent preparation guide. Facts checked on 4 November 2026. Organisers change things: confirm on the official site before you book anything.

Road marathons

Each guide has the pace for every goal from 2:45 to 6:00 and the Monday to start a 16-week plan.

February 2027

Seville, SpainSeville MarathonTen metres of relief and a cold start: a pure pacing test.21 February 202742.195 km

March 2027

Barcelona, SpainBarcelona MarathonSold as flat, climbs about 280 m: run the drags by effort.14 March 202742.195 km≈ +280 mRome, ItalyRome MarathonCobbles, tight turns and a medical certificate to sort out early.14 March 202742.195 km≈ +156 m

April 2027

Paris, FranceParis MarathonRolling woods, quay tunnels and a 2027 course still under wraps.4 April 202742.195 kmMilan, ItalyMilan MarathonFlat, point to point, finishing at the Duomo. Watch the late-morning sun.4 April 202742.195 km≈ +45 mLondon, United KingdomLondon MarathonTwo days in 2027, a downhill start and GPS chaos in Canary Wharf.24 – 25 April 202742.195 km≈ +57 m

May 2027

Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRio MarathonLate May, dawn start, 80% humidity: pick a goal for the heat.30 May 202742.195 km

September 2027

Berlin, GermanyBerlin MarathonThe world-record course. The catch: a summer-long build.26 September 202742.195 km≈ +58 m

December 2027

Valencia, SpainValencia MarathonFlat, cool, at sea level: the PB course. 2027 date to come.2027 date not announced yet42.195 km≈ +47 m

Long trails

Night sections, long descents, mandatory kit: what to build into the months before.

November 2026

Saint-Étienne to Lyon, FranceSaintéLyonA whole night from Saint-Étienne to Lyon, ice optional. In three weeks.28 – 29 November 202680 km+2,500 m

August 2027

Chamonix, FranceUTMB174 km, 9,700 m, two nights for most. 2027 dates to come.2027 date not announced yet174 km+9,700 m

October 2027

Réunion, FranceDiagonale des Fous180 km of volcanic steps, roots and rock. Qualify first.2027 date not announced yet180 km+10,200 m

Not on the list?

Any flat marathon works with the same pace charts and plans. Count back 16 weeks from race week and you have your start date.

Training plans10K, half, marathon and trail plans, free, with paces from your VMA.Pace chartsSplits and pace bands for every goal, from the 5K to the marathon.

Pick the race. The plan follows.

Import a free plan into OpenAthlete, move sessions around your week, and send them to your Garmin, COROS or Suunto watch. Everything is free on Cloud.

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