Marathon guide · Milan, Italy
Milan Marathon 2027 training plan and pace guide
Sunday 4 April 2027, the 25th edition. In 2026 the course ran point to point from Corso Sempione to the Duomo, with about 45 m of climbing by GPS. Flat enough for a PB, as long as April stays cool.
OpenAthlete is not affiliated with the organisers. This is an independent preparation guide.
Key facts
2027
- Date
- Sunday, 4 April 202725th edition. Registration open on the official site.
- Start
- Not published for 2027 (waves at 08:15, 08:30 and 08:45 in 2026, press)
- Distance
- 42.195 km
- Elevation
- ≈ +45 mApproximate, from GPS data (marathon-index.com). The organisers do not publish a figure.
- Time limit
- 6h30 according to third-party listings; check the 2027 regulation
- Course
- 2026: point to point from Corso Sempione to Piazza del Duomo, on asphalt with some city-centre paving. The 2027 route is not published yet.
- Usual weather
- April: 8 to 19 °C on average (normals for Milan Linate). Cool start, can be warm by late morning.
Facts checked on 4 November 2026. Organisers change things: confirm on the official site before you book anything.
The course, seen by a coach
Milan Marathon: what it asks of you, and how to train for it
No laps, no excuses
A point-to-point course with about 45 m of climbing (GPS data) is made for even splits. Your job is to know goal pace in your legs. From week 8, put 2 to 3 blocks of 4 to 6 km at goal pace into the Sunday long run, and check your halfway split on the pace chart.
Late morning can be warm
April averages top out near 19 °C, and a 4h30 runner finishes around midday. Drink at the early aid stations, not only when it gets hot, and practise it: take a drink every 5 km in your last four long runs, from a cup if you can.
A block that starts in December
A 16-week plan starts on Monday 14 December 2026: the holidays fall in weeks 2 and 3, the hard work in February and March. If a winter illness costs you a week, skip it rather than squeezing two weeks into one.
Pace and plan by goal
Milan Marathon: pick your goal time
Each goal links to its pace chart: splits every 5 km, every kilometre and a printable pace band. Eight goals also have a free 16-week plan with paces worked out from your VMA. Pick the goal your recent half marathon supports, not the one you hope for.
When to start a 16-week plan
Start your 16-week plan on Monday, 14 December 2026
Race day is Sunday, 4 April 2027, in week 16. Started later, the plan loses build weeks, not the taper: cut from the start, never the end.
Import a plan into OpenAthleteFree. Sessions go to your Garmin, COROS or Suunto watch.
| Goal | Pace | Halfway | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:45 | 3:55/km | 1:22:30 | – |
| 3:00 | 4:16/km | 1:30:00 | 16 weeks |
| 3:15 | 4:37/km | 1:37:30 | – |
| 3:30 | 4:59/km | 1:45:00 | 16 weeks |
| 3:45 | 5:20/km | 1:52:30 | 16 weeks |
| 4:00 | 5:41/km | 2:00:00 | 16 weeks |
| 4:15 | 6:03/km | 2:07:30 | 16 weeks |
| 4:30 | 6:24/km | 2:15:00 | 16 weeks |
| 4:45 | 6:45/km | 2:22:30 | – |
| 5:00 | 7:07/km | 2:30:00 | 16 weeks |
| 5:30 | 7:49/km | 2:45:00 | 16 weeks |
| 6:00 | 8:32/km | 3:00:00 | – |
Even pace on a flat course. Hills, heat, wind and crowded first kilometres all cost time: the course notes above say where.
Milan Marathon: questions runners ask
Sunday 4 April 2027, the 25th edition, the same day as the Paris Marathon. Registration is open. The start times and the 2027 route are not published yet.
Yes. GPS data gives about 45 m of climbing for the recent course, and since 2026 it runs point to point with no repeated laps. The organisers do not publish an elevation figure, and the 2027 route is still to come.
Our marathon plans last 16 weeks, so start on Monday, 14 December 2026. You need a base first: running three or four times a week for a few months, with a long run of about 1h15 already comfortable.
No. OpenAthlete is not affiliated with the organisers of Milan Marathon. This is an independent preparation guide written from the official information available on 4 November 2026. Registration, rules and the final course are on the official site.
Prepare the Milan Marathon with the plan on your watch
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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