Marathon Comparisons

Explore our comprehensive list of marathons ranked by performance, popularity, and participant feedback. Marathons ranked by key performance metrics, participant reviews, and overall event quality. Use these rankings to compare races, evaluate your options, and select the event that aligns best with your running goals and experience level.

Marathon Rankings
Date
Name
Description
City
State
Type
PR Score
BQ Score
Finishers
Qualified
Reviews
2025-11-26 Boston Marathon
Historic point-to-point course with late Newton hills; net downhill early.
Boston MA Hilly/Medium 9:30 85.50% 30,000 10.0 %

(2)

2025-11-10 Chicago Marathon
Flat and fast urban loop through diverse neighborhoods.
Chicago IL Flat/Low 9:45 78.25% 40,000 14.0 %

(9)

2026-03-01 New York City Marathon
Five-borough tour; bridges and rolling Central Park finish.
New York NY Hilly/Medium 9:05 88.75% 50,000 9.0 %

(1)

2025-12-09 London Marathon
Fast point-to-point style with iconic city landmarks.
London UK Flat/Low 9:50 72.30% 42,000 16.0 %

(6)

2026-01-06 Berlin Marathon
Widely considered the fastest world marathon; record-friendly flat streets.
Berlin DE Flat/Low 9:55 65.80% 45,000 20.0 %

(3)

2026-01-29 Tokyo Marathon
Modern city course, cool weather, strong elite field.
Tokyo JP Flat/Low 9:40 74.15% 37,000 15.0 %

(6)

2025-12-04 Paris Marathon
Scenic urban tour; moderate crowding early, largely flat.
Paris FR Flat/Low 9:35 81.40% 52,000 12.0 %

(9)

2025-11-21 Los Angeles Marathon
Point-to-point with rolling sections; variable coastal weather.
Los Angeles CA Hilly/Medium 8:55 89.95% 22,000 7.0 %

(5)

2026-04-20 Houston Marathon
Cool January weather and flat streets ideal for PR attempts.
Houston TX Flat/Low 9:30 69.45% 12,000 18.0 %

(1)

2026-05-14 Grandma's Marathon
Net downhill point-to-point along Lake Superior; cool early summer temps.
Duluth MN Flat/Low 9:45 67.60% 8,000 19.0 %

(2)

2026-02-17 Twin Cities Marathon
Scenic urban/park lakes course; gentle rolling hills late.
Minneapolis MN Hilly/Medium 9:05 79.25% 7,500 13.0 %

(8)

2025-11-27 Marine Corps Marathon
Scenic Washington D.C. and Arlington; rolling with early climbs.
Arlington VA Hilly/Medium 8:40 87.20% 19,000 8.0 %

(2)

2026-05-14 Philadelphia Marathon
Fast fall race; mixed urban and river out-and-backs.
Philadelphia PA Flat/Medium 9:20 74.15% 11,000 15.0 %

(1)

2026-01-13 Honolulu Marathon
Warm, humid tropical conditions; scenic coastal and volcanic vistas.
Honolulu HI Hilly/Medium 7:50 90.00% 20,000 4.0 %

(4)

2026-04-03 California International Marathon
Net downhill from Folsom to Sacramento; cool December temps.
Sacramento CA Flat/Low 9:50 62.35% 9,000 23.0 %

(5)

2026-04-15 Valencia Marathon
Very flat, fast European winter marathon; modern course design.
Valencia ES Flat/Low 9:55 64.75% 25,000 21.0 %

(6)

2025-12-09 Amsterdam Marathon
Fast autumn race; flat city and park segments.
Amsterdam NL Flat/Low 9:40 69.45% 17,000 18.0 %

(4)

2026-04-04 Rotterdam Marathon
Reputed flat spring European course ideal for PRs.
Rotterdam NL Flat/Low 9:50 65.80% 14,500 20.0 %

(1)

2026-01-29 Austin Marathon
Challenging rolling course; warmer early-season conditions.
Austin TX Hilly/High 7:30 89.05% 6,000 5.0 %

(6)

2026-04-01 Miami Marathon
Scenic coastal winter marathon; warm and humid.
Miami FL Flat/Low 8:20 88.10% 6,000 6.0 %

(4)

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