Choosing between Lagos City Marathon and New York City Marathon? This page puts the essentials side by side — next race date, elevation, typical weather, field size, and entry difficulty — with a short overview of each course below.
The headline differences between both races. Follow each marathon link for the full route map, elevation chart, and entry details.
| Detail | Lagos City Marathon | New York City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Saturday, 13 February 2027 at 6:30 am | Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 9:10 am |
| Elevation | Very flat - approx. 11m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m | Rolling with bridges - approx. 10m above sea level. ↑ 294 m · ↓ 292 m · net +2 m |
| Typical weather | Hot and humid winter | Cool to mild autumn |
| Typical participants | Approximately 30k finishers | Approximately 56k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Easy | Very competitive |
The Lagos City Marathon is West Africa's largest marathon, drawing approximately 30k starters each February through Nigeria's commercial capital. The out-and-back course links the National Theatre, Victoria Island, and the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge with views across Lagos Lagoon. February's dry-season heat and flat terrain make it a bold early-year challenge in one of Africa's most energetic cities.
The TCS New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, taking runners through all five boroughs — Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. The course crosses five bridges and finishes in Central Park, delivering an unmatched big-city marathon experience.
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