Choosing between Lagos City Marathon and Zhengzhou 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 | Zhengzhou Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Saturday, 13 February 2027 at 6:30 am | Sunday, 18 October 2026 at 7:00 am |
| Elevation | Very flat - approx. 11m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m | Very flat - approx. 104m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m |
| Typical weather | Hot and humid winter | Mild autumn |
| Typical participants | Approximately 30k finishers | Approximately 36k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Easy | 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 Zhengzhou Marathon attracts approximately 36k finishers each October through Henan province's transport hub on the Yellow River. The course links the Zhengdong New Area CBD towers, Erqi Memorial Tower, and the Songshan foothills approach on wide Henan boulevards. October's mild central-China weather and a largely flat profile make it one of the country's fastest major mass-participation marathons.
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