Best Time of Year to Run a Marathon

Why spring and autumn dominate

Cooler starts, longer daylight, and post-winter or pre-winter training cycles make March–May and September–November the busiest marathon months in the Northern Hemisphere. Races like London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and New York cluster here for good reason.

Summer and winter trade-offs

Summer marathons in Europe and North America often start very early to beat heat. Winter races in the Southern Hemisphere (Sydney, Cape Town) can offer warm-weather options when the north is cold — but check humidity and sun exposure.

Hemisphere and travel

Running a March marathon in Japan while living in Europe means winter training in the dark. Align your build with local weather where you train, or arrive early enough to acclimatise for hot or high-altitude races.

Browse by month

Use upcoming marathons for upcoming races, or open a month page — for example October marathons — to see what typically runs when. Filter the marathon database by month once you know your target window.

Entry calendars follow race dates

Popular autumn races often open entry in spring. Read marathon entry explained so registration dates do not catch you off guard.