Zurich Seville Marathon

About the Race

The Zurich Seville Marathon has become one of the favorite marathons for runners seeking personal bests and qualifying times for major marathons like Boston. Held in February, it takes advantage of the optimal weather conditions of the Andalusian capital in winter, with cool morning temperatures rarely exceeding 15 degrees Celsius, typically calm winds and an extremely flat course that make it a personal record machine.

Seville offers a circuit with less than 20 meters of cumulative positive elevation gain across the entire distance, one of the flattest in Europe. This characteristic, combined with ideal temperatures and excellent organization, has enabled thousands of runners to achieve their Boston Marathon qualifying time here. The American athletics federation (USATF) recognizes the course for time validation, adding extra incentive for international runners.

The atmosphere of the Seville Marathon is vibrant and genuinely Andalusian. The streets of the city center fill with spectators cheering with clapping, flamenco music and shouts of encouragement that inject energy into runners during the toughest moments. The course passes UNESCO World Heritage monuments such as the Cathedral, the Giralda, the Royal Alcázar and Plaza de España, creating a visual spectacle that makes the final kilometers more bearable.

The organization has improved notably in recent years, matching the standards of major European marathons. Aid stations are generous and well-distributed, official pacers cover a wide range of target times and the post-race physiotherapy service is free for all participants. The runners' expo is held at FIBES (Convention and Exhibition Center) with activities during the two days before the race.

With a limit of 14,000 participants, the Seville Marathon maintains a manageable size that avoids the overcrowding of larger marathons. Registration includes a technical shirt, bib with timing chip, finisher medal, runner's bag with sponsor products and medical insurance. The price is competitive compared to other marathons of similar prestige in Europe, and the cost of living in Seville is notably lower than other European running capitals like London or Berlin.

Route & Course

The Seville Marathon course is a virtually flat urban circuit starting from the La Cartuja Olympic Stadium. The first kilometers run through Isla de la Cartuja before crossing the Guadalquivir River toward the historic center. The route follows Paseo de Colón alongside the Torre del Oro, skirts the Cathedral and the Giralda, and crosses the Santa Cruz neighborhood to reach the spectacular Plaza de España. From there, the circuit heads toward María Luisa Park and the southern neighborhoods before returning to the center along the Guadalquivir riverbank. The final kilometers cross the river again toward La Cartuja to finish at the stadium. The road surface is excellent throughout and aid stations every 5 km offer water, isotonic drinks, banana, orange and gels from km 25 onwards.

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