If you’re goal is to run 42.2 kilometres next year, then you’ll want to peruse our top picks for this spring.
By Matthew Huff
If you have your heart set on running a spring marathon, at the very least you want to spend three to four months training. If you’re a beginner, you’re probably going to want at least half a year. You’ll need plenty of time to slowly build your weekly mileage up to avoid getting injured, and then about three weeks to taper off before race day. For those looking to crack a new PR, you’ll want to include speed workouts and cross training.
This is why it’s best to start training for that spring marathon in the winter months, but first, you’re going to need a spring marathon to train for.
With hundreds of marathons run around the globe every year, you’ve got plenty of races to choose from. What you choose all depends on your personal preferences. Do you want something near your home? Something far afield? Are you trying to complete all the Abbott World Majors, or are you looking for a small town race? Do you want something flat and easy, or something that will be a bit more of a challenge? You’ve got lots of options.
To help you narrow your choices a bit, we’ve compiled a list of marathons being run in spring 2025 that we’re particularly excited about. Sure we’ve got spring majors on the list, which may require a few prerequisites, but there’s also some fun smaller races you might enjoy as well.
So take a look, sign up for a marathon, and get running. Spring will be here before you know it.
Tokyo Marathon
Date: March 2, 2025
Location: Tokyo, Japan
No conversation about marathon running can go very far without discussing the Abbott World Majors especially since the Sydney Marathon was just announced as the seventh race in the prestigious series. The only Asian entry at the moment is Tokyo’s marquee running event, which is conveniently held a few weeks before cherry blossom season begins. The winding course sends runners through plenty of the sprawling city’s neighborhoods before ending just outside of the Imperial Palace. The race is extremely organized and relatively flat, so it’s a nice run. Like other World Majors, snagging a bib to run this race can be rather challenging. However if you do qualify or win an entry, make sure to arrive a few days early. You’ll need to acclimate to the time difference.
Los Angeles Marathon
Date: March 16, 2025
Location: Los Angeles, California
While Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States, its marathon is often overlooked by runners given the prestigious status of New York, Boston, and Chicago. In 2023, it ranked 33rd in field size, making it smaller than many other major city marathons, but don’t sleep on this point-to-point event. Los Angles has a lot of character and running from Elysium Park through Hollywood and Beverly Hills to finish in Brentwood gives runners plenty to look at. Though parts of the course are a bit hilly, it’s largely downhill toward the end. Some marathon courses can get a bit tedious, but luckily L.A. always has something for you to look at.
Canberra Marathon
Date: April 13, 2025
Location: Canberra, ACT
Experience the oldest city marathon in Australia at The Canberra Times Marathon Festival on 13 April 2025. This prestigious event offers five different distances that each showcase the scenery of Australia’s Capital City. Choose from the AIMS certified Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K courses, or the 5.4K and Kids’ 2K fun run. All races start near Old Parliament House and allow you to soak in the scenic views of the National Triangle and Lake Burley Griffin – the centrepiece of Canberra. There is something for runners of every level, so join in on this extraordinary celebration of running – whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a beginner, you do not want to miss this festival that celebrates Canberra.
Join in the fun all weekend long with the 3-day Canberra Times Marathon Festival Expo leading into event weekend from the 11th to 13th April!
Boston Marathon
Date: April 21, 2025
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Obviously the Boston Marathon has to be included on this list. The Boston Marathon is THE marathon. For decades before the running boom, the Boston Marathon was one of the few major marathons in the United States, with runners from around the world coming to trek 42.2 kilometres to downtown Boston. Now it’s become a symbol of excellence. Unlike the other majors that choose entrants by lottery, Boston forces runners to qualify via increasingly difficult cutoff times. This leaves a far faster crowd than that of other marathons. While the course spends relatively little time in Boston proper, the race boasts 129 years worth of tradition. Any self-respecting marathoner has to run Boston at least once in their career even if it nearly kills you to qualify.
London Marathon
Date: April 27, 2025
Location: London, United Kingdom
The third Abbott World Major held each spring is the London Marathon, typically run just six days after Boston. While winning entry into London via the lottery is very difficult, you’re going to want to try anyway. London boasts that it is the most popular marathon on the planet, and that’s largely in part due to the incredible point-to-point course. Starting east of downtown, the course winds its way through many of London’s neighborhood and past iconic landmarks like Big Ben before finishing in front of Buckingham Palace. If you’re sick of losing the lottery, you could also raise money for a charity bib. That way you’ll be able to help those in need while also helping yourself check off another world major. It’s a win win.
Pittsburgh Marathon
Date: May 4, 2025
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is really the perfect size city to host a marathon, and their course is perfectly designed to show off everything that people love about Steel City. The loop-course starts and ends downtown, but in its massive lap, you’ll cross over all three of the city’s rivers, run through the Strip District, Station Square, and Oakland. You’ll pass PNC Park and get views of the Point. You’ll run past Mt. Washington, through Shadyside, and finish with crowds of Yinzers cheering you on. Most importantly, you can go to Primanti Brothers to celebrate once you’ve got your medal, because you’ve never deserved fries on your sandwich more than post marathon.
