2026 Lyon Marathon - Oct 4 Countdown

Q: How do I register for the 2026 Lyon Marathon?

Registration is open online, first-come first-served at runinlyon.com, with no lottery. The marathon entry is tiered, roughly &euro;69 early to &euro;84 late (about &euro;79 mid-window). The 10K and half marathon typically sell out first, so the full marathon often still has spots when the shorter races are gone. Register early to lock the lowest price.

Q: Is the Lyon Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is mostly flat and fast, with about 293m of total elevation gain spread across the 42.195 km. The route stays largely at river level along the Saone and Rhone, and the only meaningful climbs are short rises toward the Croix-Rousse. It is a realistic course for a personal best.

Q: What is the course like and where does it start and finish?

Run in Lyon is a point-to-point route, not a loop. It starts near the Palais de Justice (Cour d'Appel) in Vieux-Lyon on the quai Romain Rolland and finishes at the grand Place Bellecour. Between the two you cross multiple bridges over the Saone and Rhone, pass the Presqu'ile, and run beside the parc de la Tete d'Or.

Q: How hard is the Lyon Marathon?

It is considered an accessible, runner-friendly marathon. The flat profile (293m gain) and mild October climate suit both first-timers and PR seekers. The main challenge is the 5h30 time limit, which requires holding roughly 7:50 per km (about 12:35 per mile) average pace.

Q: What should I wear for race-day weather?

Expect a start around 14&deg;C (57&deg;F) warming into the mid-teens. Singlet or short sleeves plus shorts works for most runners, with arm sleeves or a throwaway top in the corral. October is Lyon's wettest month, so pack a cap or thin shell and choose grippier shoes for damp bridge surfaces.

Q: What is the time limit for the Lyon Marathon?

The official cutoff is 5 hours 30 minutes, enforced by rolling road-reopening barriers along the course to satisfy city authorities. Runners must average about 7:50 per km to finish within the limit. If you need more time, the half marathon is the better option.

Q: Is the Lyon Marathon Boston-qualifying (BQ)?

Yes. Run in Lyon is an AIMS-measured, FFA-labelled ASO race, so a time run here is valid for a Boston Marathon qualifying attempt. You do not need a qualifying time to enter Lyon itself, but the certified, flat course makes it a strong place to chase your BQ standard.

Q: How many runners finish the Lyon Marathon?

About 5,145 runners finished the full marathon in the most recent edition (4,179 men and 966 women). That full-marathon field is one slice of the roughly 33,000 participants across all distances (10K, half, marathon, and relay) that make Run in Lyon one of France's largest running festivals.

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Race Information

Race	2026 Lyon Marathon - Oct 4
City	Lyon
Date	2026-10-04 at 08:15
Field Size	~5,145 runners
Time Limit	5 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace	7:49/km
Timezone	Europe/Paris
Official Site	Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) - Run in Lyon by Harmonie Mutuelle

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	14.3°C / 58°F
Humidity	77%
Wind	17.1 km/h
Rain Chance	36%
Typical Conditions	Cool, often damp autumn morning around 14°C (57°F) at the 8:15 start, climbing into the mid-teens. October is Lyon's wettest month, so a light shower is plausible.

What to Prepare: Dress for 14°C with a throwaway layer in the corral. Pack a cap or light shell, the rivers funnel a 10 km/h breeze along the quays. Roughly 4 in 10 editions see some rain.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 17.1 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	10.4°C	14.4°C	18.2°C
Dew point	6.1°C	9.6°C	13.4°C

Wet-day chance: 36% Runnability: 75/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Point-to-point
Elevation Gain	293m
Terrain	City asphalt along the Saone and Rhone quays, several bridge crossings, and tree-lined boulevards through Vieux-Lyon, the Presqu'ile, and the parc de la Tete d'Or before finishing at Place Bellecour.
Profile	Mostly flat and fast with 293m of total climb, the only real bumps being short rises toward the Croix-Rousse plateau. The net river-level route favors a strong negative split.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Lyon Marathon - Oct 4

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

Convert uphill or downhill running pace to flat-equivalent GAP in one click. Free grade adjusted pac...

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for the 2026 Lyon Marathon?

Registration is open online, first-come first-served at runinlyon.com, with no lottery. The marathon entry is tiered, roughly €69 early to €84 late (about €79 mid-window). The 10K and half marathon typically sell out first, so the full marathon often still has spots when the shorter races are gone. Register early to lock the lowest price.

Is the Lyon Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is mostly flat and fast, with about 293m of total elevation gain spread across the 42.195 km. The route stays largely at river level along the Saone and Rhone, and the only meaningful climbs are short rises toward the Croix-Rousse. It is a realistic course for a personal best.

What is the course like and where does it start and finish?

Run in Lyon is a point-to-point route, not a loop. It starts near the Palais de Justice (Cour d'Appel) in Vieux-Lyon on the quai Romain Rolland and finishes at the grand Place Bellecour. Between the two you cross multiple bridges over the Saone and Rhone, pass the Presqu'ile, and run beside the parc de la Tete d'Or.

How hard is the Lyon Marathon?

It is considered an accessible, runner-friendly marathon. The flat profile (293m gain) and mild October climate suit both first-timers and PR seekers. The main challenge is the 5h30 time limit, which requires holding roughly 7:50 per km (about 12:35 per mile) average pace.

What should I wear for race-day weather?

Expect a start around 14°C (57°F) warming into the mid-teens. Singlet or short sleeves plus shorts works for most runners, with arm sleeves or a throwaway top in the corral. October is Lyon's wettest month, so pack a cap or thin shell and choose grippier shoes for damp bridge surfaces.

What is the time limit for the Lyon Marathon?

The official cutoff is 5 hours 30 minutes, enforced by rolling road-reopening barriers along the course to satisfy city authorities. Runners must average about 7:50 per km to finish within the limit. If you need more time, the half marathon is the better option.

Is the Lyon Marathon Boston-qualifying (BQ)?

Yes. Run in Lyon is an AIMS-measured, FFA-labelled ASO race, so a time run here is valid for a Boston Marathon qualifying attempt. You do not need a qualifying time to enter Lyon itself, but the certified, flat course makes it a strong place to chase your BQ standard.

How many runners finish the Lyon Marathon?

About 5,145 runners finished the full marathon in the most recent edition (4,179 men and 966 women). That full-marathon field is one slice of the roughly 33,000 participants across all distances (10K, half, marathon, and relay) that make Run in Lyon one of France's largest running festivals.