2027 Madrid Marathon - Apr 25 Countdown

Q: How do I register for the Madrid Marathon?

Entry is first-come, first-served on the official Rock the Sport platform, not a lottery, so there is no ballot to win, but popular editions can sell out before race week. Sign up at rockthesport.com. The registration form is available in English, which makes it straightforward for international runners. A Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) day license is added at checkout if you do not already hold a federation license.

Q: How much does the Madrid Marathon cost?

The standing 2027 marathon entry is about 150 EUR on the official platform, with earlier registration windows typically cheaper. A one-day Spanish Athletics Federation license of roughly 4 EUR is added at checkout if you are not already a licensed federation athlete. Charity and travel-package entries are priced separately and are usually higher.

Q: Is the Madrid Marathon flat or hilly?

It is firmly on the hilly and demanding end, not a flat course. The single-loop route carries about 410m of cumulative elevation gain, with most of the work in a tougher second half: the steep Calle Segovia ramp, a new Calle Princesa climb and a punishing uphill drag from Atocha to the finish at Recoletos. On top of that, Madrid sits near 650m above sea level, so the air is thinner than most European city marathons and effort feels higher at the same pace. Plan your effort with our pace calculator.

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

Marathon runners have up to 6 hours to finish. That works out to roughly an 8:32 min/km (about 13:43 min/mile) average, and a course-closing vehicle sweeps the route, so runners well off that pace may be asked to board it and ride to the finish. With the hilly second half, banking a small time buffer in the early downhill miles is wise. Map your splits with our splits calculator.

Q: Can I use the Madrid Marathon as a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Madrid Marathon is a certified, measured road course, so a time run here counts toward Boston Marathon qualifying. It is far from the fastest BQ option in Europe given the climbs and the altitude, but it is a legitimate one for runners with margin to spare. Check your target time with our Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: Where does the Madrid Marathon start and finish, and what does it pass?

The race starts on the Paseo de la Castellana (near Plaza Gregorio Maranon / San Juan de la Cruz) and finishes a few hundred meters away at Recoletos on the same grand boulevard, forming a single city loop with a notably uphill finish. In between it threads the heart of Madrid: past Santiago Bernabeu, Gran Via, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Casa de Campo, El Retiro park, the Puerta de Alcala and Cibeles, with the loudest crowds around Gran Via, Sol and Cibeles.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Madrid Marathon - Apr 25
City	Madrid
Date	2027-04-25 at 08:45
Field Size	~11,769 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Course speed	Fast course Speed index 0.94 — median of the last 4 winners' times against the global same-year median. Winner times track elite fields and prize money, so this reads the course as a proxy, not a pure measurement.
Timezone	Europe/Madrid
Official Site	MAPOMA (Maraton Popular de Madrid)

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	12.6°C / 55°F
Humidity	67%
Wind	17.5 km/h
Rain Chance	31%
Typical Conditions	Mild, dry late-April spring air, roughly 9-19C race morning

What to Prepare: Late April in Madrid is one of the kinder spring windows: cool near the 8:45 AM start (about 9C) but climbing toward 18-19C by late morning, with low humidity around 55-60% and only a 20% rain chance. The thin 650m city altitude, the climbs of the second half and the rising sun all make the back end feel warmer and harder than the clock suggests, so start conservatively, carry your own sun protection and hydrate early.

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 17.5 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	8.8°C	12.2°C	16.9°C
Dew point	1.7°C	5.7°C	9.1°C

Wet-day chance: 31% Runnability: 80/100

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

Course Profile

Course Type	Single loop
Elevation Gain	414m
Terrain	Road
Profile	A single 42.195km loop with about 410m of cumulative elevation gain, which makes it one of the more demanding big-city marathons in Europe rather than a flat PR course. It generally trends downhill to roughly halfway, then the second half stacks up false flats and long climbs: the notorious Calle Segovia ramp, a punishing late drag from Atocha up to the finish at Recoletos, and on the current course a new Calle Princesa climb. On top of the hills, the city sits near 650m altitude, so the thinner air is a quiet difficulty multiplier and effort feels higher at the same pace.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Finisher Trend

Year	Finishers	vs prev.
2025	10,632	—
2026	11,769	+10.7%

Runners who crossed the line, not the registered field size.

Prepare for 2027 Madrid Marathon - Apr 25

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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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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Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

Free marathon predictor — convert your 5K, 10K, or half marathon time into race-day estimates from R...

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Madrid Marathon?

The Zurich Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Madrid marathon takes place on Sunday, April 25, 2027, with the first wave starting at 8:45 AM local time. The date is confirmed by the official site, AIMS and the Rock the Sport registration platform. Madrid runs on a late-April Sunday each spring alongside a half marathon on the same morning.

How do I register for the Madrid Marathon?

Entry is first-come, first-served on the official Rock the Sport platform, not a lottery, so there is no ballot to win, but popular editions can sell out before race week. Sign up at rockthesport.com. The registration form is available in English, which makes it straightforward for international runners. A Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) day license is added at checkout if you do not already hold a federation license.

How much does the Madrid Marathon cost?

The standing 2027 marathon entry is about 150 EUR on the official platform, with earlier registration windows typically cheaper. A one-day Spanish Athletics Federation license of roughly 4 EUR is added at checkout if you are not already a licensed federation athlete. Charity and travel-package entries are priced separately and are usually higher.

Is the Madrid Marathon flat or hilly?

It is firmly on the hilly and demanding end, not a flat course. The single-loop route carries about 410m of cumulative elevation gain, with most of the work in a tougher second half: the steep Calle Segovia ramp, a new Calle Princesa climb and a punishing uphill drag from Atocha to the finish at Recoletos. On top of that, Madrid sits near 650m above sea level, so the air is thinner than most European city marathons and effort feels higher at the same pace. Plan your effort with our pace calculator.

What is the time limit for the Madrid Marathon?

Marathon runners have up to 6 hours to finish. That works out to roughly an 8:32 min/km (about 13:43 min/mile) average, and a course-closing vehicle sweeps the route, so runners well off that pace may be asked to board it and ride to the finish. With the hilly second half, banking a small time buffer in the early downhill miles is wise. Map your splits with our splits calculator.

Can I use the Madrid Marathon as a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Madrid Marathon is a certified, measured road course, so a time run here counts toward Boston Marathon qualifying. It is far from the fastest BQ option in Europe given the climbs and the altitude, but it is a legitimate one for runners with margin to spare. Check your target time with our Boston qualifying calculator.

Where does the Madrid Marathon start and finish, and what does it pass?

The race starts on the Paseo de la Castellana (near Plaza Gregorio Maranon / San Juan de la Cruz) and finishes a few hundred meters away at Recoletos on the same grand boulevard, forming a single city loop with a notably uphill finish. In between it threads the heart of Madrid: past Santiago Bernabeu, Gran Via, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Casa de Campo, El Retiro park, the Puerta de Alcala and Cibeles, with the loudest crowds around Gran Via, Sol and Cibeles.

What should I wear for the Madrid Marathon?

Dress for a cool start and a warm finish. At the 8:45 AM gun it is often around 9°C, climbing to 18-19°C by late morning, with low humidity and a roughly 20% chance of rain. A throwaway top layer for the corral plus a singlet or short-sleeve underneath works well, and bring your own cap, sunglasses and sunscreen, since the climbing back half is exposed to a rising spring sun.