Geneva Marathon

Registration is open to anyone and runs from early October through race day. Early bird pricing is available in October, with regular pricing in December and a final pricing tier from March onward. You can register as late as May 9, the day of the race.

Yes, the Geneva Marathon is a certified Boston qualifier. The net-zero elevation loop gives runners a fair shot at a qualifying time, though the rolling sections in the second half mean you'll want to pace conservatively early.

It's a loop course that runs along the shores of Lac Léman and through the city, starting and finishing near the Jet d'Eau fountain. Net elevation is zero, but the course accumulates around 1,000 feet of gain and loss, with the hillier sections concentrated in the back half.

The time limit is 6 hours.

Recent editions have seen just under 2,000 finishers, making this a smaller-scale race where you'll have room to find your pace from the start without significant congestion.

The race is held in early May, when Geneva mornings can be cool and fresh, warming into the mid-to-upper 60s by mid-morning. It's generally a comfortable window for racing, though you may want a throwaway layer at the start and should be ready for temperatures to climb in the later miles.

Geneva Airport (GVA) is only about 4km from the city center. A direct train takes around 6-7 minutes to downtown, or you can take a bus in about 20 minutes. Staying near the city center puts you close to the lakeside start and finish area.