How do I register for the Maraton de Madrid?

Registration is open to all through RockTheSport, typically opening in May and staying open until the race fills. Entry uses a tiered pricing structure, so registering early gets you the best rate. A Spanish Athletics Federation license is required but is automatically included in your entry fee.

Is the Maraton de Madrid a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is certified as a Boston qualifier, which makes it a popular choice for international runners chasing the standard.

What is the time limit for the race?

The official time limit is just under eight hours, which is generous enough to accommodate a wide range of finishing paces.

How hilly is the course?

The course has meaningful elevation gain spread across the route, so it is not a flat, pure-speed layout. Runners chasing a PR should factor the climbing into their pacing plan rather than treating it like a pancake course.

How large is the field?

The race is one of the larger marathons in Europe, with around 45,000 finishers in recent editions, giving it a big-city atmosphere throughout the route.

Is the course USATF certified?

No, the Maraton de Madrid is not USATF certified. It is a Spanish race measured and certified under Spanish and European Athletics standards.

When does registration open?

Registration typically opens in May for the following year's race. The entry fills on a tiered structure, so earlier registration means a lower entry fee.

Apr 2027 · est.MadridSince 1978

Maraton de Madrid

Madrid's marathon runs through the heart of the Spanish capital in late April, mixing city landmarks with a course that rewards patient, controlled running over its varied terrain.

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MARATON DE MADRID · ES

Maraton de Madrid

APR 2027

estimated

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Race Overview

EST. 1978

Madrid is a big-city marathon that delivers a genuine urban race experience. You start and finish near the Retiro park area and spend most of the middle miles running through the city center, past landmarks and wide boulevards with solid crowd support. The course is point-to-point and not flat, so don't treat it like a PR layout. There's real climbing spread across the route, and the elevation sits high enough that the air feels a bit different from races at sea level. Be patient in the first half.

The entry process is refreshingly straightforward. Registration opens in May through RockTheSport and fills on a tiered pricing structure, so going early saves you money and secures your spot. One thing to flag: you need a Spanish Athletics Federation license, but that's included in your entry fee, so it's handled automatically. It does qualify for Boston, which draws a lot of international runners. The field is one of the larger ones in Europe, with a generous time limit that makes it welcoming for runners of most abilities. If you want a European city marathon with an honest course and a lively atmosphere, this one is worth the trip.

Field size

~45k

45,000 finishers

BQ rate

—

Boston qualifier

Time limit

7:50

Generous cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:08:18

Reuben Kerio

2019

Women

2:24:37

Siranesh Yirga

2022

The Course

1,358 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑1,358 ft

Total descent

—

Net elevation

—

Highest point

2,402 ft

Lowest point

1,890 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

This point-to-point course sits at elevation throughout, ranging between roughly 1,890 and 2,400 feet above sea level. Total climbing tops 1,300 feet, spread across the full 26.2 miles, so there is no single brutal wall but no long flat stretch to coast either. The cumulative gain means you are working most of the day. Pacing conservatively in the first half pays off. The cool spring temperatures help, but wind exposure on Madrid's wider boulevards can add effort mid-race. Plan your effort as if the course will take more out of you than a flat race, because it will.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

45°F

High

65°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Late April in Madrid usually gives you a cool morning at the gun, somewhere in the mid-to-upper 40s, which feels fine at the start. By the back half the temperature climbs into the mid-60s, and with the sun out on exposed stretches it can feel warmer than it reads. It's rarely a brutal heat day, but it's not a cold-weather PR window either. Dress in layers you can shed early, and don't let the comfortable morning lull you into skipping hydration stops.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration through RockTheSport. Spanish Athletics Federation license required (included in entry fee). Entry fills on a tiered pricing structure.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

MAD

9 mi

from the start

≈ 14 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into MAD, about 9 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 14-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Madrid so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.

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