Sun, Jun 6 · 2027Rio de JaneiroSince 1979

Rio de Janeiro Marathon

The Rio Marathon loops through one of the world's most visually striking cities, from Flamengo Park past the Copacabana and Ipanema seafront and back. It is a warm, lively, and genuinely demanding race that rewards patience over bravado.

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RIO DE JANEIRO · BR
Rio de Janeiro
SUN, JUN 6
2027
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Race Overview

EST. 1979

The Rio Marathon runs through the heart of one of the most visually dense cities in the world, and you feel that from the first mile. You start at Flamengo Park and work your way south along the coast, past Copacabana and Ipanema, before looping back. The crowds are loud, the scenery is hard to ignore, and the atmosphere is genuinely electric. The one moment that earns the hype is the stretch along the Copacabana seafront with the mountain backdrop on one side and the Atlantic on the other. It is the kind of mile that makes you forget you are racing. Don't forget you are racing.

This is not a PR-first course. The loop profile is not brutal, but the heat and humidity in June will slow most runners down, and the course is not USATF certified. Come for the experience and the Boston qualifier stamp if you are chasing that, but go in knowing you are racing the conditions as much as the clock. Getting in is straightforward, it is open registration through the official site with limited bibs, so don't sit on it too long. If you are planning a trip to South America and want a race that actually shows you the city, this is the one.

Field size
~13k
13,129 finishers
BQ rate
Boston qualifier
Time limit
6:00
Tight cutoff
Entry
Open
First-come registration
Course records
Men
2:12:35
Josphat Kiprotich
2024
Women
2:34:33
Kebebush Yisma
2022

The Course

551 ft total gain
Total ascent
551 ft
Total descent
Net elevation
Highest point
118 ft
Lowest point
7 ft
Course shape
Loop
Start and finish in one place

The course is a loop starting and finishing at Flamengo Park, with most of the elevation spread across rolling segments rather than one big climb. The highest point barely clears 100 feet, so this is not a mountainous course, but the cumulative gain across 26.2 miles on a warm day adds up. The seafront stretches along Copacabana and Ipanema offer flat, fast running, but heat and humidity can make mid-race miles feel harder than the profile suggests. There are no long technical descents to exploit. Runners chasing a time should bank their effort on the beachfront sections and resist going out too hard in the opening park miles.

DIFFICULTYROLLINGPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

Race-Day Weather

10-year median
Low
66°F
High
78°F
30°MARATHON-IDEAL 4560°80°
What to expect

June in Rio means mild by local standards, but warm by marathon standards. Expect a start somewhere in the mid-to-upper 60s that climbs into the high 70s by the time you hit the later miles. Humidity is the real factor here. The numbers on paper can look manageable, but the air is thick and it will make your pace feel harder than it should. Hydrate from mile one and don't let the festive atmosphere push you out too fast. This is a course where you race the conditions as much as the clock.

Entry

OPEN

Registration open, limited bibs available. Entry via official website.

Register on race site

Frequently Asked

7 questions
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