Rock 'n' Roll Running Madrid Marathon
Madrid, Spain · April · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- More than 30 music and entertainment points along 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Route passes the Bernabeu, Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace and ends in Retiro Park
- Central start and finish a short metro ride from most hotels
- Bilingual announcements, so no Spanish needed
Watch out for
- About 390 m (1,280 ft) of climbing; km 30 to 36 (miles 18.6 to 22.4) is the hard section
- Late April can reach 25 °C (77 °F) at 650 m (2,130 ft) altitude
- Shares the first 17 km (10.5 mi) with the half marathon, so early crowding
- Support thins at km 30 to 36 and bands may stop for slower runners
- Mostly guides and previews; few athletes have written race reports
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
Few athletes have written about it. Runners cite the atmosphere and sights; the hills are the main disagreement. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
One runner found it well organised but wanted better expo signage from the metro. A back-of-pack runner said most bands had stopped. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
About 390 m (1,280 ft) of climbing, spring heat up to 25 °C (77 °F) and sold-out crowds. Metro access and bilingual announcements help. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.8
Undulating, with the last 10 km (6.2 mi) roughly uphill at 650 m (2,130 ft). The course record is 2:08:18. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.0
Bernabeu stadium, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, a Casa de Campo loop and a finish in Retiro Park. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
The marathon shares the first 17 km (10.5 mi) with the half, which can get crowded. A 6 km (3.7 mi) park loop follows. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.5
City streets. A 2015 report warns of large slippery road grates in rain. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
City-centre closures for a major event, and no reviewer reports traffic on course. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling2.5
About 390 m (1,280 ft) of gain per Finishers and Marathons.com, more than a typical rolling course. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven2.8
The last 10 km (6.2 mi) is mostly uphill to Retiro. Net change is not published. Boston qualifier. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.4
Start near Paseo de Recoletos, reached by metro. Corral and bag-drop details were not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
A large series event with timing. No runner describes pace groups. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
The organiser lists more than 30 music points and locals bring signs. Support thins at km 30 to 36 (miles 18.6 to 22.4). · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Water, Powerade and fruit at stations per a 2018 guide. Few runners describe the stations. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.5
No source reports wind problems, but few runners wrote about it. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.2
Average 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F) at the end of April, but some editions reach 25 °C (77 °F) or more. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
2015 had heavy rain from mile 9 (km 14). 2018 was mild at 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F). · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
A central city course with metro access and the finish in Retiro. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeModerate3.4
Madrid is about 650 m (2,130 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
The capital has plentiful hotels, though a hotel guide flagged the 2025 race as sold out. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Madrid hotels cost less than comparable Western capitals. No race-specific price data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.3
Start and finish are central, near Cibeles and Retiro, with metro access. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.4
Madrid-Barajas is 13 km (8 mi) from the centre, with nonstop flights from major US cities. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
The expo is reached by metro but is a long walk, and announcements are bilingual. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.7
Madrid dining and museums, plus post-race restaurant offers such as 1 euro mimosas. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early3.1
Open entry, but the 2025 race was reported sold out with a waiting list. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.4
The fee was not found. The medal features Madrid landmarks and charity tie-ins. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 25 April 2027
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 8,000 athletes
- First held
- 1978
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 390 m (1,280 ft)
- Start time
- 08:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- City roads
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 10–22 °C (50–72 °F)
- Humidity
- low to moderate
- Altitude
- 650 m (2,130 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Madrid-Barajas (MAD), 13 km (8 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Salamanca, Recoletos, Retiro
- Booking
- Book early; hotels near Recoletos and Retiro fill for race weekend.
What racers and reviewers say
- WikipediaRaced 2026 · article · neutral
First held 1978. Route heads north past the Bernabeu, south to Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace, loops 6 km (3.7 mi) in Casa de Campo and finishes in Retiro. Undulating, last 10 km (6.2 mi) roughly uphill; 7,405 finishers in 2023.
- RunnerClickRaced 2018 · article · Positive
US-oriented guide: bands and cheering locals, bilingual announcements, small hills only, 15 to 20 °C (60s °F) in 2018, first 17 km (10.5 mi) shared with the half can get crowded, water, Powerade and fruit at stations.
- Steel City Striders (Nancy Stuart, half marathon)Raced 2015 · blog · Mixed
Half marathon on the same course in heavy rain: about 6 km (3.7 mi) of climbing at the start, hills around miles 7 to 9 (km 11 to 14) and a hard climb from mile 11.5 (km 18.5), slippery road grates, finish in Retiro. Read via search summary.
- AIMS (Association of International Marathons)Raced 2017 · article · Positive
Promotional piece for the 40th edition: start at Cibeles about 650 m (2,130 ft) above sea level, rolling hills from about 14 km (8.7 mi), long climb from 32 km (20 mi) to Retiro, bands along the route and runners earning their medal.
“Madrid is for the fuerte, the strong.”
- Marathons.comRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Course guide: about 400 m (1,300 ft) of gain, second half harder, km 30 to 36 (miles 18.6 to 22.4) the key section with thin crowds, final km uphill, average 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F) with up to 25 °C (77 °F) possible.
Show 2 more
- Finishers.comRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Promotional: 390 m (1,280 ft) of gain, a demanding marathon, more than 30 entertainment points with rock concerts, Boston qualifier and World Athletics label.
- Runner's World UK forum and race guides (search summary)Raced 2015-2018 · forum · Mixed
Search summary: one forum runner found it less hilly than expected with the last 10 km (6.2 mi) gently inclined and April possibly warm; another said the expo was a long walk from the metro. Original threads were not accessible.
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Sources
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