Taipei Marathon
Taipei, Taiwan · December · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Starts beside Taipei City Hall under Taipei 101 and finishes inside Taipei Municipal Stadium.
- Flat, with about 40 to 100 m (130 to 330 ft) of gain.
- Pacers from 3 to 6 hours and a quick bag drop.
- The metro opens at 5 AM near the start.
Watch out for
- Entry is by lottery; a guaranteed place costs NT$9,999 (about $310).
- The cutoff is 5:30 (7:49 per km, 12:35 per mile).
- Riverside sections are exposed to wind.
- Race-day highs ranged from 17 to 26 °C (63 to 79 °F).
- No race-day bib pickup, and few runners have written about it.
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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Few but warm reviews: RaceRaves gives 4.0 from 1 runner, a San Francisco runner calls it a favourite, and a Philippine writer liked the course. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
Runners report corrals with pacers, quick bag drop and immediate official times. The entry lottery system crashes yearly per a registration guide. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Flat, with pacers from 3 to 6 hours and plentiful aid. The 5:30 cutoff (7:49 per km, 12:35 per mile) and lottery add limits. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.1
A flat loop in cool December air. Wind on riverside sections and one underpass can cost time. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.4
City boulevards, Yuanshan, riverside paths and Taipei 101 behind the start; pleasant rather than spectacular. · Low confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.5
A dense start on Renai Road slows the first kilometre, and there are many turns near Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall from 10 to 15 km (9.3 mi). · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Smooth city roads and riverside paths. No complaints, but few runners discuss it. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.4
City streets are closed for the race; reviewers do not describe the closures in detail. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.8
Gain is 40 to 100 m (130 to 330 ft) across sources. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
A loop, so no net drop. Boston qualifier. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.9
The metro opens at 5 AM near the start, and bag drop and toilet lines moved quickly. Corrals are precise. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood4.0
Official pacers run from 3 to 6 hours and official times are posted immediately. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.1
One reviewer found spectators sparse except at the start and finish; another saw spectators lining the route. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.1
Plentiful stations from about 5 km (3.1 mi) with water and sports drink, plus a large post-finish food spread. Volunteers were praised. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
Exposed riverside sections and a crosswind on Huandong Boulevard; one 2025 runner found the wind helpful. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
A typical 12 to 18 °C (54 to 64 °F) with 81% humidity; 2025 was warm. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Race-day highs ranged from 17 to 26 °C (63 to 79 °F) over five years, with a 47% chance of rain. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
A metro city course, but one reviewer noted sparse spectators between start and finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Taipei is about 10 m (33 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityPlentiful4.6
A large hotel supply in Xinyi and Songshan. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.0
A 2026 runner found hotels near the start affordable. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalk to everything4.6
The metro runs near the start, and the City Hall start and stadium finish are central. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Direct flights from US cities. The main airport is 40 km (25 mi) out; the city airport is 3 km (2 mi). · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
Expo Thursday to Saturday with no race-day pickup. It is a large expo but crowded. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.9
Night markets, food and easy day trips. · 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 early2.6
Lottery success reported at 66% in 2020 and under 30% elsewhere. A guaranteed place costs NT$9,999 ($310). · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
NT$2,200 (about $70) with singlet, finisher shirt, towel, medal and plenty of finish food. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 20 December 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 9,000 athletes
- First held
- 1986
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 60 m (195 ft)
- Start time
- 06:30
- Cutoff
- 5.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt, riverside paths
- How to get in
- lottery
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $70
- Air temperature
- 12–18 °C (54–64 °F)
- Humidity
- About 81% race week
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Taipei Songshan (TSA); Taoyuan (TPE) for most international flights, 3 km (2 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Xinyi, Songshan, Zhongshan
- Booking
- Hotels near City Hall and Songshan are affordable; book by October.
What racers and reviewers say
- San Francisco Marathon blogRaced 2025 · blog · Positive
Ran 2024 and 2025. Flat fast loop past Ximending and Yuanshan with Yangmingshan behind, finishing along the Tamsui riverside toward Taipei 101. Bag drop and toilet lines were quick, subway opens at 5 AM, weather in the 50s to 60s °F (10 to 20 °C (68 °F)) is ideal. Main hurdle is the lottery.
“It's no world major, but it's one of my favorite marathons.”
- Daily Tribune (Philippines)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
His 12th marathon of 2025, won through a raffle. Called the course balanced and scenic as the city came into view, with volunteers handing out water and electrolyte drink, a record field and a crowded expo. 6:30 start was unusually warm with a helpful steady wind.
- RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
One reviewer (2024, first-timer, 4.0): mostly flat, spectators sparse except at start and finish, plentiful aid and finish food, easy sign-up as an overseas runner, crowded but huge expo and a warning of the 5:30 limit.
- ctyeh.com Taipei course analysisRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Course guide: under 100 m (330 ft) of gain, 12 to 18 °C (54 to 64 °F), precise corrals with pacers, many turns around Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and riverside wind; fatigue hits on the return leg.
- RundidaRaced 2026 · article · neutral
2026 guide: loop with 40 m (130 ft) of gain, 6:30 gun, 5:30 cutoff, NT$2,200 fee, no race-day bib pickup, race-week average 18 °C (64 °F), 81% humidity and 47% rain chance.
Show 1 more
- Taipei TimesRaced 2020 · article · neutral
2020 report: over 37,000 registered and about 28,000 chosen by lottery; 3,692 foreign runners from over 60 countries attended in 2018.
Raced Taipei Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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