A lifetime experience

It is also one of the most popular among amateur runners looking to achieve personal best times. The event takes place on 15 February 2026.

Accommodation is cheap and travelling to Seville is a lifetime experience. In February the weather is perfect for running and the course is unbeatable for fast times with only 10 metres of difference between the highest and the lowest point. These are the ingredients of a recipe for success.

When it is winter in Europe, it is almost spring in Seville (between 7º–18ºC in February). It is the Ideal time for the elite to achieve the qualifying standard for international championships (World Championships, Olympic Games…) as there is usually a six-month margin to train for the official championships in summer. The current men’s course record was set by Deresa Geleta, clocking in 2:03:27.

In the last edition – the 40th anniversary – the race featured Ethiopian star Selemon Barega, who made his debut at the distance with a time of 2:05:15. 17 athletes crossing the finish line in under 2:08; 28 in under 2:10; and 45 in under 2:15. France’s Manon Trapp broke her country’s record with a time of 2:22:17. Even more impressive were the figures for 2024, with 41 men finishing under 2:10 and 19% under three hours, while a total of 29 women finished under 2:30. In the 2023 edition 25 Olympic qualifying times were achieved in 2023. In total 27 national records were broken in Seville between 2022 and 2025.

But Seville also stands out for its extraordinary atmosphere along the route, with 25 bands playing music and thousands of people cheering. The last few kilometres pass through the centre of the Andalusian capital, where thousands of fans gather to cheer on the runners in the toughest kilometres.

Seville is special for many reasons, and so is its ‘Breakfast Run’. Held on the Saturday before the marathon, It is now in its fifth edition with a fast-paced route that is certified and included in the World Athletics international calendar. The time achieved by the 2025 winner, 13:47 by Kenyan Matthew Kipchumba Kipsagan, places it among the fastest on the national scene. The great times achieved on 14 February next year will be valid as qualifying times for major international championships, or as a valid test for securing a place in the San Silvestre Vallecana.

www.en.zurichmaratonsevilla.es