With health and wellness becoming an increasingly dominant culture in the U.S. and around the world, you may find that your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and relatives are challenging themselves to run marathons. And maybe you’ve been strapping on your running shoes and clocking in mile after mile as you train. Qualifying for any marathon is a rush, but deciding where you want to complete this feat can make all the difference. Here are some of the most scenic places in the world to run a marathon.
Schneider Electric Marathon – Paris, France
If you’re feeling inspired after watching all the incredible world athletes competing in the 2024 Olympic Games in the City of Light, then you might want to sign up for this run. This marathon starts at the base of Arc de Triomphe and moves toward the Champs-Elysées and Place de la Concorde. Sights along the way include Place de la Bastille, Château de Vincennes, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. According to MapQuest, this marathon is one of the five biggest races in the world typically taking place in April, bringing in 50,000 participants each year.
Run Rome – Rome, Italy
Are you strong like a Roman gladiator? Get training for the Run Rome and find out. This marathon coming up in March of 2025 for its thirtieth anniversary is awe-inspiring and will keep you trotting as you pass incredible historical monuments including the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Palatine and Circu Maximus, Castel Sant’Angelo, St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, and more. Plus you can load up ahead of the race with some of the best pasta, pizza, and carbs in the world, and reward yourself with gelato and wine afterward.
Great Wall Marathon – Huangyaguan, China
Expanding in number of runners since 1999, the Great Wall Marathon in Huangyaguan is considered one of the most difficult marathons in the world. Starting with just 350 and growing to 2500 participants in recent years, both beginner marathon runners and vets return each year to weave their way through local villages, hills and 5,164 steps up a tower. Fuel up ahead of the marathon with incredible local cuisine and explore the Chinese countryside while honoring this incredible historical monument. This marathon is hosted by Albatros Adventure Marathons, which hosts runs around the world in some of the most strikingly beautiful and historic destinations.
Iceland Volcano Marathon – Lake Myvatn, Iceland
Run through this hotbed of geothermal activity, home to geysers, hot springs, lava rock and other incredible geographical features. At the center of the route, black sand Hverfjall crater towers as you navigate a nail-biting single-track trail, lava plains, and smaller volcano craters. Runners can choose to participate in the full, half or quarter marathon here and work their way up. Lake Myvatn is a unique location for runners to check off their bucket lists, situated at the boundaries of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Antarctic Ice Marathon– – Union Glacier, Antarctica
You may be surprised by this option, how can you run in an icy desert? Well, layer up and brace yourself for the world’s southernmost marathon. This route is not for the faint hearted, with an average windchill of -20C and an altitude of 700 meters. Participants are flown in from Punta Arenas to Union Glacier to run a marked course across a barren landscape. Along the way, support from snowmobiles, aid stations, and medical personnel will ensure the safety of those who dare to try this challenging route.
Big Sur Marathon – Carmel, California
Stunningly scenic, this marathon courses through Big Sur to Carmel and along famous Highway 1, the nation’s first nationally-designated Scenic Highway. Get incredible waterside views and feel the ocean breeze blow over your face cooling you down as you run. This is not a flat marathon, elevation gain is about 2,182 feet and loss is 2,528 feet with the longest hill being a 500-plus foot climb within the route’s first 10 miles.
Featured Image: Rome Marathon 2022 (Photo by ennar0)
