Beijing Marathon

The Beijing Marathon was founded in 1981, during the golden age of mass-participation running. Now 45 years old, it has established itself as a beloved fixture in Beijing, growing from its early editions into a race with genuine character and loyal following.

The course record of 02:07:16, set by Kamworor, Geoffrey in 2017, speaks to what the Beijing Marathon offers elite athletes: a fast, honest course where serious times are achievable. The record has drawn increasingly competitive fields year after year.

Runners come to the Beijing Marathon for one reason: personal bests. The flat, fast course through Beijing has a reputation as a PB factory, with the roads seemingly designed to keep your pace honest and your splits consistent from start to finish.

With 32,000 finishers and spectators lining the course deep, the Beijing Marathon generates an atmosphere that carries runners through the hard miles. The crowd support in Beijing is not polite applause — it's visceral, personal, and often the difference between hitting the wall and breaking through it.