Flat Marathon Courses, Ranked by Published Elevation
Which marathons are flat? Courses ranked by the elevation figure their organisers publish, plus the races whose organisers describe the course as flat without giving a number.
Table of Contents
Why Course Elevation Matters
Elevation gain is one of the biggest variables that separates a fast course from a slow one, alongside weather, wind and how well you have trained. Climbs cost time, and descents do not give all of it back: they load your quads and tempt you into running the early kilometres too fast. If you are choosing a race for a personal best, the profile deserves as much attention as the date.
The effect isn’t just about the climbs themselves. Elevation changes disrupt your rhythm, force you to adjust your pace constantly, and recruit different muscle fibres that fatigue at different rates. A flat course lets you lock into a consistent pace from start to finish — and consistency is the foundation of fast marathon running.
This guide works from what the race pages on this site can back up. Some organisers publish an elevation figure; many only describe the course as flat. We rank the first group by their figure, list the second group without inventing a number for them, and say which is which.
The Numbers: How Flat Is Flat?
Organisers measure and report elevation in different ways. Some give total ascent, some give climb and descent separately, and some give only the maximum height difference between the lowest and highest point. Treat every figure below as the organiser’s own claim about the shape of the course, not as a survey.
Of the 25 marathons on this site that are currently held and have an organiser-published elevation figure on their race page, the figures fall like this (half marathons are left out):
- Up to 50m: 2 marathons — the flattest published profiles
- 51–100m: 3 marathons — functionally flat
- 101–200m: 7 marathons — gently rolling, and several of them are still billed as flat
- 201–500m: 5 marathons — noticeable hills
- More than 500m: 8 marathons — hilly to mountainous
This is not a sample of all marathons, only of the ones whose organisers publish a number, and it includes mountain races. The useful reading is the low end: just 5 of the 25 publish less than 100 metres of climbing. A race with no published figure cannot appear in this count, however flat it is.
The Flattest Marathons with a Published Elevation Figure
The table ranks the marathons on this site that are currently held and publish an elevation figure of up to about 200 metres, from lowest to highest. It ranks only those races. It is not a ranking of every marathon in the world, and a flat race without a published number is not in it (the next section covers those).
| Race | Location | Published elevation | Month | What the figure refers to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seville Marathon | Seville, Spain | 10m | February | Organisers’ “elevation difference”, on a course with 38 turns |
| Porto Alegre Marathon | Porto Alegre, Brazil | 14m | June | Cumulative climb on the route redesigned in 2026 |
| Gold Coast Marathon | Gold Coast, Australia | 62m | July | Course elevation on an out-and-back along the coast |
| Lausanne Marathon | Lausanne, Switzerland | 80m | October | 80m of climbing and 146m of descent |
| Warsaw Marathon | Warsaw, Poland | 85m | September | Total ascent; organisers call the profile mostly flat |
| Rennes Marathon | Rennes, France | 110m | October | Cumulative climb over two city loops |
| Brighton Marathon | Brighton, United Kingdom | 145m | April | Elevation gain of 477 feet, per the organiser |
| Montreal Marathon | Montreal, Canada | 172m | September | 172m of climbing and 140m of descent |
| Lucerne Marathon | Lucerne, Switzerland | 175m | October | 175m up and 175m down, per the organisers |
| Perth Marathon | Perth, Australia | 187m | October | About 187m of climb; organisers call the course fast and flat |
| Freiburg Marathon | Freiburg, Germany | 200m | April | About 200m of ascent over two laps |
| Kassel Marathon | Kassel, Germany | 200m | September | About 200m of climbing over two laps |
Read the table as a list of organiser claims. “Flat” covers a wide range: the Perth Marathon organisers call their course fast and flat while publishing 187 metres of climb, and the Seville Marathon cites 10 metres of difference. Two more races with published figures, the Dakar Marathon and the Basel Marathon, are no longer held and are left out.
Deep Dive: The Five Lowest Published Figures
Seville Marathon — 10m Elevation Difference
The Seville Marathon is a February city-centre marathon, run since 1985. It starts on Avenida de María Luisa beside the Casino de la Exposición and finishes on Paseo de las Delicias at the Glorieta de Buenos Aires. The organisers describe it as the flattest marathon circuit in Europe, with 38 turns and 10 metres of elevation difference.
The catch: 38 turns is a lot of corners for a marathon, and each one is a place to lose rhythm or, if you swing wide, distance. Study the map and plan to run the tangents. February in Seville is mild: average highs are about 18°C and lows about 7°C.
Best for: Runners who want the lowest published elevation figure and don’t mind a turn-heavy city route.
Porto Alegre Marathon — 14m Cumulative Climb
The Porto Alegre Marathon was redesigned in 2026, and the organisers present the new course as the flattest in Brazil, with only 14 m of cumulative climb. They say the 2027 edition keeps the same route, and the 2027 race is on 6 June. The 42.195 km is laid out for long straights through the Centro Histórico and along the Orla do Guaíba, avoiding the undulations of the Zona Sul.
The catch: Because the course changed in 2026, older race reports and maps may not describe it. Use the organisers’ current map. June in Porto Alegre is cool and damp: highs average about 20°C and lows about 11°C, with relative humidity near 83%.
Best for: Runners who want a flat course with long straights and cool conditions, and are comfortable racing a recently redesigned route.
Gold Coast Marathon — 62m Elevation
The Gold Coast Marathon is run on a Sunday in early July, in the Australian winter. It starts and finishes at the Broadwater Parklands on Marine Parade in Southport and is run as out-and-back legs along the coast: past The Spit and Main Beach, along The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise to Kurrawa, through Mermaid Beach and on to a turn at Marine Parade in the suburb of Miami, then back north. The organisers count 29 km of beachside running and put the course elevation at 62 metres.
The catch: On any coastal out-and-back, the wind can be against you in one direction, so check the forecast. July here is mild: average highs are around 21°C and lows around 12°C. The cut-off is 7 hours from the gun.
Best for: Runners who want a coastal course in a mild winter month and a cut-off with room to spare.
Lausanne Marathon — 80m of Climbing
The Lausanne Marathon runs on a Sunday in late October on the shore of Lake Geneva. All distances start at Place de Milan and finish at Place Bellerive beside the lake. The marathon heads east along the lakeshore and through the Lavaux vineyard region, turns in the Vevey area and returns on the same road, passing Paudex and the Olympic Museum before the finish. The organisers publish 80 m of climbing and 146 m of descent.
The catch: This is the entry on the list where descent matters as much as climb, with more metres down than up, so a little downhill quad conditioning is worth it. Entries have been limited since 2017, so check availability early. Late October is cool and damp, with average highs about 15°C and lows about 9°C.
Best for: Runners who want a scenic lakeside course with a modest climb and don’t mind a net of more descent than ascent.
Warsaw Marathon — 85m Total Ascent
The Warsaw Marathon has been run every year since 1979, usually on a Sunday in late September. Start and finish are on ulica Świętokrzyska beside the Palace of Culture and Science. The 2026 route crossed the Vistula and covered seven districts before returning to the centre. The course is certified by the Polish Athletics Federation and World Athletics, and the organisers describe the profile as mostly flat, with about 85 metres of total ascent and a start at 113 metres above sea level.
The catch: The time limit is 6 hours 30 minutes, with timed checkpoints along the way, so a slower first-timer should look at them before entering. Late September is mild, with average highs around 19°C.
Best for: Runners who want a certified, mostly flat city course with a start and finish in the same place.
Flat by Description: Races Without a Published Figure
Many well-known fast courses have no organiser-published elevation figure on their race pages. The tables below list races whose organisers describe the course as flat, or which are listed as flat on their race page, together with a few that publish only a maximum height difference. Where there is no number, we don’t make one up. The rows are in no particular order and are not a ranking.
Flat Marathons in Europe
| Race | Published figure | Month | What the race page says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valencia Marathon | None | December | Organisers describe a completely flat, sea-level course with a finish on a walkway over the water |
| Amsterdam Marathon | None | October | Organisers describe the course as flat, fast and historic; start and finish in the Olympic Stadium |
| Rotterdam Marathon | None | April | Listed as flat; officially measured point-to-point course to the Coolsingel |
| Hamburg Marathon | None | April | Listed as flat; a circuit past the Reeperbahn and the Landungsbrücken |
| Berlin Marathon | None | September | Listed as flat; 13 official world records have been set on its course |
| London Marathon | None | April | Organisers describe the first miles as net downhill and the middle as relatively flat, with a slight incline just before Tower Bridge |
| Milan Marathon | None | April | Listed as flat; point-to-point from Corso Sempione to Piazza del Duomo |
| Vienna City Marathon | 44m maximum height difference | April | Organisers give the maximum height difference along the course |
| Hannover Marathon | 20m height difference | April | The city’s event listing gives the height difference |
| Salzburg Marathon | 9m maximum height difference | May | Described as a flat two-lap circuit of the half marathon distance |
| Kaunas Marathon | None | April | Organisers describe the course as flat, with a ramp on the finishing straight as the one obstacle |
Valencia Marathon is the entry that pairs a course its organisers call completely flat with cool racing weather: early December averages a high of about 17°C and a low of about 8°C there. The three height-difference figures (Vienna, Hannover, Salzburg) measure the span between the lowest and highest point, not total climbing, so don’t compare them directly with the table above.
Flat Marathons in the Americas
| Race | Published figure | Month | What the race page says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Marathon | None | January | Organiser calls it an almost all-flat, single-loop course, with the bridges the only slight inclines |
| Chicago Marathon | None | October | A flat loop through 29 neighbourhoods, starting and finishing in Grant Park |
| Houston Marathon | None | January | Listed as flat; USATF-certified downtown course |
| Jacksonville Marathon | None | December | Listed as flat; USATF-certified loop from The Bolles School |
| Detroit Marathon | None | October | Listed as flat; crosses the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Ontario |
| Walt Disney World Marathon | None | January | Listed as flat; runs through all four Walt Disney World theme parks |
| New Orleans Marathon | None | November | Listed as flat; a double loop through City Park |
| Mobile Marathon | None | January | Listed as flat; two loops of the half marathon course |
| Cancún Marathon | None | December | Listed as flat; an evening race along the Hotel Zone |
| Buenos Aires Marathon | None | September | The city government calls the circuit flat (last held in September 2026) |
Miami Marathon shows how a flat course can still be demanding: late January there averages highs of about 25°C and lows of about 16°C, with relative humidity around 73%, and the 2026 winners all mentioned the humidity.
Flat Marathons in Asia, the Middle East and Oceania
| Race | Published figure | Month | What the race page says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marathon | None | January | Listed as flat; out-and-back legs along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road |
| Doha Marathon | None | January | Listed as flat; a redesigned 2027 course along the Corniche that the organisers say has no loops |
| Tokyo Marathon | None | March | Listed as flat; point-to-point from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to Tokyo Station |
| Bahrain Marathon | None | February | Listed as flat; starts at Al Areen Wildlife Park near Zallaq (usually early February) |
| Bangkok Marathon | None | January | Listed as flat; a midnight start beside the Grand Palace |
| Chennai Marathon | None | January | Organisers describe a near-flat course along Marina Beach and the East Coast Road |
| Dead Sea Marathon | None | February | Organisers describe the southern Dead Sea basin course as flat and fast, but the surface is mostly unpaved dirt road |
| Brisbane Marathon | None | June | Organisers describe the course as predominantly flat, with a crossing of the Story Bridge |
Many of these courses are in warm places. Dubai Marathon in January averages a daily high of about 24°C and a low of about 15°C, which is warm for a winter race. Read our Marathon Nutrition Guide for hot-weather fuelling advice.
Flat vs. Fast: They’re Not Always the Same Thing
A flat course helps, but it doesn’t guarantee a fast time. Other factors that affect speed:
- Weather: Cool, dry, calm conditions are best. A flat course in heat can be slower than a gently rolling course in perfect weather, and several of the courses above are in warm places.
- Wind: Open and coastal courses can be exposed. The organisers of the Kaunas Marathon, for example, warn that wind can be a factor along the Nemunas embankment.
- Surface quality: Smooth, well-maintained asphalt is faster than rough roads or cobbles. The Freiburg Marathon page notes a surface that mixes asphalt, cobblestones and paving stones.
- Turns and tangents: Wide, straight roads let you run the shortest possible line. A course with many corners, like the 38 turns on the Seville Marathon circuit, rewards good tangent running.
- Crowd energy: The psychological boost of big crowds shouldn’t be underestimated. Smaller, quieter races ask for more internal motivation.
A flat profile is one reason fast times come from courses like the Berlin Marathon, where 13 official world records have been set. It is only one reason: weather on the day, the road surface, pacing support and the quality of the field matter as well.
How to Use Elevation Data in Your Race Planning
Choosing a PR Course
If your primary goal is a personal best:
- Look for an organiser-published elevation figure, and note whether it measures total ascent, climb and descent, or maximum height difference
- Check typical race-day weather for the month (the race page lists it)
- Look at wind exposure (inland courses are usually less windy than coastal ones)
- Consider field size — larger fields mean better pacing groups
- Read course descriptions for tight turns or narrow sections
Adjusting Your Pace for Elevation
If you are running a course with more climbing than you are used to, adjust your expectations and run by effort, not by the clock:
- At the low end of the table above: The elevation is a minor factor. Run your flat-course pace.
- Around 100–200m: Expect to lose a little time on the climbs and recover some on the descents. Don’t chase the lost seconds on the way up.
- Above that: This is a hillier marathon. Train with hills and set your goal by effort rather than by a flat-course pace.
The Downhill Trap
Some courses with significant elevation loss (more loss than gain, like point-to-point downhill courses) look fast on paper. Be cautious: downhill running is surprisingly hard on your quads. If you haven’t trained specifically for downhill, the quad damage from the first half can destroy your pace in the second half.
The Boston Marathon is a well-known case: its race page describes a net-downhill route overall, even though the four Newton hills, ending with Heartbreak Hill between miles 20 and 21, come late. The California International Marathon is another: the organiser describes it as net-downhill, with a net elevation drop of 366 feet (111.5 metres), gentle rolling hills and a flat, fast finish.
Choosing Your Flat Marathon
The right flat marathon depends on your priorities:
- Lowest published elevation figure: Seville Marathon (10m, February) or Porto Alegre Marathon (14m, June)
- A flat course with cool weather in the race month: Valencia Marathon (December, average high about 17°C), Amsterdam Marathon (October, about 15°C) or Rotterdam Marathon (April, about 14°C)
- World Marathon Majors listed as flat: Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon or Tokyo Marathon
- A flat course in a warm place: Miami Marathon, Cancún Marathon or Dubai Marathon, with the heat caveats above
If you’re a first-time marathoner looking for a flat course, also read our Best Marathons for Beginners guide for recommendations that factor in time limits, crowd support, and overall beginner-friendliness alongside course profile.
For complete nutrition planning for your target race, check our Marathon Nutrition Guide — especially the hydration considerations for hot-weather flat courses like Dubai and Miami.