Barcelona Marathon Race Prep

Zurich Marató de Barcelona: a flat point-to-point course in Barcelona with 134 m of climbing. Pacing by section, fueling, and race-day tips.

Use TrainPace to plan a simple, repeatable strategy for Barcelona Marathon: pacing targets, fueling basics, and course/elevation awareness.

Pace calculator: training zones + race pace
Fuel planner: carbs/hour + gel timing
Elevation analysis: hills, grades, and difficulty

How to prepare for Barcelona Marathon

Plan pacing, fueling, and course strategy for Barcelona Marathon using free calculators and GPX elevation analysis.

Pick a realistic goal time: Use a recent race result or time trial to set a starting point.
Set training paces: Calculate easy, tempo, threshold, and interval paces for your training block.
Build a fueling plan: Estimate carbs/hour and gel timing that you can practice in long runs.
Review course elevation: Upload a GPX to spot key climbs and decide where to adjust effort.

Zurich Marató de Barcelona course guide

The Zurich Marató de Barcelona runs through the streets of Barcelona in March. The 2025 course goes from Passeig de Gràcia to the Arc de Triomf and has about 134 m of climbing. Long straight roads and a few gentle rises make it a fast course.

Zurich Marató de Barcelona at a glance
Fact	Value
Location	Barcelona, Spain
Distance	42.195 km (marathon)
Usually held	March
Course	flat, point-to-point
Elevation gain	134 m (440 ft)
Official site	https://www.zurichmaratobarcelona.es/

Course highlights

Start on Passeig de Gràcia
Sagrada Família around km 14, the highest point of the course
Coastal stretch past the Hotel Arts and the Fòrum, km 27–31
Avinguda Diagonal, km 31–36
Finish at the Arc de Triomf

Zurich Marató de Barcelona pacing strategy

Run the first half evenly, because the climbing is spread across both halves (76 m in the first, 58 m in the second). Keep some energy for the last 10 km, which pass through Poblenou and the Vila Olímpica before the finish.

Pacing by course section
Section	Terrain	Advice
km 0–10	Eixample streets, including a 4.72 km straight on Carrer de València	Stay relaxed and do not chase the crowd in the first kilometres.
km 10–21	Avinguda Meridiana, the Sagrada Família (highest point at km 14), then Rambla de Catalunya	Run by effort on the gentle rise, then settle back to goal pace.
km 21–31	Avinguda Paral·lel, Ciutadella park, then the flat coastal road	Hold steady pace on the flat road along the sea.
km 31–42	Avinguda Diagonal, Poblenou, Carrer Marina and the finish at the Arc de Triomf	Keep your form and push only in the last 3 km.

Fueling notes

Refreshment points start at km 5 and come every 2.5 km, with water, isotonic drink and fruit. Take a gel before each one so you can wash it down, and plan your last gel before km 37.5 on Carrer Pallars.

Race-day tips

The course has 43 curves, so run the corners tight and keep an eye on the racing line
Use the refreshment points every 2.5 km from km 5 to plan when to drink
The start is on Passeig de Gràcia in the city centre, so allow time to reach your start corral
The long straight on Carrer de València (km 5–10) can feel dull, so pace by watch and effort

Frequently asked questions

Is the Barcelona Marathon course flat?

It is mostly flat. The 2025 course has about 134 m of total climbing, 76 m in the first half and 58 m in the second. The highest point is at the Sagrada Família around km 14.

When is the Barcelona Marathon held?

It is held in March.

Where does the Barcelona Marathon start and finish?

The 2025 course started on Passeig de Gràcia and finished at the Arc de Triomf. Check the official site for any change to the route.

Facts checked 2026-10 against the sources below. Race details change from year to year — confirm with the official site before race day.

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