Florence Marathon Race Prep

Estra Firenze Marathon: a flat loop course in Florence. Pacing by section, fueling, and race-day tips.

Use TrainPace to plan a simple, repeatable strategy for Florence 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 Florence Marathon

Plan pacing, fueling, and course strategy for Florence 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.

Estra Firenze Marathon course guide

The Firenze Marathon is held in late November. The 2025 route started and finished in Piazza Duomo, ran through the Cascine park, crossed the Arno several times and passed Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Santa Croce and the Luigi Ridolfi stadium. The finish is in Piazza Duomo – Piazza San Giovanni.

Estra Firenze Marathon at a glance
Fact	Value
Location	Florence, Italy
Distance	42.195 km (marathon)
Usually held	November
Course	flat, loop
Typical weather	About 8 °C at the start, with a real chance of rain (third-party guide)
Official site	https://www.firenzemarathon.it/en/

Course highlights

Start in Piazza Duomo at 8:30
Cascine park, the city's green lung, between km 5 and 20
Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti
Halfway point on Ponte San Niccolò and Piazza Santa Croce
Finish in Piazza Duomo – Piazza San Giovanni

Estra Firenze Marathon pacing strategy

The course is essentially flat, with Arno bridge crossings and one notable rise: the Affrico overpass shortly before km 35. Run an even first half and save energy for km 30 to 40.

Pacing by course section
Section	Terrain	Advice
km 0–5	Historic centre from Piazza Duomo to the Fortezza da Basso	Start steady; the streets are narrow and busy.
km 5–20	Cascine park and Arno bridges, including Ponte Vecchio	Hold goal pace on the park paths, which are flat.
km 20–30	Halfway at Ponte San Niccolò, Santa Croce, then the athletics stadium	Stay relaxed; the route runs on the track in the stadium.
km 30–42.2	Affrico overpass near km 35, then the historic centre to Piazza Duomo	Run the overpass by effort, then speed up on the flat final kilometres.

Fueling notes

The official site says refreshment points are on the route; check the current map for exact places. Plan a gel before the Affrico overpass near km 35 if you want energy for it.

Race-day tips

Expect cold, damp weather in late November and bring warm clothes to the start
Cobblestones in the historic centre and park paths in the Cascine need careful footing, especially when wet
The route changes in some years, so check the current official map before race day
Piazza Duomo is the meeting point for the start; arrive well before 8:30

Frequently asked questions

Is the Florence Marathon flat?

Largely. A third-party guide describes it as effectively flat, and the official 2025 route description names the Affrico overpass near km 35 as one of the most demanding parts.

When is the Florence Marathon held?

It is held on a Sunday in late November.

Where does the Florence Marathon start and finish?

In the 2025 edition it started in Piazza Duomo and finished in Piazza Duomo – Piazza San Giovanni. Older courses finished in Piazza Santa Croce.

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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