Winter marathons in Asia: dates, weather and how to get in

While Europe and North America take a winter break, Asia’s marathon season is in full swing. From November to March the big city races run from Seoul and Shanghai to Singapore, Mumbai and Tokyo, in conditions that range from frosty to tropical. Below are the big city road marathons in that window, with how you get in and the figures that matter most when choosing one.

“Climb” is the total elevation gain of the course. “Usual start temp.” is the average temperature at the start time over the last 10 years on race day. Races are listed in season order, from November to March. Dates marked “est.” follow the race’s usual slot and are not yet confirmed.

How to choose between them

Two very different climates

East Asia (Japan, Korea, northern and central China) is cool to cold in winter, often close to ideal racing weather, and some March races start near freezing. South and Southeast Asia stay warm all year: races in Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City or Chennai usually start in the low to mid 20s °C, which is why many start before dawn. Check the start temperature column before you set a goal time.

Entry: lotteries are common

Many Chinese and Japanese city marathons fill their fields by lottery, often months ahead, and some reserve places for overseas runners or official tour operators. Most races in South and Southeast Asia and the Gulf are first-come, first-served. The entry column shows which is which; check each race’s rules for international runners.

Flat and fast, or a challenge

Most of these courses are flat. A few, like Hong Kong with its bridges and tunnels, climb noticeably more. For a personal best, pair a low climb with a cool start; see also the best marathons for a PB.

Training through the northern winter

If you live in the north, a February or March race means long runs in the cold and dark; a warm-weather race in December or January means arriving from winter into heat. Give yourself a few days to acclimatise if you can, start conservatively and drink early.

Compare any of these side by side, or filter by month, climb and temperature in the race finder. For the spring season elsewhere, see the USA and Canada and Europe.