Reykjavik Marathon
The world's northernmost capital marathon, run during Reykjavik's vibrant Culture Night celebration.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Late August
42.195 km
174 m
~718 athletes
Course Highlights
- Hallgrimskirkja church
- Faxafloi Bay shoreline with Mount Esja views
- Laugardalur park and geothermal area
- Harpa concert hall
- Reykjavik old harbor
The Course
The Reykjavik Marathon starts near the city center and traces a route through Reykjavik's compact neighborhoods, waterfront promenades, and coastal paths. The opening miles pass colorful corrugated-iron houses, the Hallgrimskirkja church, and the old harbor area before the course opens up along the shoreline of Faxafloi Bay. On clear days, runners can see the snow-dusted peak of Mount Esja across the water.
The middle section loops through residential suburbs and Reykjavik's green spaces, including Laugardalur park and the geothermal beach at Nautholsvik. The terrain is gently rolling with 174 meters of total elevation gain, enough to provide variety without any single climb dominating the race. The cool maritime air, typically around 10 to 13 degrees Celsius, keeps overheating at bay and allows runners to push hard from start to finish.
The final kilometers return along the waterfront with views of the Harpa concert hall's glass facade glinting in the late-summer light. The race coincides with Reykjavik Culture Night, meaning the city is alive with music, art, and street festivals, creating a unique post-race atmosphere found nowhere else in marathon running.
History
The Reykjavik Marathon was first held in 1984 and has become Iceland's premier running event. Its timing during Reykjavik Culture Night, an annual citywide festival of art, music, and community, gives the race a festive atmosphere that extends well beyond the finish line. What started as a small local event now attracts runners from around the world who want to experience marathon running in one of the planet's most distinctive locations.
Despite its relatively small marathon field of around 700 runners, the broader event includes half marathon, 10K, and fun-run distances that bring total participation to several thousand. The intimate field size means uncrowded roads and personal attention from organizers, a contrast to the mega-marathon experience. For many runners, Reykjavik represents a once-in-a-lifetime destination race combining athletic challenge with cultural immersion.
How to Train for Reykjavik
Embrace the cool conditions
Temperatures around 10 to 13 degrees Celsius are near-perfect for marathon performance. If you are traveling from a warmer climate, do some training in cooler conditions to dial in your layering and avoid overdressing on race day.
Prepare for wind
Reykjavik is one of the windiest capitals in Europe, and exposed coastal sections of the course can feature strong gusts. Train in windy conditions and practice maintaining your form when battling headwinds. Drafting behind other runners is especially valuable here.
Manage the small-field mentality
With roughly 700 marathon runners, you may find yourself running alone for long stretches. Prepare mentally for self-sufficiency and consider using a GPS watch or pacing strategy that does not rely on surrounding runners to set your tempo.
Plan for travel and jet lag
Most international runners fly to Iceland, and the unique time zone can disrupt sleep patterns. Arrive at least two to three days early to adjust, and keep your pre-race routine as close to normal as possible despite the excitement of being in a new country.
Free training plans
Half marathon to marathon
A free 16-week plan to step up from the half to the full marathon: five runs a week and a long run that builds from 1h 40m to 3 hours.
16 weeksMarathon (16 weeks)
A free 16-week marathon plan: six runs a week, a long run that builds to 2h 45m, a recovery week every fourth week, a peak in week 13 and a three-week taper.
16 weeksMarathon (20 weeks)
A free 20-week marathon plan with a gentle build: five runs a week, a long run that grows to 3 hours, a recovery week every fourth week and a three-week taper.
20 weeksSub-4 hour marathon
A free 16-week plan to break 4 hours in the marathon: six runs a week, goal-pace sessions at 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile) and long runs to 3h 10m.
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