Gent Marathon

Location: Ghent, East Flanders
Country: Belgium
Website: https://soficogentmarathon.com
2025 Marathon Date: 30/03/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 29/03/2026
Winning Time 2025: 2:20:21
% Sub-3s: 5–10%
# Sub-3s: 100–499
Total Runners: 3k–10k

The Gent Marathon is a relatively young but fast-growing event held in the historic Belgian city of Ghent. Taking place each spring, the race showcases a blend of medieval architecture, scenic waterways and flat running terrain, making it a compelling choice for European runners aiming to race early in the season.

The course starts and finishes near the city centre, weaving through Ghent’s historic core, suburban neighbourhoods and green corridors along the river. Much of the route is flat and traffic-free, with long, uninterrupted stretches that favour even pacing. While there are a few cobbled sections and sharp turns, these are limited and do not significantly disrupt rhythm for experienced runners.

Spring weather in East Flanders tends to be cool and overcast, with race-day temperatures typically ranging from 6–12°C. Rain is possible, but the climate is generally mild and well suited to marathon running.

Despite its relative newness, the Gent Marathon is already noted for its slick organisation and efficient start procedures. Aid stations are frequent and well stocked, and signage is clear throughout the course. The atmosphere is relaxed yet professional, attracting a mix of local club runners and international visitors.

For sub-3 marathoners, Gent offers an excellent balance of flat terrain, cool conditions and moderate field size. While it doesn’t yet attract elite fields on the scale of major city marathons, it consistently draws a strong amateur field, especially from Belgium, the Netherlands and northern France.

The Gent Marathon may not yet be a household name, but it has all the ingredients of a high-quality spring race. Runners looking for a fast, well-managed event with scenic urban touches and manageable logistics will find it an underrated but highly promising option.