Lausanne Marathon

Location: Lausanne
Country: Switzerland
Website: https://en.lausanne-marathon.com/
2025 Marathon Date: 26/10/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 25/10/2026
Winning Time 2025: 02:24:10
% Sub-3s: 2–5%
# Sub-3s: 50–99
Total Runners: 1k–3k

The Lausanne Marathon offers one of the most scenic road marathon experiences in Switzerland, following the shores of Lake Geneva with mountain silhouettes rising beyond the water. It is a race for athletes who appreciate rhythm and open views — the kind of course where the landscape does half the mental work by keeping the mind calm and cadence steady. Lausanne is not built on spectacle or noise; instead, it delivers a composed, almost meditative marathon setting where trained endurance can unfold without hurry or disruption.

The route starts near the city and stretches along lakeside roads, benefiting from long, straight sections and gentle gradients. Technically, it’s friendly: few sharp turns, broad surfaces, and predictable road feel. The marathon’s character lies in its simplicity. Get into pace, stay relaxed, and let the kilometres roll. That simplicity, however, demands respect. With fewer distractions, sub-3 runners must be honest about their pacing and avoid creeping effort too early. It’s a race where even small mistakes echo later.

October in Lausanne usually means cool air, soft light, and the possibility of a light breeze rolling off the lake. Conditions tend to favour performance, though temperature shifts are possible — that alpine crispness in the first few kilometres can give way to mild warmth as the sun rises. A light top or disposable layer at the start helps maintain relaxation during those opening minutes. Aid stations are frequent enough to keep fueling steady; practiced gel timing slots neatly into the course rhythm.

Crowds appear in pulses: lively support near the start, finish, and populated lakeside villages, interspersed with stretches where the only soundtrack is footfall and breath. For many, that is Lausanne’s appeal — space to run, think, and feel the movement rather than chase noise. The return leg holds emotional pull, bringing runners back towards the city with a growing sense of momentum and inevitability.

The Lausanne Marathon is best suited to athletes who trust their conditioning and enjoy steady, fluid execution. It rewards restraint as much as strength, favouring runners who can hold shape, mind their nutrition, and build gradually into the closing kilometres. For the sub-3 runner who values clarity, beauty, and control, Lausanne offers a quiet, disciplined path to a deeply satisfying finish line.