World’s Fastest Marathons – February 2025 Rankings
Top marathons in February 2025 for sub-3 runners. Explore verified rankings, winner times and the fastest races of the month.
February offers a transitional moment on the global marathon calendar. In the northern hemisphere, cool winter conditions favour fast times in selected European and Asian cities. Meanwhile, in parts of the southern United States and southern Africa, early-season races take advantage of dry, temperate weather before spring heat arrives.
These rankings use Sub-3’s 45:45:10 methodology: 45% based on the percentage of sub-3 finishers, 45% on the absolute number of sub-3 finishers, and 10% on the fastest winning time. All results are drawn from verified 2025 races open to the general public and ranked accordingly.
Top 10 Fastest Marathons – February 2025
🥇 Maratón de Sevilla
Seville, Spain – 23 February 2025
Seville once again tops the global charts, combining elite-level speed with a remarkable depth of fast amateur runners. Its flat, sea-level course and cool conditions attract top fields from across Europe and beyond. With over 10,000 finishers and a high concentration of sub-3 performances, Seville comfortably secured the top spot this February.
→ View full profile: Maratón de Sevilla
🥈 Osaka Marathon
Osaka, Japan – 24 February 2025
A major fixture on the Japanese calendar, the Osaka Marathon lived up to its reputation with strong performances across the board. While its percentage of sub-3 finishers was moderate, the sheer volume of fast runners — in a field of over 30,000 — placed it second overall.
→ View full profile: Osaka Marathon
🥉 Ventura Marathon
Ventura, California, United States – 23 February 2025
This fast, coastal point-to-point race consistently delivers strong amateur times. Ventura featured a relatively small field but posted a high density of sub-3 finishers. The net elevation drop and temperate Californian climate make it a go-to option for those chasing time goals early in the season.
→ View full profile: Ventura Marathon
4️⃣ Mesa Marathon
Mesa, Arizona, United States – 8 February 2025
Set in the desert outskirts of Phoenix, the Mesa Marathon benefits from ideal racing conditions and a fast course. With over 3,000 finishers and a healthy sub-3 count, it remains one of the premier early-season options in North America.
→ View full profile: Mesa Marathon
5️⃣ Hong Kong Marathon
Hong Kong – 9 February 2025
A challenging urban course through one of Asia’s most iconic cities, the Hong Kong Marathon attracted a large field and delivered a strong winning time. Despite lower sub-3 percentages, its scale and speed earned it a Top 5 placement this month.
→ View full profile: Hong Kong Marathon
6️⃣ Malta Marathon
Mdina, Malta – 23 February 2025
The Malta Marathon offers a point-to-point course that descends from the historic city of Mdina to the coast. Despite a relatively small field, the race recorded a strong percentage of sub-3 finishers this year, helped by favourable weather and a modest net downhill. With under 1,100 runners, it remains a niche event but one that rewards well-prepared athletes with fast times.
→ View full profile: Malta Marathon
7️⃣ Tel Aviv Marathon
Tel Aviv, Israel – 28 February 2025
Tel Aviv’s late February marathon took place under typically warm skies, drawing over 1,600 finishers to its mix of beachfront and urban roads. While the number of sub-3 runners was modest in absolute terms, the race produced a solid winning time and a consistent depth of amateur performances, enough to secure a mid-table spot in this month’s rankings.
→ View full profile: Tel Aviv Marathon
8️⃣ Wilmington NC Marathon
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States – 22 February 2025
The Wilmington NC Marathon featured just over 1,100 runners but delivered a healthy ratio of sub-3 finishers. Known for its flat, coastal course and early start time, it has become a popular choice for time-focused runners seeking favourable winter conditions.
→ View full profile: Wilmington NC Marathon
9️⃣ Kyoto Marathon
Kyoto, Japan – 16 February 2025
With over 15,000 finishers, the Kyoto Marathon was one of the largest February events. However, its relatively slow course and conservative pacing from the field kept the number of sub-3 performances modest. While not a top destination for time-chasers, Kyoto remains a major cultural fixture in Japan’s running calendar.
→ View full profile: Kyoto Marathon
🔟 Hillcrest Marathon
Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – 9 February 2025
Held in the hills of KwaZulu-Natal, the Hillcrest Marathon drew just over 1,000 finishers this year. Though limited in size, it posted a decent proportion of sub-3 times, especially among local club runners. With a challenging but runnable profile, it remains a staple in South Africa’s February calendar.
→ View full profile: Hillcrest Marathon
February 2025 Rankings Table
| # | Marathon | Country | % Sub-3s | # Sub-3s | Total Runners | Winning Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maratón de Sevilla | Spain | 15%+ | 1000–1999 | 10k–20k | 02:05:15 |
| 2 | Osaka Marathon | Japan | 2–5% | 1000–1999 | 30k–40k | 02:05:35 |
| 3 | Ventura Marathon | United States | 5–10% | 100–499 | 1k–3k | 02:20:41 |
| 4 | Mesa Marathon | United States | 5–10% | 100–499 | 3k–10k | 02:18:41 |
| 5 | Hong Kong Marathon | Hong Kong | 2–5% | 100–499 | 10k–20k | 02:11:12 |
| 6 | Malta Marathon | Malta | 5–10% | 50–99 | 1k–3k | 02:15:21 |
| 7 | Tel Aviv Marathon | Israel | 5–10% | 50–99 | 1k–3k | 02:12:11 |
| 8 | Wilmington NC Marathon | United States | 5–10% | 50–99 | 1k–3k | 02:25:34 |
| 9 | Kyoto Marathon | Japan | 2–5% | 100–499 | 10k–20k | 02:38:12 |
| 10 | Hillcrest Marathon | South Africa | 2–5% | 10–49 | 1k–3k | 02:25:39 |
| 11 | Austin Marathon | United States | 1–2% | 50–99 | 3k–10k | 02:18:56 |
| 12 | Surf City Marathon | United States | 1–2% | 10–49 | 1k–3k | 02:31:21 |
| 13 | Cowtown Marathon | United States | 1–2% | 10–49 | 1k–3k | 02:25:58 |
| 14 | Pretoria Marathon | South Africa | 1–2% | 10–49 | 1k–3k | 02:26:44 |
| 15 | Cape Gate Vaal Marathon | South Africa | 1–2% | 10–49 | 1k–3k | 02:30:25 |
| 16 | Miami Marathon | United States | <0.5% | 10–49 | 1k–3k | 02:49:16 |
About These Rankings
These rankings are based on verified results from February 2025 and scored using Sub-3’s 45:45:10 system – 45% for the proportion of sub-3 finishers, 45% for the total number of sub-3s, and 10% for the fastest winning time. Read more about our approach on the Rankings Methodology page.
Missing a Marathon?
We only include open-entry road marathons with 1,000+ finishers that have verifiable public results. Elite-only races or events with no published finisher data are excluded. If you believe a race has been missed, please get in touch.