World’s Fastest Marathons – January 2025 Rankings

January is traditionally a quiet month on the global marathon calendar. In the northern hemisphere, few race organisers schedule events during the depths of winter. In the south, summer heat often favours shorter distances or trail events. Still, a number of well-established road marathons took place in January 2025 – and some attracted impressively strong amateur fields.

This page highlights the fastest marathons of the month based on verified sub-3 data. Each race is ranked using a transparent 45:45:10 formula – 45% weight to the percentage of sub-3 finishers, 45% to the total number of sub-3s, and 10% to the fastest winning time. Only open-entry, publicly reported events are included.

Top 10 Fastest Marathons – January 2025

🥇 Houston Marathon
Houston, United States – 19 January 2025
The Houston Marathon stands out as January’s fastest race by some margin. Held on a flat, looped course through Houston’s wide streets and residential neighbourhoods, it benefits from mild winter temperatures and excellent event logistics. The 2025 edition featured a very high sub-3 count and a high sub-3 percentage, reflecting both the course's speed and the quality of the field. With a winning time of 2:08:17, it also recorded the fastest finish of any January marathon — a performance that reinforces Houston’s reputation as a race for serious runners chasing fast times.
→ View full profile: Houston Marathon

🥈 Marathon International Marrakech
Marrakech, Morocco – 26 January 2025
The Marrakech Marathon delivered one of the most competitive fields of the month, with a high sub-3 count and the highest sub-3 percentage of all January races. Known for its flat route through palm-lined boulevards and the historic centre of Marrakech, the course combines quick terrain with cool, dry North African conditions. A winning time of 2:08:48 placed it among the fastest elite performances in January. With a mid-sized field, the depth in the top ranks made this a serious contender for runners targeting time over crowd support.
→ View full profile: Marathon International Marrakech

🥉 Dubai Marathon
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 12 January 2025
Dubai showed a strong performance in 2025, with a winning time of 2:04:51 – the fastest of any race this month. While its sub-3 percentage and count were slightly lower than the top two, they still ranked solidly among January events. The route is flat and exposed, with early-morning starts used to mitigate the heat. This is a race that rewards rhythm and pacing discipline rather than crowd energy, but its fast course and elite credentials speak for themselves.
→ View full profile: Dubai Marathon

4️⃣ Louisiana Marathon
Louisiana, United States – 19 January 2025
This mid-sized field in the American South drew a moderately high sub-3 count and a high sub-3 percentage, reflecting growing regional appeal. The 2025 edition featured a winning time of 2:28:23 and cool race-day conditions. While not yet a household name internationally, the Louisiana Marathon continues to build credibility among competitive amateurs in search of a measured, well-organised event.
→ View full profile: Louisiana Marathon

5️⃣ Khon Kaen International Marathon
Khon Kaen, Thailand – 12 January 2025
One of Asia’s more established January marathons, Khon Kaen featured a moderate sub-3 count and a respectable winning time of 2:18:54. The course winds through Khon Kaen province in northeastern Thailand, with slightly undulating terrain and warm conditions that can become a factor later in the race. The depth at the top end suggests it continues to attract strong club runners despite the challenging climate.
→ View full profile: Khon Kaen International Marathon

6️⃣ Taipei Charity Marathon
Taipei, Taiwan – 12 January 2025
The Taipei Charity Marathon drew a larger field and delivered a moderate sub-3 count, with a winning time of 2:26:02. The race is held in the heart of Taiwan’s capital and typically features a looped urban course. While not as internationally known as other East Asian marathons, Taipei offers a competitive setup for local elites and visiting runners seeking a well-executed January option in the region.
→ View full profile: Taipei Charity Marathon

7️⃣ Carlsbad Marathon
Carlsbad, United States – 19 January 2025
This mid-sized California event is known for its scenic coastal course and cooler winter conditions. While the sub-3 count was relatively low, the winning time of 2:33:33 reflects a decent standard at the front. Carlsbad isn’t designed to produce mass fast times, but it remains a well-established local fixture with a loyal following.
→ View full profile: Carlsbad Marathon

8️⃣ Mumbai Marathon
Mumbai, India – 19 January 2025
The Mumbai Marathon had one of the largest fields of the month and featured a winning time of 2:11:44, confirming its status as India’s leading marathon. While the sub-3 percentage was low, that reflects wider structural factors in the field rather than course difficulty. Mumbai’s scale, visibility, and elite credentials continue to place it among Asia’s flagship marathons.
→ View full profile: Mumbai Marathon

9️⃣ HCMC Marathon
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – 12 January 2025
This race through central HCMC attracted a smaller field with a low sub-3 count, but it delivered a solid winning time of 2:30:58. It’s a relatively young event on the global marathon map but is increasingly well-organised and reflects the growth of running culture in Vietnam. Heat and humidity can be factors, but early starts and flat roads keep the course fair.
→ View full profile: HCMC Marathon

🔟 Walt Disney World Marathon
Bay Lake, United States – 12 January 2025
The Walt Disney World Marathon drew a high-participation field, but with a very low sub-3 percentage and a winning time of 2:27:17, it remains more of a mass-participation spectacle than a sub-3 target race. Held through Disney’s theme parks, it offers unique entertainment value but limited depth for competitive runners.
→ View full profile: Walt Disney World Marathon

January 2025 Rankings Table

About These Rankings

These rankings are based on verified results from January 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?

Know a road marathon with 1,000+ finishers from January 2025 that isn’t listed here? Get in touch. If your race meets our inclusion criteria, we’ll do our best to add it in future editions.
→ Suggest a marathon