World’s Fastest Marathons – March 2025 Rankings

March is one of the busiest and most diverse months on the global marathon calendar. It marks the transition into spring racing season in the northern hemisphere, with major city marathons drawing large fields and increasingly favourable weather. At the same time, southern hemisphere events begin to wind down, making way for late-season efforts across Australasia and parts of South America. The depth and scale of March marathons make it one of the most competitive months of the year.

These rankings apply Sub-3’s 45:45:10 formula — awarding 45% of the total score to the percentage of sub-3 finishers, 45% to the absolute number of sub-3 runners, and 10% to the fastest winning time. All results are verified from official 2025 data, with no assumptions or projections. Every race here met our eligibility criteria and was evaluated on the same transparent basis.

🥇 Marató Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain – 16 March 2025
Barcelona delivered one of the fastest and deepest fields of the month, combining a flat, sea-level course with near-perfect spring conditions. With over 21,000 finishers and a striking concentration of sub-3 performances, it comfortably topped March’s global rankings. A winning time of 2:04:13 added to its credentials, making it a genuine contender on both the amateur and elite fronts.
→ View full profile: Marató Barcelona

🥈 Tokyo Marathon
Tokyo, Japan – 2 March 2025
A World Marathon Major and one of the largest events globally, Tokyo maintained its reputation for elite speed and mass participation. The 2025 edition saw over 36,000 runners take to the streets, with nearly 1,800 sub-3 performances and a winning time of 2:03:23 — the fastest in this month’s rankings. Its sheer size slightly diluted the sub-3 percentage metrics, but Tokyo remains one of the best platforms in the world for serious runners.
→ View full profile: Tokyo Marathon

🥉 Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles, United States – 16 March 2025
The Los Angeles Marathon delivered the highest percentage of sub-3 finishers among March’s major events. With a net-downhill course stretching from Dodger Stadium to the Pacific, and favourable conditions on race day, the event attracted strong amateur performances. Its combination of scale — over 21,000 finishers — and speed secured it a place on the podium for March.
→ View full profile: Los Angeles Marathon

4️⃣ Bologna Marathon
Bologna, Italy – 2 March 2025
Bologna offered a well-organised spring marathon on the Italian circuit, attracting nearly 2,000 runners and over 100 sub-3 finishers. The relatively flat urban course and compact field size helped ensure a competitive race. Though not yet a major destination race, its performance in the March rankings suggests it’s one to watch for serious European amateurs.
→ View full profile: Bologna Marathon

5️⃣ Gent Marathon
Ghent, Belgium – 30 March 2025
The Gent Marathon closed out the month with a solid showing across all ranking metrics. A popular late-March option in northern Europe, it drew over 4,000 finishers and saw a decent spread of sub-3 results. The course blends urban and riverside sections, and while the top-end speed was less sharp than others in the top five, its depth held strong.
→ View full profile: Gent Marathon

6️⃣ Run Rome The Marathon
Rome, Italy – 16 March 2025
Run Rome The Marathon attracted almost 22,000 finishers in 2025, making it one of the largest spring marathons in Europe. The historic course and mass participation atmosphere led to a relatively modest sub-3 percentage, but the sheer volume of runners — and a 2:07:35 winning time — kept it competitive overall.
→ View full profile: Run Rome The Marathon

7️⃣ Shizuoka Marathon
Shizuoka, Japan – 9 March 2025
Shizuoka offered a fast course and reliable conditions for sub-elite runners, with nearly 10,000 finishers and almost 400 sub-3 performances. Its depth and consistency placed it solidly within March’s top 10, especially among medium-sized Japanese races with a strong amateur following.
→ View full profile: Shizuoka Marathon

8️⃣ Napa Valley Marathon
Napa Valley, United States – 2 March 2025
A scenic point-to-point race through California wine country, the Napa Valley Marathon once again delivered a high ratio of sub-3 runners from a small, competitive field. Though it lacked the scale of other events in the top 10, its focus on serious amateurs helped maintain its ranking presence.
→ View full profile: Napa Valley Marathon

9️⃣ Dolphin Coast Marathon
Durban, South Africa – 16 March 2025
This South African marathon combined warm coastal conditions with a hilly route north of Durban. With just under 2,000 finishers and a solid number of sub-3s, it earned a place in the global rankings thanks to its balance of pace and participation.
→ View full profile: Dolphin Coast Marathon

🔟 Elands Marathon
Elands Valley, South Africa – 1 March 2025
The Elands Marathon featured over 3,000 finishers and more than 100 sub-3 performances on a fast, rural course. Its early March date and reliable organisation make it a consistent feature of the South African racing calendar — and one of the top regional events this month.
→ View full profile: Elands Marathon

March 2025 Rankings Table

About These Rankings

These rankings are based on verified results from March 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.