World’s Fastest Marathons – November 2025 Rankings

November often marks the final chapter of the global marathon season — a month defined by cool, fast conditions in Europe, major international races in the US, and smaller events that attract dedicated club runners chasing year-end goals. While overall participation dips compared to peak autumn months, the quality of sub-3 running remains high, with several events producing strong performances and deep amateur fields.

New York City Marathon topped the charts for total sub-3 finishers and scored the maximum for winning time, but fell short of the #1 spot due to its lower sub-3 percentage — a key part of Sub‑3’s 45:45:10 scoring methodology. Instead, Indianapolis Monumental Marathon claimed the top ranking thanks to a rare combination of volume and density, delivering over 800 sub-3 finishers from a relatively modest field.

As always, these rankings apply Sub-3’s standard methodology: 45% of the total score comes from the percentage of sub-3 finishers, 45% from the absolute number of sub-3 runners, and 10% from the fastest winning time. All figures are drawn from verified 2025 results and evaluated using a consistent spreadsheet-based model with no extrapolations or assumptions.

🥇 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
Indianapolis, United States – 08 November 2025
Indianapolis takes top spot for November 2025 thanks to an exceptional sub-3 percentage and strong absolute depth. Its fast, flat course and cool Midwestern conditions drew a committed field of club runners and time-chasers. With over 800 sub-3 finishers from just 6,678 participants, it scored highly across all metrics.
→ View full profile: Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

🥈 New York City Marathon
New York City, United States – 02 November 2025
New York topped the month for total sub-3 finishers and earned maximum points for its elite-winning time. But its lower sub-3 percentage held it back from the overall top spot. Still, with over 2,300 runners breaking three hours, it remains a heavyweight global marathon and a major contributor to the sub-3 community.
→ View full profile: New York City Marathon

🥉 San Sebastián Marathon
San Sebastián, Spain – 23 November 2025
San Sebastián delivered a standout sub-3 percentage from a smaller but focused field. Its coastal Basque route, favourable weather, and reputation for efficient pacing made it a key late-season target for ambitious European runners chasing time goals.
→ View full profile: San Sebastián Marathon

4️⃣ Firenze Marathon
Florence, Italy – 30 November 2025
Florence produced a strong showing in both absolute sub-3 numbers and percentage. Its late-November slot offered cool, calm racing conditions, while the historic Tuscan setting and well-supported course attracted a broad range of club athletes and international runners.
→ View full profile: Firenze Marathon

5️⃣ Torino City Marathon
Turin, Italy – 23 November 2025
Turin combined a respectable sub-3 percentage with a competitive winning time to earn its place in the Top 10. A city-centre course with mild conditions, it proved an efficient late-season option for runners in northern Italy and beyond.
→ View full profile: Torino City Marathon

6️⃣ Marathon de La Rochelle
La Rochelle, France – 30 November 2025
La Rochelle delivered another consistent performance, with solid depth and a fast course that favours evenly paced efforts. The flat coastal layout and supportive local crowds helped many runners close their season on a high.
→ View full profile: Marathon de La Rochelle

7️⃣ Verona Marathon
Verona, Italy – 16 November 2025
Verona continued its climb as a respected Italian marathon, delivering good sub-3 density despite a smaller field. With its scenic setting, fast course, and growing international reputation, it maintained a strong showing in the rankings.
→ View full profile: Verona Marathon

8️⃣ Maratón Internacional Elche-Alicante
Elche to Alicante, Spain – 30 November 2025
This point-to-point Spanish marathon edged into the Top 10 with a solid sub-3 turnout and above-average winning time. Its coastal route and seasonal conditions created a fast setup, especially for those targeting end-of-year PBs.
→ View full profile: Maratón Internacional Elche-Alicante

9️⃣ Philadelphia Marathon
Philadelphia, United States – 23 November 2025
Philadelphia posted strong absolute numbers, thanks to its reputation as a club-friendly and Boston-qualifying race. A flatter section through the riverbanks helps build late momentum, making it a popular late-season goal among US-based sub-3 hopefuls.
→ View full profile: Philadelphia Marathon

🔟 Maratona di Ravenna Città d'Arte
Ravenna, Italy – 09 November 2025
Ravenna rounded out the Top 10 with a strong winning time and respectable sub-3 percentage despite a smaller overall field. Its early November timing and flat Italian course made it a worthwhile pick for those looking to peak before winter.
→ View full profile: Maratona di Ravenna Città d'Arte

November 2025 Rankings Table

About These Rankings

These rankings are based on verified results from November 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.