Riyadh Marathon
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · Saturday 8 February 2025
Running the Riyadh Marathon in February 2025 puts you on a flat to gently rolling trail course at roughly 650 meters elevation in Saudi Arabia's capital, making it a straightforward fitness test without serious climbing to worry about. The trail surface will feel different from road racing, so train on similar terrain beforehand to prepare your legs and joints for the impact. February is the right time to race in Riyadh, as the heat won't be a factor like it would be later in the year, though you should still plan hydration carefully on a trail where aid station access may be less predictable than a road marathon. Check the race website for detailed course maps and logistics before you register, since this event may be smaller and less established than major city marathons, which means fewer resources and less information typically available upfront. This is a solid choice if you want to run a full marathon on trails in a different part of the world without excessive elevation gain to slow you down.
Difficulty Calculator
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:m
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Adjusted Time
4:35:39
Time difference: +35.6 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Course Details
Elevation Gain155m
Elevation High685m
Elevation Low646m
Riyadh Marathon 2025 Course Analysis
Riyadh Marathon is a full marathon held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for Saturday 8 February 2025. The course is run on trail surface with 155m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 685m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Riyadh Marathon website.
Elevation Profile
With 155m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 646m to 685m above sea level (39m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Surface Type: Trail
Riyadh Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.
How Difficult Is Riyadh Marathon?
Our difficulty rating for Riyadh Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Riyadh Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.