How to run a marathon in Africa: Your 2025 Marrakesh Marathon guide

Are you keen to run a marathon in Africa, but don’t know which one to choose or what to expect? My goal of running a marathon on every continent (except Antarctica) before the age of sixty, has so far taken me around Oceania (where I’ve run 20 odd events in New Zealand and Australia since age 15), North America (Los Angeles and New York City), Europe (Florence), Asia (Nagano), and now Africa, where I attended the Marathon International de Marrakech in 2024. Here is my full unbiased review and all the information you need if you plan to attend the event in 2025.

How did the Marrakesh Marathon come about?

The first Marrakesh (sometimes spelt Marrakech) Marathon was held in 1987. In the 1990s, Moroccan Olympian Abdelkader El Mouaziz won the event three times, all in under 2h10m. The course records currently stand at 2h06m32s by Hicham Laqouahi (male, set in 2020), and 2h24m49s by Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi (female, set in 2022).

The Marrakech Marathon is listed as a World Athletics Label Road Race. The event is organised by Association Le Grand Atlas in partnership with Agence Escapades and Travel Gateway. As with many marathons these days (including Nagano), the Marrakech Marathon has a time limit of 5 hours and 30 minutes.

When is the next Marrakesh Marathon being held?

The next Marrakesh Marathon will be held on Frogs.

What is the weather like during the Marrakesh Marathon?

Being held in January, the temperatures are at their lowest for the region, as is the humidity. Dress for a cold start, knowing that there is a strong chance of it getting warm as the day progresses, especially if it’s forecast to be a sunny day.

How many people complete the Marrakesh Marathon each year?

Don’t be fooled by the number of entrants being bandied about. More than 16,000 runners from all around the world, as stated on World Marathons and Ahuto in the lead-up to the 2024 event, was nowhere near the number of people who actually attended. If you sum up the people attending the marathon event, the half-marathon AND the kids marathon, it still leaves you with about 7,000 runners short. Maybe they’re also counting the supporters? Who knows.

In reality, the Marrakech Marathon is a comparatively small race, with finishers hovering around the 1,000 mark. It’s most popular year was 2020, just before the COVID pandemic hit, and numbers seem to slowly build up again to that pre-COVID record:

How many (foreign) athletes attend the Marrakesh Marathon?

While many other marathon events are able to produce this information easily, the quality of the data collected for this event is extremely poor.

Of the 1,170 marathon finishers in 2024, 333 were identified as overseas entrants, 349 were from Morocco, and a staggering 488 were not able to be identified by club, city or country. Assuming those unidentified ones are split in the same proportion as those that were identified, 49% of runners would be from overseas.

The event is heavily promoted by tour companies offering package deals, and this seems to be how a number of big running clubs from the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Morocco showed up at the start line.

When and how to enter (and how much is the entry fee)?

The entry fee for non-resident international participants is EUR70.

Individual entry

Entries are accepted online via the official websites of the organization partners and in person on the days before the race at the race pack pickup location. There is no cut-off date and no early or late entry fee. It is entirely possible to arrive in Marrakesh on Saturday and attend the race on Sunday.

I entered the event in early December, completing the entry form online. The process was a bit archaic/antiquated: Since I was a foreigner outside of Morocco, I was required to send the entry payment to a bank account in the name of Mustapha BATIT. It seemed a bit dodgy, but we went ahead (transferring the entry fee via Wise), and I received an email confirmation of my entry.

Package tour

If you prefer someone else to organise your trip to the Marrakech Marathon for you, the official websites also offer tour packages (as do other travel agencies specializing in sports events). Marathon packages – quoted from EUR199 to EUR380 in 2025 – may include the following:

• 3 nights’ (4- or 5-Star) hotel accommodation (double or shared twin) including breakfast;
• Airport transfers to and from the hotel;
• City tour;
• Race Entry Fee;
• Delivery of your race number to your hotel;
• A short relaxing massage after the race.

What is pre-race communication like?

Apart from an email confirmation of receipt of entry, there is no pre-race email communication, and there is no online list to check your entry. There are no updates on the official website(s), only the occasional Facebook post on the official Facebook page (in French only). I even emailed the event organisers some questions, but I never received a response.

Where to pick up your race pack (and what to expect)?

The race pack pickup location is a collection of tents dotted around the fountain at Place du 16 Novembre. The signage is only in French. When we attended on the Saturday, there were no queues at all.

It is not immediately obvious where to pick up your race pack, so you may have to ask. Marathon participants receive a small carry bag containing a screen-printed, low-quality t-shirt, a race number (with a disposable RF timing chip on the rear – no need to return it after the race) and safety pins.

There is a tent for late entries, but there is none for general inquiries. Nor is there a Sports Expo normally associated with a large marathon. Communication is also made difficult by the fact that volunteer staff at race pack pickup speak hardly any English (and loud music blares across the square).

At least in 2024, the stage had a large advertising board where you could take some nice pre-race photos.

What is the schedule of events leading up to and on the day?

What do Marrakech Marathon finishers receive?

In 2024, all finishers received a medal. There are also awards for those placed first to sixth in each age group.

You also have the opportunity to purchase a photo from the official photographer. Tough, I found only two of me. There is no information on the official website/s about the event photographer.

When and where are the Marrakech Marathon race results published?

Race results are published on the Marrakesh Marathon website [2023 results can be found here]. The race timing services are provided by Racetimer, a Swedish company with an office in Morocco.

In 2024, even though I ran the Marathon, my certificate contains a picture of the half-marathon route. What an oversight…

In 2024, organisers also displayed age group results. These were fairly meaningless though, as many participants do not have their date of birth or age group recorded. The age groups for the awards are as follows:

Everything you need to know about the Marrakech Marathon Course

Below is the route map for the marathon, as well as recommended accommodation, points of interest, transportation hubs and eateries and food stores.

Key locations enroute

The first 15 km of the course lead through busy suburbs along major boulevards, first heading northeast to and then south from the Water Museum. Between kilometres 15 and 19, the course traces the outside of the medina and passes a number of gates into the Old Town (called bab) before turning west to pass through Agdal Gardens (which also marks the halfway point).

The key locations of the route are below:

Marrakech Marathon Course Description

The first 9 km of the route are downhill (50 metre drop in elevation) heading in a northeasterly direction. From there, it climbs gradually until it reaches 23 km (88 meters in elevation). From 23 to 33 km, there are some undulations, but they are barely noticeable. From 34 to 40 km, there is a slight downhill, again barely noticeable. The final 2 km are again slightly uphill.

You’ll have the sun in your eyes a lot, so wear sunglasses (and sunscreen).

The route has been approved by an international official expert at IAAF, IAAF being the former name of World Athletics (until 2019). The organizers also claim that the event complies with certain criteria in order to be considered eligible for top lists, entry standards, world rankings, and world records. That said, there is no record or mention that the event complies with World Athletics rules, and no valid International Course Measurement Certificate has been sighted.

Learning from previous years (when some runners went off-course as directions weren’t clear), in 2024, there was at least one course marshal whenever there was a left or right turn. In addition, there were large stickers on the road (although some had been destroyed by cars driving over them, specifically at roundabouts).

While there are always the Atlas Mountains to the south and east to keep you company (at least on a clear day), from the 21 km mark onwards, there is not really much to look at, as the course meanders through suburbia, through new developments, past construction sites, open fields, shops, and the occasional small park.

Course entertainment and spectators

There was live entertainment at various parts of the route. The spectator crowd was small, mostly concentrated around the aid stations (and thinning out the further one got from the city centre). The largest crowd was concentrated around Menara Gardens, where the marathon course and the half-marathon course joined.

Traffic management

For the most part, runners had a dedicated lane which was closed to vehicular traffic – except at major roundabouts. At those roundabouts, cars were allowed to pass through between athletes, as directed by police. That said, drivers in Marrakech are some of the worst we have ever experienced, and they do not necessarily slow down when approaching a roundabout (even one with a waving policeman). Road cones placed incorrectly also did not contribute to the safety of participants (or provide clear directions for drivers).

In 2024, many Marrakesh residents were not aware of the marathon being on, despite major signage on display in the lead-up to the event. Apparently, the city had also made the day “Leave your car at home day”. Clearly, the messages didn’t get through.

A major bottleneck occurred around Menara Gardens, where the marathon and half-marathon courses joined. Cars were allowed to travel in one lane (west to east on Avenue Guemassa), while the east-west lane was closed to participants. Cars were stopped (intermittently) at the intersection of Avenue Guemassa and Boulevard Mohamed VI. Drivers were honking as they had no idea why they were stuck in traffic. Athletes had to run past exhaust fumes of hundreds of cars queued up on that intersection alone.

Queues of cars also built up in the Menara Gardens along Boulevard Mohamed VI (coming from the north) with nowhere to go as the intersection in front of them was closed off for them completely.

If this sounds like chaos, it is. Much better traffic management is definitely needed.

Anna K on Racecheck said that she had done a lot of marathons in her time, and they had all been very different. Because she was slow, just ducking in under the cut-off time, the roads seemed to have opened again, leaving her at times to negotiate 8 lanes of traffic, and nearly getting lost because the local public servants who were sorting the traffic, had disappeared.

What is supplied on the course?

Route/distance marking and timing equipment

Official timing was performed using standard RF-ID timing transponders. Timing mats or frames were located at the following locations:

• Start/Finish Line
• 10km
• 20km
• 27.5km
• 31km
• 37.5km.

These are indicated on the map above.

Pace guides

The Marrakech Marathon has no pacing guides.

Support Stations

In 2024, there was no information on the official website(s) about the locations of the support stations. Fortunately, a large display map at the race pack pickup showed that there would be support stations at 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 20 km, 25 km, 30 km and 35 km. On the actual course, there was also a support station at 40 km. Information on the website(s) was also very limited when it came to what the support stations would provide, including whether there would be any special drinks for non-elite/invited runners, such as electrolyte drinks. One website stated that support stations would only provide water and orange sections.

During the race, bottled water was provided at each support station. Bananas, dates, raisins and oranges were provided from the 15 km support station onwards. At some support stations, the bananas were cut in half. And at some support stations, the officials removed the caps from the water bottles. Unfortunately, support station tables were quite bunched together. Thus, runners had to slow down considerably or stop to take what they needed.

Small signs indicated each support station about 150 metres in advance. There were times when the water tables were first, whereas (at least in my opinion) water tables should always be last. One positive was that the bottles and trash from the support stations were being picked up promptly by city officials (not volunteers).

First Aid

Ambulances moved back and forth along the route (as much as they could among the road closures and traffic jams).

Registration and event database quality have massive medical and support implications if not done right. It can compromise the health of the participants and others. If first aid is required, and the runner is unidentified through a database anomaly, medical workers will have no context for the person they are treating, since they don’t have their name, emergency contact or medical information recorded.

Toilets

No information was provided about toilets on the course. There were a number of porta-loos at the start/finish area, and I did see one porta-loo at one support station, but I didn’t notice any other.

What is it like to run the Marrakech Marathon?

Would I recommend the Marrakech Marathon?

As you can tell from my report, the Marrakech Marathon was certainly an experience I won’t forget. Despite the hype and the fact that on the day things may turn out better than expected, I wouldn’t recommend running the Marrakesh Marathon as your first marathon experience. There are better organized marathons out there to complete as your first.

If it’s not your first and/or you like a challenge, and you are relatively self-sufficient (even better: you speak French), the Marrakesh Marathon is a good marathon to tick off your bucket list, especially now that you have this guide that provides (most of) the answers I didn’t have prior to mine. Running a marathon on the African continent with the backdrop of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains is pretty special (despite all the shortcomings).

How to get to Marrakech?

By Air

As overseas entrants and supporters, you are likely to enter Marrakech via aeroplane. The closest airport is Marrakesh Menara Airport (Google Map Location, IATA: RAK), named after the suburb it is located in, with daily direct flights from and to various cities in Morocco, Europe, and North America.

We travelled from New Zealand to Morocco, breaking up the journey with two stop-overs – in Singapore (for three nights) and London (for two nights). We arrived in Marrakesh 8 days prior to the event so as to acclimatise and ensure no feelings of jetlag from the long trip remained. Thanks to those lengthy stopovers, we had no jetlag whatsoever, and (in hindsight) could have arrived on the Friday before the race.

Marrakech Menara Airport is located 5 km from the city centre (as the crow flies), and as such, it’s easy to get to your accommodation from there. Options include the following:

Public ALSA buses L11/L12/L18/L20/L33

These public transit buses leave from the bus stop on Avenue Guemassa [Google Maps location], a 700metre/10 minute walk outside the Airport Terminal (turn left at the roundabout and cross the road if you want to head into the city), and cost MAD4 per person. Use Google Maps to look up the best connection for your destination.

ALSA Airport Shuttle Bus L19

The shuttle bus leaves from the parking lot just outside the airport terminal and takes passengers to the Marrakech train station [Google Maps location] and Jemaa El Fna [Google Maps location] (with interim stops near key hotels) for MAD30 per adult. You can return on the same ticket if your return flight is within two weeks.

Once you have withdrawn or changed currency (in the Airport Departures Hall), walk back to Arrivals, head outside, cross the road, and go up the few steps to the parking lot. The bus is clearly labelled all around. Payment of the fare is in cash on the bus.

Taxis

If you prefer the convenience of a taxi, head to the kech.cab taxi order counter at the Arrivals exit. You prepay your fare based on your destination by card or in cash (the price is fixed) and will receive a taxi ticket with a QR code. You then head outside, walk up to the taxi rank and scan your taxi ticket at one of the machines. Don’t forget to obtain the ticket dispensed by the machine—that’s the ticket you need to give to the dispatcher who will locate your taxi for you.

I know, it all sounds a bit complicated (but it’s a million times better than haggling after a long flight).

If you want to use the service in reverse, you can also book your taxi online.

By Train or Bus

If you combine the Marrakech Marathon with a longer trip around Morocco, you may also arrive by train or bus.

Marrakech’s ONCF Train Station [Google Maps location] is located at the roundabout of Blvd Mohamed VI and Av Hassan II (diagonally across from the Royal Theatre). The ALSA Airport Shuttle Bus L19 stops right outside the station, and public ALSA buses also stop in walking distance (just use Google Maps to look up the best connection for your destination). If you want to take a taxi from the train station, be prepared to negotiate the fare with the driver.

The two bus companies we have used and can recommend in Morocco (among several others) are Supratours and CTM. The Supratours Bus Terminal is located on the side of the Train Station on Av Hassan II (Supratours is part of ONCF). The CTM Terminal is located only a few minutes’ further at the intersection of Rue Abou Bakr Seddiq and Rue Zïneb Nafzia (about 800 m or a 10-minute walk).

Bus or train tickets can be booked online.

Where to stay for the Marrakesh Marathon?

With potential road closures (and the mayhem traffic) on marathon day, you’d want to eliminate use of any form of transportation. We therefore recommend choosing accommodation in walking distance from the start/finish area – in either the Hivernage or Sidi Mimoun areas. The city centre is flat, so walking 1-2km to the marathon is easy (and not a bad idea afterwards either to prevent you from stiffening up). Our recommendations for accommodation near the Marrakech Marathon start/finish are (in order of walking distance):

Some properties in walking distance to the start/finish line are already booked out on the Marathon weekend, so get in there as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

What we did

We stayed in a nice little Riad in Sidi Mimoun, around the corner from the latter two on our recommendations list. Unlike Hivernage, Sidi Mimoun is not at all touristy but an area where local families live. Some older buildings have crumbled in the September 2023 earthquake, so it’s not the prettiest area at first glance. But, it’s safe (the Royal Palace next door is guarded day and night) and super quiet.

How to go about supporting a participant?

If you want to support an athlete along the route, the best options to travel are by bicycle or walking. If you stay in Sidi Mimoun, Marrakech Green Wheels is your closest bike rental shop. For reasons mentioned throughout this article, it is not recommended to use a hire car to move between locations on the route. Using public transit is also not recommended for the same reasons.

What we did

After sending me off at the start line, Sandra met me at 22 km, 37 km and again at the Finish. Including the walk to/from the start/finish line, she walked about 13 km. With the benefit of hindsight, she would have hired a bicycle (as she did when she supported me during the Nagano Marathon.

As for us runners, it was initially incredibly cold for her, and as the day progressed, she peeled off the layers. Make sure to put on sun screen (or at least apply it as soon as the sun rises).

Public or event toilets were few and far between. Don’t rely on using porta-loos for runners on the route. She didn’t actually see any where she was passing. Almost busting, she found a (normal) toilet near the Carrefour Express in the Marrakech Prestigia Shopping Village (marked in above map).

The point where the marathon and half-marathon routes join (at the intersection of Blvd Mohamed VI and Av Guemassa), it gets super-crowded. After meeting me at the 37 km mark (just after that intersection), she ended up running to the finish line herself to be back there in time to meet me again.

With the half-marathon and marathon routes splitting and rejoining again just before the finish line, she had to navigate around fences and barricades, somehow ending up in the finish chute among all the runners (no one stopped her). Under normal circumstances, I would have met her after receiving my medal and goodie bag (there was a barrier runners had to walk through into the post-finish area). But with her somehow sneaking through, she was only 20 metres in front of me as I ran across the finish line.

What to do in/around Marrakesh besides the marathon?

We started and finished our Morocco adventure in Marrakech, spending a total of 12 nights in the city. Here are our favourite things to see and do in/around Marrakech: