Zurich Seville Marathon

Why this race belongs on a competitive runner's shortlist

Seville suits runners seeking a low-relief marathon with Guadalquivir crossings and historic-center streets. Puente de San Telmo and Puente de la Barqueta interrupt the city-road circuit before the Plaza de España and Delicias finish section. The exact organizer-linked Strava route models 76 m of climbing for the revised 2026 course, which removed both Arjona underpass passages. The main planning uncertainty is aid: the retained 2026 guide's map and text table disagree. This guide uses approximate provisional positions and clearly separates that course reference from announced 2027 transport.

Course overview

The revised 2026 circuit starts on Avenida de María Luisa and finishes on Paseo de las Delicias. Historic-wall streets and Torneo precede Puente de San Telmo into Los Remedios and Triana. Camino de los Descubrimientos circles the Cartuja section before Puente de la Barqueta returns toward Jiménez Becerril. Santa Justa and Kansas City lead east toward Avenida de la Cruz del Campo, then Eduardo Dato, Manuel Siurot and La Palmera. Plaza de España, Alameda de Hércules, Plaza Nueva and Constitución precede the Delicias return. Low city-road relief is interrupted by bridge approaches rather than the removed Arjona underpasses.

0 to 10 km: María Luisa, Torneo and San Telmo

Avenida de María Luisa starts the revised circuit before the historic-wall streets, Torneo and Puente de San Telmo into Los Remedios and Triana. Treat the bridge approach as an effort change rather than assuming identical city-road splits. Both Arjona underpass passages were removed in 2026, so older descriptions of those climbs do not apply to this reference. The map and provisional aid page put water and Aquarius at approximately 4.6, 7.3 and 9.4 km. The guide's text table differs, so carry a plan that tolerates small station-position changes.

10 to 20 km: Triana, Cartuja and Barqueta

Triana leads onto Camino de los Descubrimientos around Cartuja before Puente de la Barqueta returns toward Jiménez Becerril. The bridge approach interrupts otherwise low-relief roads, but no separate ramp gradient or interval climbing total is published. Conserve effort across the crossing and maintain the practiced intake rhythm. The provisional layout lists water and Aquarius at approximately 11.8, 15.3 and 18 km. Use these as nearby planning positions rather than certified station markers, since the retained 2026 text table gives different distances.

20 to 32 km: Santa Justa and the eastern streets

Santa Justa and Kansas City lead toward Avenida de la Cruz del Campo before Eduardo Dato, Manuel Siurot and La Palmera. The linked model maximum is 20.4 m altitude on Cruz del Campo; that is a checkpoint height, not a climbing total. Keep the eastern streets steady instead of trying to recover time after every turn. Provisional drinks are approximately 20.7, 22.7, 25.4, 27.4 and 29.6 km, with 226ERS gels at 20.7 and 29.6. Do not rely on a gel near 27.4, where guide language tables also disagree.

32 km to 42.2 km: Plaza de España and Delicias

Plaza de España precedes the final historic-wall section, Alameda de Hércules, Plaza Nueva and Constitución before the return to Delicias. The model finishes around 12.4 m altitude, below its earlier Cruz del Campo maximum; that does not establish an uninterrupted descent or a measured final-section loss. Increase gradually only if breathing remains controlled through the late turns. Provisional water and Aquarius stations are approximately 32.7, 34, 36.8 and 40.3 km, with solid food at the latter three. Keep practiced carbohydrate ahead of the final approach.

Elevation checkpoints and how to read them

The organizer-linked Strava route publishes 76 m of modeled cumulative ascent for the revised 2026 course. Its processing method is undisclosed. Model heights range from 7.7 to 20.4 m, with the maximum on Avenida de la Cruz del Campo and a finish around 12.4 m. Both Arjona underpass passages were removed, so those older climbs are excluded. The stored trace is 43.1603 km, while its coordinate path measures 43.4091 km, distinct from the certified 42.195 km. Use geographic terrain cues rather than converting those model distances into race markers.

Aid stations and race-day logistics

The provisional map lists approximate water and Aquarius positions from 4.6 through 40.3 km, with gels near 20.7 and 29.6. The retained 2026 guide's text table differs, so confirm the final edition layout and carry practiced fuel. Its bag drop on Avenida Santiago Montoto near the aquarium ran 06:45 to 15:00, with a mapped walk toward María Luisa; the 2027 FAQ instead closes at 15:30. Separately, the announced February 2027 plan gives free TUSSAM bus travel with a bib from 06:00 to 18:00. Those transport details do not prove unchanged 2027 routing.

Practical pacing plan

Control the María Luisa opening and conserve over Puente de San Telmo and Puente de la Barqueta rather than chasing identical road splits. Keep intake regular before the eastern streets around Cruz del Campo, using a plan that tolerates provisional station positions. Increase after Plaza de España only if breathing and stride remain comfortable for the historic-center turns. February river wind or warmth later in the morning can raise effort, so adjust the target before the final Delicias approach.

Historical weather pattern

February weather history around Seville shows typical daily temperatures of 43.0 to 69.8 F, daily mean winds of 3.2 to 9.3 mph, and at least 1 mm of rain on 13.1 percent of days. Conditions can change, so check the race-week forecast before travel and again on race morning.

Edition history