eDreams Barcelona Half Marathon 2025: a course built for speed

The eDreams Barcelona Half Marathon by Brooks is one of the fastest half marathons in the world. Its ultra-fast city-centre course draws an international elite field every year, along with thousands of amateur runners looking to push their limits or simply enjoy a great race experience. With usually ideal weather and a lively atmosphere, it is a must-run event on the racing calendar.

A course through the heart of Barcelona

The start and finish are located at Parc de la Ciutadella, a central location just a few steps from Las Ramblas and Barceloneta beach. Runners are immersed in Barcelona from start to finish, passing through several iconic neighbourhoods while soaking up the energy and support of the crowds lining the entire course. Spectators also have easy access to several vantage points within just a few kilometres.

A flat course made for fast times

With just 71 m of elevation gain spread across 21.097 km, the course presents no major difficulty. There is a slight uphill drag around kilometre 4, but the gradual gradient makes it easy to hold your pace. A gentle descent at kilometre 6 then gives runners the chance to open up their stride. One key detail: there are no hairpin turns anywhere on the course. That makes the Barcelona Half Marathon an ideal race for settling into a steady rhythm and chasing a personal best.

The course features plenty of long straights, including a 2.54 km section along Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, the city's main thoroughfare running through the famous Eixample district. This stretch, between kilometres 4 and 7, is perfect for finding your pace group and locking into your rhythm. The long straights continue through Barcelona's iconic neighbourhoods until kilometre 12, when the course reaches Avinguda Diagonal, one of the city's defining avenues. Over the final kilometres, runners dig deepest along Avinguda del Litoral beside the sea, with a spectacular view before heading back towards Parc de la Ciutadella and the finish line. On-course nutrition stations are positioned at kilometres 5, 10, 15 and 17.5, offering water and energy gels.

A city steeped in history

In the opening kilometres, runners pass iconic landmarks including Plaça Portal de la Pau and the Mirador de Colom, a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus. Further on, the Arc de Triomf rises at kilometre 7, a symbol of Catalan modernism, before the course brings runners back towards Parc de la Ciutadella, the city's green lung. And to top it off, during the final kilometre along Carrer de la Marina, anyone still alert enough to look up is rewarded with an unobstructed view of the Sagrada Familia.

The course records

The race attracts an exceptionally strong elite field every year. The men's course record belongs to Kenyan runner Charles Langat, who won in 58:53 in 2023. In the women's race, Kenyan runner Joyciline Jepkosgei holds the record with a time of 1:04:29, set in the 2024 edition.

Impressive depth

In 2024, six athletes broke the mythical 60-minute barrier and 385 finished under 1:15. That depth underlines just how fast and attractive the Barcelona Half Marathon is. With 30,000 runners on the start line, the race guarantees an electric atmosphere and a packed field. Whatever their target time, runners can be sure they will never be racing alone.

2024 edition results

6 runners under 60 minutes
385 runners under 1:15
2,705 runners under 1:30
7,614 runners under 1:45
14,969 runners under 2:00
22,996 runners under 2:30
24,078 runners under 3:00
24,108 runners under 3:30

27 official pacers on the course

To help runners reach their targets, the organisers provide 27 trained pacers running to the following goal times: 1:20, 1:25, 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:50 and 2:00. Easy to spot thanks to the large flags on their backs, they are tasked with maintaining a consistent pace throughout the race.

An international event with World Athletics Gold Label status

As a World Athletics Gold Label event, the Barcelona Half Marathon meets high standards for safety, organisation and runner experience. The wide avenues are completely closed to traffic, the authorities secure the route, the course has been meticulously measured, an international-class elite field is on hand, and multiple starting corrals based on ability allow everyone to start in the best possible conditions.

With its ultra-fast course, charged atmosphere and top-level organisation, the Barcelona Half Marathon ticks every box for an exceptional race. Every year, it draws an impressive crowd of runners from all backgrounds, ready to take on their personal challenge in a unique setting. One thing is certain: Barcelona delivers a memorable experience for everyone, from the elite field to the most passionate amateur runners.