The Beijing Marathon earns the top spot as the world’s trending marathon this year, followed by the Shanghai Marathon and the Nagoya Women’s Marathon in Japan
The Cape Town Marathon also lands a place in the top 20 and is one of only two African races to make the list, having seen an impressive 49% increase in searches year-on-year
The latest SportsShoes.com Running Report has revealed the top running trends for 2025, including the most in-demand marathons, half marathons, and ultra races across the UK and the globe.
With 56% of runners participating in or training for some form of competitive running this year, SportsShoes.com has analysed Google search data for over 100 races globally to identify the top trending running events for 2025.
The report also shows some interesting developments between the genders. Last year’s report found that 70% of marathon participants were male, compared to 30% who were female. This year, the gender gap has narrowed, with men making up 60% and women 40%.
The World’s Top 20 Trending Marathons for 2025
SportsShoes.com has looked at the most popular marathons across the globe, as one in 10 runners say they’ve either completed or are training for a full marathon.
China is dominating the top results, with the Beijing Marathon taking the top spot. A staggering increase of 386% in year-on-year searches makes this race the most trending marathon for 2025. The racecourse passes by many of Beijing’s most famous landmarks, which adds to its popularity.
Following in second is the Shanghai Marathon, with an increase of 126% in annual searches globally. This long-distance running event originated in 1996 and has since become hugely popular. Last year the event welcomed 38,000 runners from all over the world.
The Nagoya Women’s Marathon in Japan has also seen a spike in interest from runners over the past year, receiving a significant 104% increase in annual searches. Following closely behind are two European marathons, both located in Spain: The Seville Marathon and the Malaga Marathon, each with a 78% year-on-year increase in searches.
The Top 20 Trending Marathons for 2025
Rank Marathon Country % increase in interest (Jan-Oct 2023 vs. Jan-Oct 2024)
1 Beijing Marathon China +386%
2 Shanghai Marathon China +126%
3 Nagoya Women’s Marathon Japan +104%
4 Seville Marathon Spain +78%
=4 Malaga Marathon Spain +78%
=4 Riyadh Marathon Saudi Arabia +78%
7 Rome Marathon Italy +77%
8 Madrid Marathon Spain +74%
9 Copenhagen Marathon Denmark +70%
10 Marrakech Marathon Morocco +68%
11 Tokyo Marathon Japan +64%
12 Taipei Marathon Taiwan +57%
13 Sunshine Coast Marathon Australia +56%
14 Stockholm Marathon Sweden +54%
15 Ottawa Marathon Canada +52%
16 Barcelona Marathon Spain +50%
17 Belgrade Marathon Serbia +49%
18 Cape Town Marathon South Africa +49%
19 Seoul International Marathon South Korea +47%
20 Bangkok Marathon Thailand +46%
Dan Cartner, Head of Marketing at SportsShoes.com commented: “It was fascinating to delve into the data and see how competitive running is becoming increasingly popular, with one in two runners participating in some form of race during their running journeys. Whether you’re an experienced competitor or are looking to take part in your first-ever marathon event, there’s an event out there for everyone – whether you’re looking for something flat or hilly, your first ever 5k or an ultramarathon to test the limits of your running ability.
“We are committed to supporting everyone on their fitness journey and we hope that this data helps you to choose your next big challenge. No matter which race you choose, we hope you enjoy the journey from start to finish and feel incredibly proud of everything you achieve.”
First published by Sports Shoes
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