Brussels Marathon 2025

How about taking a little running tour with our Belgian neighbors? Yes, genius, you've already guessed what we're going to talk about: nothing less than the superb, prestigious, famous, and iconic Brussels Marathon taking place at the start of November in Belgium! 💥👏

As every year, the AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) welcomes you with open arms for its annual Marathon, along with the equally legendary Half-Marathon and a 7 km. There's no doubt that your preconceived notions that you only go to Belgium for beer and fries will quickly collapse! 😛 You'll realize your mistake when you discover the monumental riches of the global city that is Brussels and why the Brussels Airport Marathon & Half Marathon is a must-attend event for finishers worldwide (the largest running event, some might say). Hurry, tickets for the 20th edition are selling like hotcakes. 🧇.

But why? Well, firstly, for its enticing distances that challenge all competition enthusiasts 🏃‍♀️. With its 42 km, its 21 km, and its 7 km, runners will just have to choose the challenge they want to take on. And what a challenge! Each year, the Brussels Marathon attracts the best performers in the world and the biggest stars in athletics ⭐. Will you do better than John Kelai and Jennifer Chesinon who shattered records in 2004 with 2h 10min 59s and 2h 32min 16s respectively? 🤯 Probably not, especially since the Brussels Marathon is known for being particularly tough, with notably 335 mD+ 📈. Of course, not all participants have the soul of a marathon runner, which is why there's still the option to do the half-marathon or the 7 km which also offer plenty of opportunities to race like a rocket 🚀 and discover the capital of Europe in all its splendor 🥰.

"Capital of Europe, really?", say the people from Strasbourg. The terminology is debatable, but no one can contest the pivotal role of the capital of Belgium in economic, political, cultural, artistic, and strategic sectors. Located in the Brussels agglomeration (Brussels for those who get it 😎), which consists of 36 municipalities, the city is now the seat of many NGOs (over 1,400), the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the NATO and hosts 120 international institutions and 159 embassies 🌍. The result is an extremely cosmopolitan population and a multicultural society. Engaging all these people, isn't it? But hey! "That's all well and good," you'll say, "but what is there to see while I run?" And you're right! So let's get back to the topic 🐑.

The city, having celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in 1979, is renowned as much for its cultural, architectural, and environmental significance as it is for politics. With its Walloon, Flemish influences, historical and artistic heritage, its old town, and its business district known as "Little Manhattan" (which contains about thirty towers 🏙), the city is an open-air museum showcasing a great diversity of architectural styles and different atmospheres ✨. As stated by Minister Sven Gatz, these are "superb boulevards", "iconic squares" and "green lungs" waiting for you to experience an "unforgettable adventure". You'll start your race in the historic heart of the city 🏛️. You'll also have the chance to see numerous major streets of the capital, the Atomium at Place de Brouckère or the Pentagon.

But it's also a chance to take out your camera and beef up your Instagram feed! 📸 It surely won't lack color, even if it rains pretty often! 😆 You can discover the Gothic style of the Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral and Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon, the Art Deco style of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and the Palais des Beaux-Arts, or the eclectic and surprising beauty of the Palace of Justice. Connoisseurs might also feel the influence of Art Nouveau, of which the city was and remains one of the capitals through works by Victor Horta, Paul Hankar, and Henry Van de Velde (among others, because there are lots more! 😍). But also: nature lovers will find their joy as well since the city and its agglomeration is one of "the greenest in Europe" 🌿 with no less than 8,000 hectares of preserved spaces (half of the region) ! You can therefore put on your sneakers and go train in the Bois de la Cambre and the Soignes Forest. You might even spot some of the animals found there, such as the deer, fox, or native bird species. You will get to see many of these aspects of the city by joining the competition, lucky you 🍀.

Wow! We don't know where to start with all this! So you're left to choose: nature 🌸, business district, historical district, museum 🎨, theater, opera, pubs, festivals, nightclubs, shopping, or a photo session in the city? 🤔 It's impossible to choose, we agree! So we suggest you think about your program over a pint of the best blond beer at the counter 🍻. But be careful, just one! Remember, you have a marathon to train for.

If all this information hasn't convinced you, then we won't be able to do anything more… A bit like the Belgians after the 2018 semi-final 😉.

⚠️ Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health, consume in moderation.