Maratón Costa del Sol Estepona.
The Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon is a small, deliberately capped marathon on the coast west of Marbella: start and finish in the athletics stadium, and in between three out-and-back legs over beach promenades and the Senda Litoral coastal path. The course is homologated and practically level; the job is holding pace over long, lonely coastal kilometres in October. Also known as Estepona Marathon and Maratón de Estepona - Jardín de la Costa del Sol.
Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From the stadium the course takes Avenida Juan Carlos I and Avenida España to the coast and heads east first, onto the Senda Litoral at Punta de la Plata. Back through town it runs along the Paseo Marítimo, past the marina and Playa del Cristo, west to a turnaround at Playa de Guadalobón and back along Avenida del Carmen. The second half belongs to the Senda Litoral: a long run east past Playa del Padrón and Arroyo Vaquero towards Guadalmansa, then the same path back and through the old-town streets Calle Caridad and Pilar de Farinós into the stadium.
The Senda Litoral is a coastal path right along the beaches, and it is why this race differs from a city marathon: sea on one side and few spectators on the other. The organiser's profile stays between sea level and about 30 metres; the only ramp you will notice is a short rise at the edge of the old town around km 11.
The organiser bills it as a 'boutique marathon' with 2,000 places shared between the marathon and half. The distance was first run in 2026 as an evolution of the Estepona half marathon, and pacers are provided.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 11.3 | 0.5 km | 3 % | 5.3 % | +14 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon.
Start under control
A level course with three turnarounds rewards even pacing and punishes surges. For the first 18 km you run with the half marathoners, who start with you at 8:30; their pace is not yours, and the pacers are a better guide.
Hold your rhythm
The deciding stretch is the second trip along the Senda Litoral from about km 20. The field is small, the half marathoners have finished, and the path is narrower than the town streets, so you often run alone, with the turn far out towards Guadalmansa and roughly 13 km to come back.
Spend what is left
The trap is carrying the feeling of freshness on the way east and speeding up, instead of saving strength for the return and the last old-town kilometres.
Training plan for Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
For age-group runners this is three and a half to five and a half hours of steady aerobic work; the finish closes at 5 h 30. Climbing strength hardly matters.
Train race pace
The decisive part is the long, lonely second half on the coastal path. Run long sessions of 32-35 km as out-and-backs, with marathon-pace blocks in the final third and without a group, so you learn to hold pace alone.
Rehearse the course
Mid-October on the Costa del Sol is usually sunny, and the Senda Litoral offers little shade. Do some long runs in warm conditions and practise drinking at aid stations.
Arrive fresh
Surface and turnarounds deserve their own attention: switching between road and coastal path calls for a stable stride, and three turnarounds want to be run without hard braking.
Courses
Download the Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Maratón Costa del Sol Estepona dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Maratón Costa del Sol Estepona.
How long is Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon?
Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon is 42.2 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon have?
Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon has around 350 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon?
Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon is classified as Rolling, averaging 8.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 42% of the route is flat, 29% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon starts at kilometre 11.3, runs for 0.5 km at an average of 3% and gains 14 metres.
Is Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon a loop course?
Yes, Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon course?
Yes. The Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon?
Preparation for Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon should account for 42.2 km, 350 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon should reflect 42.2 km, 350 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Maratón Costa del Sol Estepona take place?
Maratón Costa del Sol Estepona takes place on October 10, 2027.
Where does Maratón Costa del Sol Estepona take place?
Maratón Costa del Sol Estepona takes place in Estepona, Spain.
Which distances does Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon offer?
Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon offers 2 distances — Maratón: 42.2 km (Marathon); Media Maratón: 21.1 km (Half marathon).
How do I register for Costa del Sol Estepona Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: maratoncostadelsol.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
