Entry through the organiser
Entry details on the organiser’s site →
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Palestine Marathon
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2027 race
- Start
- 06:306:30 AM
- Distance
- 42.2 km26.2 mi
- Marathon · Half marathon · 10K
- Time limit
- 7 hours
The course
The marathon starts and finishes at the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, in the Old City of Bethlehem.
- Start and finish at the Church of the NativitySame line for start and finish, shared with the half marathon and the 10 km.
- Water every 2.5 km, sponges at 10 km, medics at 5 km spacingToilets after 5, 10, 15 and 20 km; the road reopens seven hours after the start.
Course notes 2 short reads on the course
km 0 to 42.2FinishStart and finish at the Church of the NativitySame line for start and finish, shared with the half marathon and the 10 km.
The organiser puts the start line of every race at the Church of the Nativity in the centre of the Old City of Bethlehem, Manger Square, and the marathon finishes on the same line. It describes the 42.195 km route as taking runners through different views of Palestinian everyday life. The Peace Center beside the square holds the changing rooms and the baggage area on the second floor.
Sourced
km 0 to 42.2TacticsWater every 2.5 km, sponges at 10 km, medics at 5 km spacingToilets after 5, 10, 15 and 20 km; the road reopens seven hours after the start.
Water stations stand every 2.5 km and at the finish, with sponges at 10 km. Toilets follow the stations at 5, 10, 15 and 20 km. An ambulance and medical station is about 200 m after each main drink station at 5, 10 and 15 km, and medics are at every intermediate station. The road closures on the route are lifted seven hours after the start, and runners still on the course after the cut-off run at their own risk.
Sourced
Race weekend
Saturday 10 April 6 days before
-
10:0010:00 AM
Race pack distribution, Ramallah (10 and 11 April) Sareyyet First Ramallah Group, Al Tireh. Open 10:00 to 20:00 on 10 and 11 April. Bring the bib number confirmation and a photo ID.
Tuesday 13 April 3 days before
-
10:0010:00 AM
Race pack distribution, Bethlehem (13 to 15 April) Manger Square, Peace Center. Open 10:00 to 20:00 on 13, 14 and 15 April. Bib pick-up is not available on race day.
Friday 16 April Race day
-
06:006:00 AM
Arrive at the start area Manger Square, Bethlehem. Full and half marathon runners arrive at 06:00; warm-up starts at 06:00 and the streets to Manger Square close at 06:00. -
06:306:30 AM
Marathon start Church of Nativity, Manger Square. The full marathon and half marathon start together at 6:30 am. The finish is at the same place. -
Time not published
Road reopening cut-off Road closures on the marathon route are lifted seven hours after the start; check-point cut-off times are also set along the route. 7:00 limit: 9:57/km for 42.195 km7:00 limit: 16:01/mi for 26.2 mi
Times as published by the organiser, in Bethlehem time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Friday
Race morning, on the record
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Bethlehem time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
5 gels for Bethlehem, plus 1 spare
Finish
One every 40 minutes, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Get it on Amazon
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In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
Get it on Amazon
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Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Questions about the Palestine Marathon
- When is the Palestine Marathon 2027?
- Friday 16 April 2027. The start is at 06:30.
- What is the time limit at the Palestine Marathon?
- Runners have 7 hours to finish.
- Where does the Palestine Marathon start?
- Start: Church of Nativity, Manger Square.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Palestine Marathon.
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