My marathons

São Paulo International Marathon

05:555:55 AM São Paulo
Entry open
Avenida Paulista
© OpenStreetMap Avenida Paulista. Photograph by Paulo Humberto, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons . Course line © OpenStreetMap contributors

The course

Pick a place, or drag along the profile

Downhill from km 3 to km 12, flat from km 12 to km 37, then a climb of 27 m home.

Start, finish

© OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Photo: Rodrigo Soldon from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, CC BY 2.0
  3. Photo: Dornicke (Lucas B. Salles), Public domain
  8. Photo: Rodrigo Soldon from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, CC BY 2.0

km 4.8mile 3

Viaduto Borges Lagoa

The viaduct on Avenida Rubem Berta that the organiser's map names for its water station at km 5. The line runs under or over it at km 4.8, 6 m away.

Height drawn many times taller than life. Heights: GEDTM30.

Course elevation profile, 8× vertical exaggeration Elevation along the course from km 0 to km 42. The trace runs between 723 and 782 metres, a range of 59 metres, drawn at 8 times vertical exaggeration so the shape is legible. Smoothed over 1 km before this profile was derived. An unsmoothed urban surface carries the buildings and would assert a climb that is not there. The dashed stretches are bridge decks: Viaduto República Árabe Síria, km 3.5 to 3.6; Viaduto General Euclides de Figueiredo, km 6.1 to 6.3; Ponte Cidade Jardim, km 12 to 12.1; Ponte Cidade Universitária, km 16.4 to 16.7; Ponte Cidade Universitária, km 22.5 to 22.8; Avenida Professor Melo Moraes, km 23.6 to 23.7; Avenida Professor Melo Moraes, km 33.1 to 33.2. A bare-earth model reads the ground or the water beneath a bridge, not the deck the runner is on, so those runs are interpolated between the ground either side rather than measured, and they under-report the real climb across a span. Marked points: Cut-off 07:18 at km 6.7; Cut-off 07:45 at km 9.9; Cut-off 07:53 at km 10.9; Cut-off 08:37 at km 16.2; Cut-off 09:38 at km 23.2; Cut-off 11:10 at km 33.8.
0 10 20 30 40 km
0 10 20 26.2 mi

Dashed: bridge upright dashes: cut-offs

  • downhill to 12
  • flat 12 to 37
  • climb home

Your 5 gels, at the orange marksFor a 4:00 finish, one every 40 minutes

  1. km 7mile 4.4
  2. km 14.1mile 8.7
  3. km 21.1mile 13.1
  4. km 28.1mile 17.5
  5. km 35.2mile 21.8

Get them on AmazonAmazon partner link

The course in short 2 lines
  • One hill at km 3, then 27 km on the same levelThe only real hill is at km 3 (782 m). From km 10.5 to km 37.5 the course stays within 7 m.
  • The last 5 km climb back to the parkThe finish is 27 m above the low at km 37.5, most of it in the last 3 km, past the tunnels.
Course notes 2 short reads on the course
km 0 to 37.5GradientOne hill at km 3, then 27 km on the same levelThe only real hill is at km 3 (782 m). From km 10.5 to km 37.5 the course stays within 7 m.

The race starts at the Obelisco in Ibirapuera at about 755 m above sea level and the first kilometres go up: 27 m in 3.2 km, to 782 m at km 3.2, the highest point of the course. The organiser’s kilometre table puts that stretch on Avenida Rubem Berta. It is the only hill that matters, and it comes while the legs are fresh.

Then the road falls. From km 5.4 to km 10.5 it loses about 38 m, to 725 m, and from there to km 37.5 it barely moves: the whole 27 km between 723 m and 730 m, in a loop that crosses the Ponte Cidade Jardim at km 12 and runs the avenues of the University of São Paulo campus. The whole course is 59 m from lowest to highest point and climbs about 94 m in total.

Measured

km 37.5 to 42.2GradientThe last 5 km climb back to the parkThe finish is 27 m above the low at km 37.5, most of it in the last 3 km, past the tunnels.

The marathon ends where it starts, at the Obelisco in Ibirapuera Park, but not at the same height. The lowest point of the course is 723 m at about km 37.5. The finish is at 750 m, five metres below the start line.

The rise is gradual: 10 m by km 39.5 (733 m) and then 17 m in the last 2.7 km, climbing to 750 m. The organiser’s kilometre table runs the end of the race through two road tunnels, the Túnel Dr. Euricledes de Jesus Zerbini and the Túnel Presidente Jânio Quadros, and back along Avenida Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek and Avenida República do Líbano to the park.

Averaged, that is a gain of about 0.6% over the last 4.7 km. It is not a wall, but it is the first sustained climb since the start, and it comes after 37 km of flat.

Measured

Race fuel

Energy gel
An energy gel sachet
Illustration · drag to turn

5 gels for São Paulo, plus 1 spare

Finish

One every 40 minutes, the orange marks on the profile, by the clock:

  1. km 7mile 4.4
  2. km 14.1mile 8.7
  3. km 21.1mile 13.1
  4. km 28.1mile 17.5
  5. km 35.2mile 21.8

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.

Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

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
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

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
A race number belt
Illustration · drag to turn

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

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Electrolytes
A tube of electrolyte tablets
Illustration · drag to turn

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
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

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.
distance
42.2 km26.2 mi
climb
93.5 m307 ft
cut-off
6:00 h
first held
1995

A loop starting and finishing in Ibirapuera Park, passing the University of São Paulo campus and the city's tunnels and avenues.

The São Paulo International Marathon is a loop of 42.2 km with 93.5 m of climbing. Its lowest point is 723 m and its highest 782 m above sea level. Next race: Sunday 4 April 2027, starting at 05:55.

Race week

Bib pickup at Parque Ibirapuera, Oca (Pavilhão Lucas Nogueira Garcez)

Timetable

Thursday 1 April Bib pickup

  1. 10:0010:00 AM–19:007:00 PM

    Expo and race kit delivery Parque Ibirapuera, Oca (Pavilhão Lucas Nogueira Garcez). The kit is collected at the Expo Atleta of the São Paulo marathon.

Friday 2 April Bib pickup

  1. 10:0010:00 AM–19:007:00 PM

    Expo and race kit delivery Parque Ibirapuera, Oca (Pavilhão Lucas Nogueira Garcez). The kit is collected at the Expo Atleta of the São Paulo marathon.

Saturday 3 April Last bib day

  1. 07:007:00 AM

    Corrida das Nações 5K Campo de Marte, Av. Santos Dumont 2241. The 5K is run on the Saturday, by runners who also enter a São Paulo race on the Sunday.

  2. 08:008:00 AM–17:305:30 PM

    Expo and race kit delivery Parque Ibirapuera, Oca (Pavilhão Lucas Nogueira Garcez). The kit is collected at the Expo Atleta of the São Paulo marathon.

Sunday 4 April Race day

  1. 05:555:55 AM

    Second wave start General pack aiming at 3:41 to 4:10.

  2. 06:156:15 AM

    Fourth wave start General pack aiming at over 4:41.

  3. Time not published

    Overall time limit Maximum duration of 6 hours for the 42K, from the regulation. 6:00 limit: 8:31/km for 42.195 km6:00 limit: 13:43/mi for 26.2 mi
Cut-offs, the other waves and other races (9)

  1. 05:445:44 AM

    Wheelchair marathon start Obelisco do Ibirapuera

  2. 05:455:45 AM

    Elite and first wave start Obelisco do Ibirapuera, Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral. The first wave is the premium and para runners and the general pack aiming at 3:40 or faster. The organiser says start times may vary by 5 to 10 minutes.

  3. 06:056:05 AM

    Third wave start General pack aiming at 4:11 to 4:40.

  4. until 07:187:18 AM

    Cut-off line 1 at 6.7 km Alça da Praça Ibrahim Nobre. Clock-time cut-off line for the marathon; the organiser says times may vary by 5 to 10 minutes. 9:24/km from the 06:15 start to km 6.715:07/mi from the 6:15 AM start to mile 4.2

  5. until 07:457:45 AM

    Cut-off line 2 at 9.9 km Av. Pres. Juscelino Kubitschek x Rua João Cachoeira. Clock-time cut-off line for the marathon; the organiser says times may vary by 5 to 10 minutes. 9:05/km from the 06:15 start to km 9.914:37/mi from the 6:15 AM start to mile 6.2

  6. until 07:537:53 AM

    Cut-off line 3 at 10.9 km Av. Pres. Juscelino Kubitschek x Rua Prof. Geraldo Ataliba. Clock-time cut-off line for the marathon; the organiser says times may vary by 5 to 10 minutes. 8:59/km from the 06:15 start to km 10.914:28/mi from the 6:15 AM start to mile 6.8

  7. until 08:378:37 AM

    Cut-off line 4 at 16.2 km Rua Alvarenga x Rua Teixeira Soares. Clock-time cut-off line for the marathon; the organiser says times may vary by 5 to 10 minutes. 8:45/km from the 06:15 start to km 16.214:06/mi from the 6:15 AM start to mile 10.1

  8. until 09:389:38 AM

    Cut-off line 5 at 23.2 km Rua Alvarenga x Rua Teixeira Soares. Clock-time cut-off line for the marathon; the organiser says times may vary by 5 to 10 minutes. 8:45/km from the 06:15 start to km 23.214:04/mi from the 6:15 AM start to mile 14.4

  9. until 11:1011:10 AM

    Cut-off line 6 at 33.8 km Exit of gate 1 of USP. Clock-time cut-off line for the marathon; the organiser says times may vary by 5 to 10 minutes. 8:43/km from the 06:15 start to km 33.814:02/mi from the 6:15 AM start to mile 21

Times as published by Yescom, in São Paulo time, checked .

Add to calendar .ics file, times in São Paulo time

Trip

Getting a place

Entry open for the 2027 race As read 14 October 2026.

Next: entry closes, 2027 race, .

Past years and every way in
Every way in, year by year →
Entry details on the organiser’s site →

Yescom, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.

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Questions about the São Paulo International Marathon

Is the São Paulo International Marathon course flat?

Not entirely. It has 93.5 m of climbing over 42.2 km. The highest point is 59 m above the lowest.

When is the São Paulo International Marathon 2027?

Sunday 4 April 2027. The first wave starts at 05:55 and the last at 06:15.

How do I enter the São Paulo International Marathon?

Entry for the 2027 race is open. It opened on 3 June 2026 and closes on 10 March 2027. Entry details on the organiser’s site

1 more question
What is the time limit at the São Paulo International Marathon?

Runners have 6 hours to finish.

Sources and licence

Last checked.

Course line matched onto OpenStreetMap road geometry: (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License 1.0 (ODbL). Elevation sampled from GEDTM30, Global Ensemble Digital Terrain Model at 30 m (v1.2): Elevation: GEDTM30 (Ho & Hengl, OpenGeoHub), CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).

Elevation gain computed by us from that line, smoothed over 1 kmsmoothed over 0.6 mi.

The line follows the road down its middle, so it measures 0.85% longer than the certified distance, which is measured on the shortest legal line through every bend.

Date and entry information from Yescom.

Every source and licence behind them →

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