- 16:20
For the first time in its history, the Beirut Marathon won’t be run on a Sunday but on a Thursday! This calendar change, driven by municipal elections, does nothing to dampen the runners’ enthusiasm. New day, same challenge: crossing the finish line!
Beirut Marathon 2025: a schedule shift for one of Lebanon’s biggest sporting events. Originally set for Sunday, May 4, 2025, the Beirut Marathon will now take place on Thursday, May 1, due to municipal elections scheduled for the same date by the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities.
A Race Against the Clock
Faced with this scheduling conflict, May el-Khalil, president of the Beirut Marathon Association, and retired General Hassan Rostom, the vice president, met with Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar. The decision? There was no choice but to reschedule the event. The organizing committee acted quickly and made a historic decision: for the first time, the marathon will be run on a Thursday instead of a Sunday.
While this shift is unusual, it hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of runners or organizers. The start and finish line remain unchanged at the Beirut Waterfront, and so does the official slogan: “Running from the end to the beginning, to keep Lebanon standing!”
Goal: 20,000 Runners!
Registrations are in full swing at beirutmarathon.org, with a maximum capacity of 20,000 participants. The event will feature multiple race formats:
• 42 km – The iconic full marathon
• 21 km – Half marathon
• 10 km – For speed enthusiasts
• 5 km – A fun and charitable run, supporting 21 different associations
A strong turnout is expected, including international and regional athletes. Additionally, 22 pacers — including guides for visually impaired runners — will be present to support participants.
Final Preparations Before Race Day
As per tradition, a 5 km warm-up run (untimed) is scheduled for April 31 — noting that April only has 30 days (a minor scheduling error). This event offers runners a final chance to fine-tune their preparations.
Participants have until April 20 to register, with payment options available through:
• Authorized agencies
• Credit card transactions
• A dedicated mobile app
Despite this unprecedented date change, Beirut Marathon 2025 promises to be an unmissable event. Mark your calendars and see you at the starting line on May 1!
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