The four best organized marathons in Taipei City and New Taipei City are the Taipei Marathon, Standard Chartered Taipei Charity Marathon, Taipei Freeway Marathon, and Wan Jin Shi Marathon. They are all AIMS-certified (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races). The Taipei Taipei City Marathon and Wan Jin Shi Marathon have also achieved the Gold Label status issued by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations).
Below are introductions to the four races, their pros and cons, and tips only an experienced local runner can provide.
Taipei Marathon
- IAAF Gold Label
- Mid-December (third weekend of the month)
- Registration opens around the middle of the year
- Event website
This is Taiwan’s oldest and biggest marathon, with about 25,000-30,000 participants across the marathon, half-marathon, 10 km, and 3 km fun run categories. The marathon has a lottery with 15,000 spots, about a 30-35% chance. It does have a time-based qualification system that allows faster runners to bypass the lottery: 3 hours and 30 minutes for men and 4 hours and 30 minutes for women (the times may change from year to year).
Pros:
- Well organized with strictly enforced starting pens based on recent personal bests.
- Suitable temperatures in the low-to-mid teen degrees Celsius.
- The A-to-B course takes you all over Taipei City, passing landmarks such as Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Presidential Palace, Yuanshan Grand Hotel, National Revolutionary Martyrs Shrine, riverside running paths, Taipei Arena, etc.
Cons:
- There is always a chance of rain here in Taipei, and the course can be very windy in spots, especially around 20-30 km.
- It’s not a fast course, with three short but fairly steep climbs.
- It’s the biggest marathon, meaning it’s going to be crowded. Arriving at least 90 minutes early on race day is recommended for visitors and first-time marathon runners.
Standard Chartered Taipei Charity Marathon
- AIMS-certified
- Mid-January
- Registration typically opens around August
- Event website
The A-to-B course is arguably the fastest out of the four picks. The race is also scheduled for the time of year most likely to deliver the ideal racing temperatures. The marathon and half-marathon categories attract about 4,500 and 8,000-5,000 runners, respectively.
Pros
- The start is in front of the Presidential Palace, a popular tourist landmark.
- It’s mostly flat with a few very short, punchy climbs. It’s not a bad option if you have PB ambition.
- It’s a medium-sized event, so the start and finish venues are relatively easy to navigate.
Cons
- Time-based starting pens are not strictly enforced. There will be volunteers holding time goal signs, but no actual barriers separating runners aiming for different times. Fortunately, most participants are honest with their abilities and generally line up at the correct pens.
- A large portion of the course is along the riverside parks, which can be windy.
Taipei Freeway Marathon
- AIMS-certified
- Early-March
- Registration typically begins in the Fall of the previous year.
- Event website
You’ll be running back and forth along Taipei’s Zhongshan Freeway. The race offers the marathon, half-marathon, 10 km, and 3 km distances. The course isn’t flat, with longer uphills and downhills. The total number of participants is usually under 10,000 runners, with the majority running the half.
Pros:
- The course is straightforward, and the surface is well-paved.
- A very unique experience. Not every day do you get to run on a completely closed freeway.
Cons:
- The bag drop area is located in the riverside park. Many first-timers get confused and think it’s actually on the freeway.
- It is not a fast course due to the climbs and Spring season temperature, which can rise to 20+ degrees Celsius during the race.
Wan Jin Shi Marathon
- IAAF Gold Label
- Mid-March
- Registration typically begins in the Fall of the previous year.
- Event website
The marathon course stretches across three coastal New Taipei City districts – Wanli, Jinshan, and Shimen – and, henace, the name of the race. It’s the prettiest of the four recommendations and yet also the most challenging.
About 6,000 and 5,000 runners enter the marathon and half-marathon distances, respectively. If you’re staying in Taipei City, this marathon might not be the most convenient to get to, but the scenic route is well worth it. I strongly recommend booking accommodations in the Wanli District for the night before the race.
Pros:
- It’s an excellent opportunity to run and check out Taiwan’s beautiful Northeastern coast.
Cons:
- It’s not a fast course. The combination of elevation and higher early-Spring temperatures make the course very challenging.
Taipei City and Taiwan as a whole offer many great races every weekend. Here’s a complete race calendar if you’re keen to join a race during your visit.