Race Review: Geneva Half Marathon

oliverbridge7
Nov 9
4 min read

What is the Geneva Marathon race like?

From racing in 2025.

General

A large half-marathon race in an iconic city with the backdrop of the Alps.

It is a big weekend of runnign and the half-marathon itself starts before and takes place at the same time as the Geneva marathon. They share parts of the same course, particularly the finishing 10km are the same.

Fast course (actually net downhill)
Iconic Swiss city
Easy to get to, a short walk from the main train station, which is a short train from the airport
Fantastic finish venue on the lake in Geneva
Expensive city for after
Spring time
Long walk from bag drop to start

Official site:

https://www.generaligenevemarathon.com/en/half-marathon?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20589323944&gbraid=0AAAAAC4qmDzwqHN-XWkAogj3JuaDKkI0B&gclid=CjwKCAiAlMHIBhAcEiwAZhZBUh8WNZnN_M-NHDQUYAhFReGApEWUTRSDnVngjhhOWUCkCPgwZmI4cBoCOgAQAvD_BwE

Climate

The climate should be pretty perfect, mild but fresh with the proximity of the mountains adding to the feel of being close to nature and fresh air. The french speaking part of Switzerland around the Lac Leman (lake Geneva) is prone to heavy storms but they do not stay as long as in northern or eastern europe and can pass quickly.

The Start

The start is actually a fair walk away from the main hub where you can drop your bag and say goodbye to any supporters. It's around 2km and quite good for a warm-up but if you are just walking then do not underestimate it, there's also a steep incline so get up to the start line. The good news is you know you're coming back down.

If you're worried about being at the front then get there early I came 10th male overall and couldn't get closer than about 200th.

It is a fast downhill start and that continues for a couple of km that can give you some early momentum but the roads aren't hugely narrow and there are a few turns so positioning is important to not suddenyl find yourself way behind your target already for not being able to get around people. (like I did!)

You soon hit the Swiss countryside and it's really stunning, there are times you get long vistas with mountains and fields springing into colour at that time of year.

The race is ever so slightly undulating but there is only one real 'climb' where you'll noticeably feel a change of pace that last around 500m as you wind past some farmers fields.

Cue a Swiss cow experience as our front pack (bar the handful of elites that had popped off the front) took a wide berth even of a wired fence because a whole herd of massive cows were a bit alarmed and looked like they were about to charge.

The Middle

The fun starts at halfway in this race.

After around 8-9km you start to feel like you turn into suburbs and towards the lake, in fact what you are doing and have done is run away from Geneva and now you're hooking back around to run by the lake.

There aren't many supporters in the first half, nor aid stations so pepare well in advance.

The fun starts at halfway in this race - it's make or break time. From around 11km you'll go down into an underpass but you won't come up to get out, oh no. You'll come slightly up but then you have a 1km stretch of clear downhill road. This is a not insignificant downhill that is FAST, you can see Geneva city where you're headed coming into view and you can get a real rush of adrenaline.

It's fantastic to build momentum and take you into what is a following straight of several kilometres. however word of caution, the downhill is steep and long enough to damage your legs and bite you just a few hundred metres later. I saw this first hand.

The Finish

The Finish feels like it has started from around 12km but beware the long straight takes you to the city centre, you can see the finish line but you still have 3-4km to wind around the city and come back.

This winding part is very well supported and pretty cool, however there are several turns that can make momentum a little harder as well as slight inclines where holding your pace can feel a little difficult because you're tired near the end.

However fear not the final kilometre can be taken really fast if you just save a little bit of something!

You disappear from crowds for a stretch before emerging now at the other side of Geneva lake and do a 180 turn onto the lake side road (the other side now) that will take you to the finish that is in the middle of the city centre's bridge. This finish can be particularly quick because that 180 turn starts downhill with a sweeping right turn. Crowds start to build, as well as gawping tourists, and you can really just squeeze everything out of yourself, hear the finish line music start pumping and take yourself to a final slight left turn before the finish line is just a couple of hundred metres ahead.