Rotterdam Marathon 2027: 12 weeks to April 11, from the Erasmus Bridge to the Coolsingel
Race day is Sunday, April 11, 2027, with training from Monday, January 18. In two minutes, Running Workout sets the plan to that date; your AI assistant then sends each week's workouts to your Garmin watch.
Last updated: October 27, 2026
NN Marathon Rotterdam
Sun, April 11, 2027
153 days
to race day
- Distance
- 26.2 mi
- Entry
- Pre-registration
- Course
- Flat
- Time limit
- 5 h 30 min
Plan starts: Mon, January 18 (12 weeks)
Train for April 11Free to start · official Garmin connection
Try it now
Ask your assistant
Once your Garmin is connected, paste one of these into Claude or ChatGPT:
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« I'm running Rotterdam on April 11, 2027: build me 12 weeks of training from Monday, January 18, with 5 runs a week. »
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« I'm aiming for 3:15 in Rotterdam: what marathon pace, and how many seconds should I give up on the two Erasmus Bridge crossings? »
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« Send Sunday's long run to my watch: 15 miles easy, with 4 miles at marathon pace in the middle. »
Free to start · 4 workouts a month sent to your watch
Your training, timed for April 11
The plan lasts 12 weeks, starting on Mon, January 18. With more time, it can start on December 21 with 4 lead-in weeks.
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Weeks 1–3
Base
Jan 18 → Feb 7
Settle volume, wake threshold up
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Weeks 4–7
Development
Feb 8 → Mar 7
Marathon pace comes in, long runs get longer
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Weeks 8–10
Specific
Mar 8 → Mar 28
Long blocks at marathon pace, 2-hour-plus runs
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Weeks 11–12
Taper
Mar 29 → Apr 11
Two weeks to arrive fresh
A flat course with one bridge
The start is at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge, heading towards Kop van Zuid, and the finish is on the Coolsingel. You cross the bridge a second time on the way back into the centre, in the second half of the race: those are the only notable rises on a course the organizer describes as flat.
Wind can blow on the open southern stretches and by the lake. Instruction: low end of the pace range into the wind, never catching up.
Late-winter preparation
Race on April 11, 2027: the 12-week plan starts on Monday, January 18, the 16-week version on Monday, December 21, 2026. March carries the peak load in mild conditions, April the taper.
The AI coach reads your actual sessions every week on Garmin. It compares planned and completed, gives a decision for the following week and brings an assimilation week forward if the load climbs too fast.
Pacing strategy on the Coolsingel
The first miles, Erasmus Bridge included, are loud and fast. Instruction: first two miles about 15 seconds per mile slower than goal pace, goal pace afterwards. The second bridge crossing, on the way back into the centre, is taken 15 seconds per mile slower, without trying to make it up.
- Late December to January: volume, long run up to 2 h.
- February-March: marathon-pace blocks, 2 h 45 long runs.
- April: taper, fresh legs for the Coolsingel.
The finish is on the Coolsingel, between two walls of spectators: wait for the last half mile to let go.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Rotterdam Marathon?
Sunday, April 11, 2027, for the 46th edition, according to the official website. Entry goes through a free pre-registration (October 20 to November 3, 2026), then first-come, first-served registration from November 4, 2026, via a personal link.
Is Rotterdam as fast as Berlin?
Almost: flat, sheltered in town, temperate. Only the Erasmus Bridge and the southern wind separate it from the perfect courses.
Paris, Rotterdam or London in spring 2027?
Three Sundays in April: Paris on the 4th, Rotterdam on the 11th, London on the 25th. Paris and London allocate places by ballot; Rotterdam uses a free pre-registration followed by first-come, first-served registration.
Is Running Workout free?
Free to start: Garmin connection, plans, reading your activities and 4 workouts a month sent to your watch. Running Workout Pro (€4.90 a month or €35 a year, no commitment) removes the limit.
NN Marathon Rotterdam
April 11 is 153 days away.
The plan is set to that date; your assistant does the rest, week after week.