Zurich Marathon 2027: your 12-week plan for April 11, on your Garmin

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.

1. Weeks 1–3

   Base

   Jan 18 → Feb 7

   Settle volume, wake threshold up

2. Weeks 4–7

   Development

   Feb 8 → Mar 7

   Marathon pace comes in, long runs get longer

3. Weeks 8–10

   Specific

   Mar 8 → Mar 28

   Long blocks at marathon pace, 2-hour-plus runs

4. Weeks 11–12

   Taper

   Mar 29 → Apr 11

   Two weeks to arrive fresh

Out and back along the lake, turning at Meilen

The race starts at the Quaibrücke and finishes on Sechseläutenplatz, in central Zurich. In between, the official map shows a city section, then an out-and-back along the lake's east shore, through Küsnacht and Herrliberg, to the turnaround in Meilen. The elevation profile published by the organizer is almost flat, and the course is measured to World Athletics standards; planned construction in the city may lead to minor route changes.

The time limit is 5 hours 30 minutes net, with the finish closing at 1:45 p.m.; runners who don't reach the Meilen turnaround by 11:10 a.m. must hand in their bib. Pacers run from 3:00 to 5:30, and split times are taken at five points along the course, including halfway.

Three workouts that prepare this profile

An almost flat course is won with even pacing, and an out-and-back lets you judge your race at the turnaround. Three workouts from the Running Workout marathon plan that your AI assistant can build at your paces and send to your watch:

• — Marathon pace: 2 × 5 miles, 3 minutes recovery, to hold pace smoothly on the flat.
• — A 2.5-hour long run with the last 45 minutes at marathon pace, in the peak week in mid-March.
• — Threshold: 3 × 8 minutes, 2 minutes recovery, so marathon pace feels easier on the way back from Meilen.

Training in the depths of winter

For April 11, the 12-week plan starts on Monday, January 18: long runs in the cold through January and February, weekday runs often before sunrise, then the peak week in mid-March. Easter Monday, March 29, opens the two-week taper.

A ski week or a busy week at work, and some sessions slip? Your assistant reviews it on Garmin Connect: sessions done, sessions missed, training load. Following the plan's rules, it repeats the week or moves on, then sends the next one to your watch. Coming from abroad: bibs aren't mailed, they can only be collected during Runners Week in Zurich, with photo ID and your race email.

Bibs and race day

The 2027 marathon and half marathon are sold out with no waiting list, and a bib can't be transferred to someone else. The organizer says sponsors are still giving away a few, and the On Z10, a 10K, still had places in late October 2026. On race day, be there at least an hour before the start: depending on your corral, the start can be more than a mile away, and the marathon bag drop on Sechseläutenplatz opens at 6:30 a.m.

Frequently asked questions