Your plan in four answers
Set for March 7, 2027, about 19 weeks out.
- Distances
- 5K, Half marathon, 30K, Marathon
- Sport
- Running
- Taper starts
- February 17, 2027
Course
The Bologna Marathon course
The Termal Bologna Marathon is a single 42.195 km loop through the heart of Bologna, certified by FIDAL (Bronze) and World Athletics, and its route runs under the city's porticoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Piazza Maggiore is the heart of the three-day race weekend.
Read the full course notes
The 30K dei Portici starts on Via Irnerio, shares much of the marathon route and finishes in Piazza Maggiore. The Run Tune Up, now in its 23rd edition, is the city's historic half marathon on a fast course through the centre, also finishing in Piazza Maggiore. A 5 km City Run through the historic centre raises funds for university research, and the 2026 edition sold out in every distance.
- Distances
- 5K, Half marathon, 30K, Marathon
- Weather on race day
- March in Bologna averages a high of about 14 °C and a low of about 5 °C, cool conditions that suit a fast run. Expect around 6 wet days in the month, so a shower is possible. March is also the windiest month of the year, mostly from the east, though average speeds stay moderate at about 12 km/h. Start with a light layer and gloves and drop them once you warm up.
What to train for
City-centre courses bring many corners and changes of surface, so practise holding rhythm through turns and on stone paving in your long runs.
Rehearse goal pace in blocks of 8 to 12 km for the marathon, or 3 x 5 km for the half.
Since the marathon is in early March, most of your build falls in winter, so plan a few long runs at the time of day you will race. Fields are capped (3,600 for the marathon, 1,600 for the 30K, 4,400 for the half), so register early.
Sample week
A sample Bologna Marathon training week
A week from the middle of the build, about six weeks out. Your plan sets the real distances and paces from your own fitness and adjusts them every week as you train.
- Monday
- Rest, or 20 minutes of mobility
- Tuesday Key session
- Intervals: 5 × 1.5 km at 5K to 10K effort, easy jog between
- Wednesday
- Easy run, 10–11 km
- Thursday Key session
- Goal-pace run, 16 km with 10 km at race pace
- Friday
- Recovery run, 6 km, or cross-train
- Saturday Key session
- Long run, 26–29 km, the last 6 km at race pace
- Sunday
- Easy run, 6 km, then 6 relaxed strides
Your build to race day
Taper
Tapering for the Bologna Marathon
Start the taper two to three weeks before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. With the race on March 7, 2027, your taper starts around February 17, 2027.
Also in Claude
Ask Claude for this plan
Add AthleteSpace to Claude once, then paste this prompt and put in your own numbers.
Build me a training plan for the Termal Bologna Marathon on March 7, 2027. I run [distance] a week, [days] days a week, easy pace [pace].
Bologna Marathon training questions
How long should I train for the Bologna Marathon?
Most runners give a marathon sixteen to twenty weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The plan above counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
Is the Bologna Marathon course hilly?
The Termal Bologna Marathon is a single 42.195 km loop through the heart of Bologna, certified by FIDAL (Bronze) and World Athletics, and its route runs under the city's porticoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
What is the weather usually like at the Bologna Marathon?
March in Bologna averages a high of about 14 °C and a low of about 5 °C, cool conditions that suit a fast run. Expect around 6 wet days in the month, so a shower is possible. March is also the windiest month of the year, mostly from the east, though average speeds stay moderate at about 12 km/h. Start with a light layer and gloves and drop them once you warm up.
When should I start tapering for the Bologna Marathon?
Start the taper two to three weeks before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. With the race on March 7, 2027, your taper starts around February 17, 2027.
Do I need an account to get a Bologna Marathon training plan?
No. The plan above builds in your browser with no account, no email, and no card. Make a free account only if you want to keep it, log your runs against it, and have the coach keep adapting it as your training goes.