Rotterdam, Netherlands · April
Pacing the Rotterdam Marathon
Flat, with two bridge crossings
Flat and quick through a modern city, with the Erasmus Bridge crossed early and again close to the finish. A long standing personal best course with a fast field.
Official site: dates and entry
Dates, ballots and entry rules change every year and are not listed here. Check the official site.
How to pace it
Flat almost everywhere, which means the two bridge crossings are the only features that will change your pace, and only one of them matters.
The Erasmus Bridge is crossed in the opening kilometres, when it costs you essentially nothing, and again near the end, when tired legs feel every metre of the rise. Plan for the second crossing and forget the first. Runners who treat the early crossing as evidence that the bridge is easy get an unpleasant surprise later.
Between the bridges the course is wide, fast and largely unremarkable, which is exactly what you want. The pacing task is to stay on your number and resist the pull of a field where a large proportion of runners are chasing a specific time.
The closing kilometres after the second crossing are where the race is decided, so arrive at the bridge with something left rather than with a deficit to chase.
Worth knowing
- The late bridge crossing is the one that counts. Keep something in reserve for it.
- An exposed riverside course in April can be windy.
- A fast field pulls you along early. Run your own pace for the first 5 km.
What the common targets ask for
| Finish | Per km | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00:00 | 4:16 | 6:52 |
| 3:30:00 | 4:59 | 8:01 |
| 4:00:00 | 5:41 | 9:09 |
| 4:30:00 | 6:24 | 10:18 |