Muang Thai Chiang Mai Marathon

The Muang Thai Chiang Mai Marathon is northern Thailand's flagship road race, held every December in the historic city of Chiang Mai and title-sponsored for many years by Muang Thai Life Assurance. Organized by JOG&JOY Co., Ltd. and a full member of AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races), the event marked its 20th anniversary in 2025, and the 2026 edition takes place Sunday, December 20, 2026. The full marathon starts at 3:00 AM at the iconic Tha Phae Gate in the Old City and finishes at the King Naresuan the Great Monument in Mae Rim District, with a 10:00 AM cutoff -- the pre-dawn start is designed to beat the tropical heat. Organizers describe the route as flat with no hills, and expected race-morning temperatures run 12-18 degrees C during Chiang Mai's cool season. The most recent edition drew runners from 64 countries, with the largest overseas contingents from Malaysia, South Korea, and China. Half marathon, 10K, and 3K Smile Run distances share the same race weekend but are tracked separately from this full-marathon record. All finishers receive medals, e-certificates, timing-chip results, goodie bags, food and drink, and accident insurance, and marathon and half marathon runners get free shuttle service back to Tha Phae Gate after finishing. Entry fees rise across three pricing periods as race day approaches, the registration fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, and race-week expo and bib pickup runs December 18-19, 2026.