Poznań, Poland
LOTTO Poznań Maraton 2027 Pacing Plan
The 25th, jubilee edition runs an entirely new course: starting on ul. Grunwaldzka by the Poznań International Fair (MTP), it heads out past Park Sołacki and Aleja Armii Poznań before returning to the city centre: for the first time in 18 years the route crosses the historic Stary Rynek (Old Market Square) and Plac Wolności, then the Warta river. The closing kilometers run through the Łazarz and Górczyn districts and past Ławica airport before finishing back at MTP's Plac Marka.
Distance
42.3 km
Gain / loss
+100m / -93m
Race date
Typical race-day weather
10°C, 14 km/h
Weather is a 10-year seasonal average for this course's location and month, not a forecast for a specific date. See FAQ.
Elevation profile
Sample strategy: 3:45:00 goal
A real, AI-generated excerpt of what Splitshape produces for this exact course, not a hand-written example. Upload your own goal and recent results to get the full plan.
KM 1-6: You cross 5K around 25:58 on mildly rolling, net-downhill terrain: paces here dip as low as 4:53-4:58/km on the dips, but that's the terrain talking, not your fitness. Don't let the quick early numbers fool you into thinking 3:45 is easy; this stretch is naturally faster than your average and it owes you nothing later. Settle in around 5:00-5:15/km effort and save the legs.
KM 7-14: The grade turns choppier here: km 7 and km 12 both tick uphill and slow to 5:36-5:38/km, while the dips between recover to around 4:59-5:07/km. You pass 10K at roughly 52:05 and half of this block, 13K, at 1:08:17. Ride the terrain's natural rhythm rather than forcing a flat number; let the uphill kilometers be slower and the downhill ones faster.
KM 15-21: This is the most even, gently favorable stretch of the whole course: 5:03 to 5:21/km with a few tailwind-assisted dips near 5:03-5:05/km. You hit 20K at 1:44:46 and cross halfway around 1:50:02, just past 21K. Bank nothing extra here beyond what the terrain gives you; the fade in the model starts right after this.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new LOTTO Poznań Maraton course flat or hilly?
With only 100 m of elevation gain and 93 m of loss over 42.3 km, the course is essentially flat, with net elevation change of just 7 m. This makes it well suited to an even-paced or slightly negative-split strategy without needing to bank time for climbs.
What pacing strategy works best on the new Poznań Marathon route through the Old Market Square and Warta river?
Since the route is largely flat aside from minor undulations totaling under 100 m of gain, runners can hold a consistent, even pace through the city-centre sections around Stary Rynek and Plac Wolności rather than adjusting for terrain. The main pacing consideration is the crossing of the Warta river and transitions between wider avenues and denser urban streets, which may affect rhythm more than gradient.
What weather should I expect on race day in Poznań?
Typical race-day conditions are around 10.0°C with wind near 13.7 km/h, which is cool and favorable for marathon pacing. Runners should still account for the moderate wind, especially in open stretches like ul. Grunwaldzka and near Ławica airport, where exposure may be higher than in the sheltered city-centre sections.
Does the flat profile of this course mean I should attempt a negative split?
The minimal elevation change (100 m gain, 93 m loss) removes terrain as a major obstacle to negative splitting, since there are no sustained climbs late in the race to slow you down. A negative split is realistic here, provided pacing discipline is maintained through the early out-and-back sections near Park Sołacki and Aleja Armii Poznań.
Are there any tricky sections on the new 25th-anniversary course near the finish?
The closing kilometers pass through the Łazarz and Górczyn districts and near Ławica airport before finishing at MTP's Plac Marka, all within the course's flat overall profile. Since there's no significant late climb, fading in these final kilometers is more likely tied to pacing errors earlier on than to elevation demands.
Build your LOTTO Poznań Maraton plan
Upload your own GPX or use LOTTO Poznań Maraton's course, set your goal and recent results, and get the full km-by-km strategy.
Your plan also includes a gel schedule timed to your splits on this course, and a carb loading guide. How the fueling plan works →
Build my LOTTO Poznań Maraton plan →Splitshape is an independent pacing-plan tool and is not an official partner, sponsor, or affiliate of the LOTTO Poznań Maraton or its organizers. Course data source: official course page.