Survival of the Fittest

We ranked countries based on climate extremes, altitude, and course endurance requirements.

#1

Singapore

Extreme
Cities Analyzed
Singapore
Avg. Score5.0/5.0
#2

Thailand

Extreme
Cities Analyzed
Bangkok
Avg. Score5.0/5.0
#3

Malaysia

Extreme
Cities Analyzed
Kuala Lumpur
Avg. Score5.0/5.0
#4

Vietnam

Extreme
Cities Analyzed
Ho Chi Minh City
Avg. Score5.0/5.0
#5

Indonesia

Extreme
Cities Analyzed
Jakarta
Avg. Score5.0/5.0
#6

Philippines

Extreme
Cities Analyzed
Manila
Avg. Score5.0/5.0
#7

Kenya

Extreme
Cities Analyzed
Nairobi
Avg. Score5.0/5.0
#8

India

Extreme
Cities Analyzed
MumbaiDelhi
Avg. Score4.5/5.0
#9

Portugal

Very Hard
Cities Analyzed
Lisbon
Avg. Score4.0/5.0
#10

Greece

Very Hard
Cities Analyzed
Athens
Avg. Score4.0/5.0
#11

Hong Kong

Very Hard
Cities Analyzed
Hong Kong
Avg. Score4.0/5.0
#12

Taiwan

Very Hard
Cities Analyzed
Taipei
Avg. Score4.0/5.0
#13

UAE

Very Hard
Cities Analyzed
DubaiAbu Dhabi
Avg. Score4.0/5.0
#14

Qatar

Very Hard
Cities Analyzed
Doha
Avg. Score4.0/5.0
#15

Saudi Arabia

Very Hard
Cities Analyzed
Riyadh
Avg. Score4.0/5.0

Methodology & Data Sources

How we rank "Toughness":

Our proprietary Difficulty Index aggregates data from multiple cities within each region. The score (1-5) is a weighted composite of:

  • Climate Severity (40%): Heat/Humidity index or Extreme Cold.
  • Elevation Profile (30%): Altitude and average elevation gain of major courses.
  • Terrain Technicality (30%): Surface types (cobblestones, trails, asphalt).

Data Sources:

  • Climate Data: NOAA & local meteorological records (Avg temps during race months).
  • Course Profiles: Elevation maps from Strava/Garmin public segments.
  • Race Reports: Aggregated runner feedback on course difficulty.

*Rankings are relative to road running conditions. Ultra-trail events may have separate classifications.

Train for the Extreme.

Running a marathon in Singapore requires more than just fitness—it requires mental fortitude. Run and Grow helps you build the habit engine to conquer any course.

Start Training