Bangsaen42 Chonburi Marathon: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Chonburi)

A marathon with the Gulf on one side

Bang Saen faces the Gulf of Thailand. Its beach road is lined with casuarina trees, rows of deckchairs under umbrellas, and food stalls that keep the weekend crowd from Bangkok fed. On November 15, 2026, that road belongs to runners. The Bangsaen42 Chonburi Marathon is a full 42.195km road race, and much of its appeal is the setting: flat coastal tarmac, sea air and a town that turns out to watch.

Mid-November is also why the race sits where it does. The rainy season is mostly over by then and the air is a little drier. Bang Saen is still the tropics, though, and that shapes everything about how the day runs.

Race day in the dark

Thai road races conventionally start well before sunrise so runners finish before the heat sets in. Expect a start in darkness and the first kilometres under street lights. The sun comes up over land while the sea is still grey, and the last stretch gets warmer by the minute.

For a marathon here, the useful preparation is practical:

• Run in the heat beforehand, not just over the distance
• Have a hydration strategy that uses every water station
• Wear a cap or visor for the final hour after sunrise
• Use anti-chafe balm, because humidity makes clothing rub

The organiser publishes the start time, course map and cut-off rules on its official site, along with registration details.

Getting to Bang Saen

Bang Saen is in Saen Suk, part of Mueang Chonburi district, roughly an hour to an hour and a half from Bangkok by road. Drivers usually take Motorway 7 or the Bang Na–Trat Highway (Route 34). Buses and minivans to Bang Saen and Chonburi leave from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai, next to BTS Ekkamai on the Sukhumvit Line.

Because the start is so early, most runners from out of town stay in Bang Saen the night before. The beach has hotels and guesthouses of every size. Si Racha and Chonburi city are short drives away if the beachfront fills up.

How race weekend works in Bang Saen

Big Thai marathons usually hand out bibs at a pickup or expo before race day, and runners collect their bib, timing chip and race shirt there. Many visitors make it part of a two-night trip, with the pickup on the first day and the race the next morning.

A few local habits help:

• Paying: beachfront vendors and markets mostly take cash or Thai PromptPay QR codes. Small notes are easier than large ones.
• Cheering: you will hear spectators shout “su su!” (สู้ๆ), roughly “keep fighting.” A wave or a smile back goes down well.
• Volunteers: many aid stations are run by students and residents. A quick “khop khun khrap/kha” (thank you) is appreciated.
• Temples: if you visit a temple after the race, cover your shoulders and knees. A finisher’s medal over a sweaty singlet isn’t temple dress.
• Post-race recovery: many runners head to the deckchairs on Bang Saen beach. You rent a chair from the vendor and order food delivered to it.

Things to do after the finish line

Bang Saen is a long-standing weekend escape for Bangkok, so there is plenty to fill the afternoon at walking pace.

• Khao Sam Muk: the small hill at the north end of the beach, home to a shrine and a large troop of macaques. Keep food and plastic bags out of sight.
• Laem Thaen: the rocky headland beyond Bang Saen beach, with a viewpoint over the bay.
• Nong Mon Market: the town’s well-known market for dried seafood and khao lam, sticky rice roasted in bamboo tubes. It’s a classic thing to take home.
• Ang Sila: the old fishing area just north, known for its stone mortars and seafood.

Burapha University’s campus also sits on the edge of town, which explains the student energy you notice around Bang Saen.

Who the race suits

The Bangsaen42 is aimed at runners who want a complete 42.195km marathon close to Bangkok, without flying anywhere. It works for a first marathon if you have trained in heat. It also suits regional runners who want a coastal course with a town behind it.

For partners and families who aren’t running, it’s an easy beach weekend. They can watch the finish and then spend the rest of the day on seafood and sand.