Big Sur International Marathon: Pacing & Race-Day Strategy
One of the most beautiful — and hilly — marathons in the world. Run it for the experience rather than a PR.
Last updated
- Where:
- Big Sur, California
- When:
- Sunday, April 25, 2027
- Course:
- Hilly · scenic · point-to-point
- Best run as:
- Even pace
Course & elevation
Big Sur is a hilly, exposed point-to-point along Highway 1, with substantial climbing throughout. The signature effort is the long grind up to Hurricane Point around miles 10–12, often into a coastal headwind, followed by rolling hills all the way to the finish.
- Start → Finish
- 120 → 60 ft
- Net
- −60 ft
- Total gain
- ≈ 2,182 ft
- Max grade
- +4.52%
The certified route
Point to point north on Highway 1 from Big Sur Station to Carmel, hugging the Pacific coast past Point Sur, Hurricane Point, Bixby Bridge and Point Lobos.
- Start
- Entrance road to Big Sur Station on the east side of Highway 1, 10 ft east of the stop sign for traffic exiting to Highway 1 at the northeast corner, even with the west stone column for the Big Sur Station sign (4755 Highway 1).
- Finish
- Highway 1 south of Rio Road, at the south end of the northern-most gate in the chain link fence on the east side of the road, 24 ft south of the first telephone pole south of Rio Road on the east side.
Underfoot
Fully paved.
Through, in order
Big Sur · Carmel
What you pass
- Mile 12: Hurricane Point
- Mile 13: just south of Bixby Bridge, with the half marathon point on the bridge at the 4th metal expansion joint from the south end
- Mile 5: entrance to Andrew Molera State Park
Worth knowing
- From the start to mile 2 runners have the whole road; from mile 2 to just past mile 26 (Oliver Rd) runners stay in the west half; at Oliver Rd they cross to the east side and continue to the finish.
- The start and finish were adjusted and remeasured in November 2023 for the 2024 race; the balance of the course follows CA23002DT.
Transcribed from the USATF certificate for Big Sur International Marathon (CA23018DT), measured 6 February and 10 November 2023. Where the certificate is silent, so are we.
Key moments
- Mile 10–12Hurricane Point: a long, exposed 2-mile climb, frequently into wind.
- Mile 13Bixby Bridge, with a piano player and stunning views at the top.
- Mile 20–26.2Deceptive rolling hills late, including a sting near mile 25.
Pacing strategy
This is not a PR course, so pace by effort and add several minutes to a flat-course goal. Bank nothing before Hurricane Point, respect the wind, and enjoy the scenery.
Pacing by goal time
Checkpoint splits for four common goals at Big Sur International Marathon. These are effort-even rather than pace-even: the paces shift with the course profile, so climbs are slower and descents faster by the amount the grade actually costs. For any other goal time, use the planner below.
| Checkpoint | Sub-3:00 | Sub-3:30 | Sub-4:00 | Sub-4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile 3.1 | 20:357:01/mi | 24:018:12/mi | 27:279:22/mi | 30:5310:32/mi |
| Mile 6.2 | 41:086:45/mi | 47:597:52/mi | 54:508:60/mi | 1:01:4110:07/mi |
| Mile 9.3 | 1:01:577:14/mi | 1:12:178:26/mi | 1:22:379:39/mi | 1:32:5610:51/mi |
| Mile 12.4 | 1:25:518:22/mi | 1:40:109:46/mi | 1:54:2911:09/mi | 2:08:4712:33/mi |
| Mile 15.5 | 1:44:406:15/mi | 2:02:077:17/mi | 2:19:338:19/mi | 2:37:009:22/mi |
| Mile 18.6 | 2:04:096:39/mi | 2:24:517:45/mi | 2:45:338:52/mi | 3:06:149:58/mi |
| Mile 21.7 | 2:25:287:03/mi | 2:49:438:14/mi | 3:13:589:24/mi | 3:38:1310:35/mi |
| Mile 24.9 | 2:45:306:27/mi | 3:13:057:31/mi | 3:40:408:36/mi | 4:08:159:40/mi |
| Finish | 2:58:346:33/mi | 3:28:207:38/mi | 3:58:058:44/mi | 4:27:519:49/mi |
Splits assume even effort and are adjusted for this course's climbs and descents, which cost more than they give back. A model, not a promise: wind and heat move real splits around. See how the pacing model works.
Plan your mile splits
Turn your goal time into a mile-by-mile plan for Big Sur International Marathon, built from this course's elevation. The even pace approach comes pre-selected, and grade-adjusted pacing evens out your effort across the climbs and descents.
Plan Big Sur International Marathon splitsFueling & hydration
Aid stations are spaced along the rural course (roughly every 2 miles) with water and sports drink. The climbs and wind raise the workload, so fuel and hydrate a little more than usual.
Weather
Late-April Big Sur is cool and often foggy or windy on the coast; headwinds are the defining variable.
What race morning has actually been like
The last 5 editions of Big Sur International Marathon, measured at the start line rather than averaged across the month. Starts have run 50–53°F, averaging 51°F.
| Year | Date | Start | Dew pt | Wind | By late morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Apr 28 | 51°F | 50°F | 5 mph | 56°F |
| 2022 | Apr 24 | 51°F | 52°F | 47 mph | 61°F |
| 2023 | Apr 30 | 51°F | 50°F | 59 mph | 55°F |
| 2024 | Apr 28 | 53°F | 51°F | 54 mph | 57°F |
| 2025 | Apr 27 | 50°F | 50°F | 17 mph | 51°F |
Dates derived from the race's published pattern (Last Sunday in April (2020-2021 canceled)), observations at Big Sur Station, CA (start). Source: Open-Meteo historical reanalysis (ERA5), 7-11am local at the start line. Reanalysis is modelled from station observations, so treat it as a close record rather than an official one. See how race-morning weather is built.
Is Big Sur International Marathon a good Boston qualifier?
Yes. The course drops 60 ft net, comfortably inside the 1,500 ft threshold where Boston's downhill adjustment begins, so a time here is submitted as run.
This drop is our estimate rather than a figure from the course's certificate. If it sits near a threshold, confirm with the organizer.
Compare every course, how the downhill bands work, or work out your own target.
Dial in your pacing & fueling
New to how training builds toward a race like this? Start with Anatomy of a Running Plan, find your zones with the pace calculator, and plan race-day nutrition with the fueling calculator.
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