Best of the West Marathon
Best of the West Marathon race day weather
Warm finish, steady climb ahead
Runners will face a temperature rise from 57°F at the start to 71°F by the finish, with humidity at 65% contributing to a warm feel. Light winds will be present, but they won't significantly impact performance. Given the rising temps, it's advisable to start conservatively, particularly in the gently rolling terrain. Hydration should be prioritized, especially in the later miles where the heat will be more pronounced.
Pace Calculator
Enter a finish time to see what race day does to it.
Get forecast alerts for Best of the West Marathon
We'll text or email you when the forecast shifts — so you can adjust gear, pacing, and strategy. Max one per day.
Best of the West Marathon route and elevation
The Best of the West Marathon course has about 803 ft (245 m) of climbing and 803 ft (245 m) of descent, and finishes near the elevation it starts. It is flatter than 58% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 16, with 71 ft (22 m) of climbing.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 11.4 to 12.2: climbs about 50 ft (15 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:30:50 here (50 seconds slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:01 here (1 minute slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:31 here (1 minute slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56 ft | 28 ft | 8:12 | 9:22 | 10:32 |
| 2 | 53 ft | 55 ft | 7:58 | 9:07 | 10:15 |
| 3 | 22 ft | 35 ft | 7:56 | 9:03 | 10:12 |
| 4 | 14 ft | 12 ft | 8:00 | 9:09 | 10:17 |
| 5 | 1 ft | 5 ft | 7:58 | 9:06 | 10:14 |
| 6 | 44 ft | 61 ft | 7:55 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| 7 | 51 ft | 43 ft | 8:02 | 9:12 | 10:21 |
| 8 | 28 ft | 31 ft | 7:59 | 9:06 | 10:15 |
| 9 | 50 ft | 30 ft | 8:08 | 9:19 | 10:28 |
| 10 | 50 ft | 44 ft | 8:02 | 9:10 | 10:20 |
| 11 | 70 ft | 59 ft | 8:04 | 9:13 | 10:22 |
| 12 | 62 ft | 49 ft | 8:05 | 9:15 | 10:24 |
| 13 | 35 ft | 49 ft | 7:56 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| 14 | 58 ft | 34 ft | 8:10 | 9:21 | 10:31 |
| 15 | 26 ft | 72 ft | 7:48 | 8:55 | 10:01 |
| 16 | 71 ft | 43 ft | 8:13 | 9:23 | 10:34 |
| 17 | 48 ft | 72 ft | 7:53 | 9:01 | 10:08 |
| 18 | 35 ft | 42 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:14 |
| 19 | 33 ft | 29 ft | 8:01 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| 20 | 37 ft | 51 ft | 7:55 | 9:04 | 10:11 |
| 21 | 53 ft | 32 ft | 8:10 | 9:20 | 10:30 |
| 22 | 20 ft | 25 ft | 7:58 | 9:05 | 10:14 |
| 23 | 9 ft | 7 ft | 8:00 | 9:09 | 10:17 |
| 24 | 20 ft | 25 ft | 7:57 | 9:06 | 10:14 |
| 25 | 60 ft | 57 ft | 8:01 | 9:09 | 10:17 |
| 26 | 35 ft | 42 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:14 |
| Last 0.2 | 6 ft | 14 ft | 1:45 | 2:00 | 2:15 |
Explore the Best of the West Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
Get your personalized Best of the West Marathon race plan
A mile-by-mile breakdown of where your time goes, weather-adjusted splits, fueling timeline with aid stations, packing checklist, carb tracker, spectator guide, all built around your goal and race-day conditions.
About the Best of the West Marathon
We will be celebrating the brand new Buckeye Trail section at West Branch State Park. The Buckeye Trail has recently been designated a State Trail by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is only the third trail to receive this recognition. This brand new section is the first of more to come! West Branch State Park is predominantly forested with a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees. The forest is primarily oak-hickory and provides habitats for a diverse array of wildlife, including deer, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, pheasant, and songbirds. The dense canopy provides shade and cool temperatures in the warmer months making it perfect for hiking and running. Marathoners will make their way around the eastern end of the lake crossing the dam and then continuing to the entrance to the campground before returning back to the beach. Half marathoners will finish at the turnaround and take a shuttle back to the finish party at the beach. Source
