Big Sur International Marathon
Big Sur International Marathon race day weather
Steady cool, headwind challenges ahead
Runners will face a steady temperature of 55°F throughout the race, with average humidity at 74%. A headwind will impact pacing from miles 1 to 9 and again from miles 11 to 24, requiring strategic adjustments. Staying hydrated and pacing conservatively will be key, especially given the rolling terrain and changing wind conditions.
The finish is 21 miles from the start, so we look at it at 2 points, not just the start line. In a typical year, at 9:00/mi, you start at 55° and finish around 10:40 AM in 55°; typical start-line conditions say 61° then.
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Big Sur International Marathon route and elevation
The Big Sur International Marathon course has about 2,182 ft (665 m) of climbing and 2,528 ft (771 m) of descent, a net drop of about 346 ft (105 m). It is hillier than 85% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 11, with 308 ft (94 m) of climbing and a 5.8% average grade.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 7.8 to 8.8: climbs about 110 ft (34 m).
- Miles 9.9 to 12: climbs about 530 ft (162 m).
- Miles 21.6 to 22.3: climbs about 135 ft (41 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:33 here (3 minutes slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:03 here (3 minutes slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:33 here (3 minutes 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 | 16 ft | 125 ft | 7:31 | 8:35 | 9:40 |
| 2 | 69 ft | 78 ft | 7:52 | 9:00 | 10:07 |
| 3 | 1 ft | 92 ft | 7:35 | 8:39 | 9:44 |
| 4 | 27 ft | 49 ft | 7:49 | 8:56 | 10:03 |
| 5 | 47 ft | 59 ft | 7:51 | 8:59 | 10:07 |
| 6 | 36 ft | 15 ft | 8:05 | 9:15 | 10:23 |
| 7 | 60 ft | 37 ft | 8:06 | 9:15 | 10:25 |
| 8 | 69 ft | 40 ft | 8:09 | 9:18 | 10:28 |
| 9 | 101 ft | 63 ft | 8:13 | 9:24 | 10:34 |
| 10 | 31 ft | 165 ft | 7:27 | 8:31 | 9:35 |
| 11 | 308 ft | 0 ft | 10:44 | 12:16 | 13:48 |
| 12 | 180 ft | 0 ft | 9:29 | 10:50 | 12:11 |
| 13 | 13 ft | 308 ft | 7:05 | 8:06 | 9:07 |
| 14 | 35 ft | 149 ft | 7:30 | 8:35 | 9:39 |
| 15 | 74 ft | 94 ft | 7:50 | 8:57 | 10:04 |
| 16 | 90 ft | 95 ft | 7:53 | 9:01 | 10:09 |
| 17 | 8 ft | 57 ft | 7:44 | 8:49 | 9:56 |
| 18 | 84 ft | 59 ft | 8:07 | 9:16 | 10:25 |
| 19 | 60 ft | 44 ft | 8:01 | 9:11 | 10:20 |
| 20 | 82 ft | 82 ft | 7:55 | 9:02 | 10:10 |
| 21 | 28 ft | 75 ft | 7:44 | 8:50 | 9:56 |
| 22 | 98 ft | 33 ft | 8:26 | 9:39 | 10:51 |
| 23 | 99 ft | 142 ft | 7:45 | 8:51 | 9:58 |
| 24 | 47 ft | 75 ft | 7:47 | 8:55 | 10:01 |
| 25 | 9 ft | 79 ft | 7:39 | 8:44 | 9:50 |
| 26 | 90 ft | 78 ft | 8:01 | 9:09 | 10:17 |
| Last 0.2 | 1 ft | 9 ft | 1:42 | 1:57 | 2:12 |
Explore the Big Sur International Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
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Tips from Runners
From 17 race reports by runners: what worked for them, not official race information.
Several runners said the downhill opening miles through the redwoods pull you out too fast. Hold your effort until the road leaves the woods around mile 4 or 5.
Watch for fresh strawberries around mile 23. Several runners mention them, including two in 2025 who said they gave a late lift.
On Hurricane Point, expect the first mile after mile 10 to be the steep one, with the grade easing in the second. A few runners took short walk breaks on the climb to bring their heart rate down.
Use a real bathroom before you board the bus to Big Sur. A 2025 runner found the start-area porta potties wrecked, and a 2023 runner ducked into the hotel restroom from the bus line.
Through the Carmel Highlands after mile 22, look for the flattest strip of pavement. One runner moved to the far side of the cones where that was allowed.
If you want Bixby Bridge pictures without stopping mid-race, drive Highway 1 the day before. A couple of runners shot their photos then and ran straight through.
- Several runners said the downhill opening miles through the redwoods pull you out too fast. Hold your effort until the road leaves the woods around mile 4 or 5.
- On Hurricane Point, expect the first mile after mile 10 to be the steep one, with the grade easing in the second. A few runners took short walk breaks on the climb to bring their heart rate down.
- Watch for fresh strawberries around mile 23. Several runners mention them, including two in 2025 who said they gave a late lift.
- Use a real bathroom before you board the bus to Big Sur. A 2025 runner found the start-area porta potties wrecked, and a 2023 runner ducked into the hotel restroom from the bus line.
- Through the Carmel Highlands after mile 22, look for the flattest strip of pavement. One runner moved to the far side of the cones where that was allowed.
- If you want Bixby Bridge pictures without stopping mid-race, drive Highway 1 the day before. A couple of runners shot their photos then and ran straight through.
Big Sur International Marathon FAQ
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Big Sur International Marathon reviews and race reports
Hurricane Point gets the fame, but the cambered Carmel Highlands hurt more. A piano waits at Bixby Bridge.
Hurricane Point, miles 10 to 12 — The two-mile climb to the high point is the stretch everyone trains for. Its first mile is the steep one. Taiko drummers partway up gave several runners a lift.
The piano at Bixby Bridge — The descent off Hurricane Point drops to Bixby Bridge near halfway, where a grand piano plays and many runners stop for photos. One runner thought the piano a bit overhyped.
Rolling miles above the ocean after Bixby — Past the bridge, hill follows hill along the cliffs with almost no spectators, since the highway is closed. The repeated descents wore out quads, and one 2025 runner ended up preferring the climbs.
The Carmel Highlands, miles 22 to 25 — Rolling climbs on a steeply tilted road make this stretch harder than many expect, and one 2019 runner rated it tougher than Hurricane Point. One last short hill near mile 25 comes before the drop to the finish.
Struggled with nutrition and fatigue on a stunning course
It was a rainy start with a consistent drizzle. I ran at goal pace through mile 8 till the first hill and slowed down a bit. This was to be expected. I could not stomach any more gus though and only managed 3 gus throughout the course.
Struggled up Hurricane Hill but recovered to finish strong
Mile 11-12: fighting up hurricane hill. I did my best to measure my heart rate and walk whenever I went over 165, until I was back down below 150. Jogged/ran more than I expected to but still slowed down significantly. By mile 12 I was starting to feel miserable as I was soaked through and my clothes were sticking to me, tried rolling my sleeves up and down and fussing with it mostly made it worse. Ate fourth xact bar and a couple of fruit snacks on the hill.
Ignored injury, ran strong first half, struggled after mile 20
At the start of the race the sun had just come up. The beginning of the course I was surrounded by fog rising from the redwoods. I felt no pain in my foot. I hit my first mile at 7:30 but I felt like I was trotting. Second mile: 7:06, still felt nothing. I knew I shouldn't be running a 7:06 at mile 2, but I couldn't help it.
Struggled mentally after hitting 16 miles, but pushed through.
Mile 17-19: These were my hardest miles mentally. While training, the max milage I had gotten to was 16 miles and my body felt better then than it did in this moment. My mantras were smudged cause of the rain and sweat but I kept looking to them to remind me to keep it up. I didn't feel horrible but these miles did feel longer than the rest for me.
Overcame hamstring cramp to secure 4th overall and Master's win
Since I had no real idea of my ultimate fitness, I went totally by feel through the ups and downs of the beautiful, wet, windy, hilly course! Started with 4 downhill in foggy redwoods, then cutting to the coast with a gentle uphill with a mighty headwind, quick downhill then a steep 2mile climb to hurricane point, Bixby Bridge, and many miles of rolling hills on the way to Carmel.