Austin Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
Run since 1992 from the Texas State Capitol through South Congress, Travis Heights, Tarrytown and West Austin before a downhill finish at the Capitol steps. Total ascent is 325 m, concentrated in the first 10 km. Crisp morning conditions, and Austin's Live Music Capital reputation puts bands at every major mile marker.
The Austin Marathon is a challenging course with meaningful climbs — rated 4/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 1070 ft (330 m) and loses 1020 ft (310 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 1 (near mile 0.5), demanding about 16% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 10.8%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Austin, TX, USA |
| Total ascent | 1070 ft (330 m) |
| Total descent | 1020 ft (310 m) |
| Net elevation | +43 ft (+13 m) |
| Steepest grade | 10.8% |
| Difficulty | 4/5 |
| Field size | ≈6,000 runners |
| Race day | Third Sunday of February |
Mile-by-mile splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill miles get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Mile | GAP pace /mi | GAP pace /km | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:36 | 5:58 | +40 ft (+12 m) | 9:36 |
| 2 | 10:05 | 6:16 | +101 ft (+31 m) | 19:40 |
| 3 | 9:30 | 5:54 | +42 ft (+13 m) | 29:10 |
| 4 | 8:56 | 5:33 | -24 ft (-7 m) | 38:05 |
| 5 | 8:10 | 5:04 | -105 ft (-32 m) | 46:16 |
| 6 | 8:26 | 5:14 | -77 ft (-24 m) | 54:42 |
| 7 | 9:04 | 5:38 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 1:03:46 |
| 8 | 9:10 | 5:42 | +8 ft (+3 m) | 1:12:56 |
| 9 | 9:40 | 6:00 | +57 ft (+17 m) | 1:22:36 |
| 10 | 9:27 | 5:53 | +35 ft (+11 m) | 1:32:03 |
| 11 | 9:00 | 5:35 | -16 ft (-5 m) | 1:41:02 |
| 12 | 8:50 | 5:30 | -43 ft (-13 m) | 1:49:53 |
| 13 | 10:08 | 6:18 | +96 ft (+29 m) | 2:00:00 |
| 14 | 9:18 | 5:47 | +22 ft (+7 m) | 2:09:18 |
| 15 | 9:18 | 5:47 | +23 ft (+7 m) | 2:18:37 |
| 16 | 9:08 | 5:40 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:27:44 |
| 17 | 8:52 | 5:30 | -30 ft (-9 m) | 2:36:36 |
| 18 | 9:06 | 5:40 | -8 ft (-2 m) | 2:45:42 |
| 19 | 8:45 | 5:26 | -42 ft (-13 m) | 2:54:28 |
| 20 | 8:41 | 5:23 | -49 ft (-15 m) | 3:03:08 |
| 21 | 8:45 | 5:26 | -39 ft (-12 m) | 3:11:53 |
| 22 | 9:04 | 5:38 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:20:57 |
| 23 | 9:06 | 5:39 | +1 ft (0 m) | 3:30:03 |
| 24 | 9:06 | 5:40 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 3:39:10 |
| 25 | 9:08 | 5:41 | +6 ft (+2 m) | 3:48:18 |
| 26 | 9:39 | 6:00 | +51 ft (+16 m) | 3:57:56 |
| 26.2 | 9:25 | 5:51 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Austin Marathon flat or hilly?
The Austin Marathon is a challenging course with meaningful climbs (4/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 1070 ft (330 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Austin Marathon have?
About 1070 ft (330 m) of total ascent and 1020 ft (310 m) of descent, for a net change of +43 ft (13 m). Figures come from a digital elevation model, so very flat courses can read 20–30 ft high.
What is the hardest part of the Austin Marathon course?
Kilometre 1 (near mile 0.5) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 16% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 10.8%.
When is the Austin Marathon?
The Austin Marathon is typically held on the third Sunday of February. The next edition is expected around February 21, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Austin Marathon?
The field is roughly 6,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Austin Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your Austin race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Charlotte Marathon — 1010 ft (310 m) ascent
- Detroit Free Press Marathon — 970 ft (300 m) ascent
- Vancouver Marathon — 950 ft (290 m) ascent
- Los Angeles Marathon — 940 ft (290 m) ascent
Official race site: https://youraustinmarathon.com/