California Marathon 4:15 pace chart
A 4:15:00 finish at the California Marathon averages 9:44 per mile (6:03 per kilometre) — the classic sub-4 target, close to the middle of a typical big-city field. Run at even effort rather than even pace, the easiest mile comes in around 9:12/mi and the hardest around 10:11/mi — about 59 seconds between the two extremes. Holding an identical number on every mile of a course with this profile means running the climbs too hard and the descents too easy. Held at even effort, halfway comes up at 2:07:10 — an almost exactly even split. The hardest mile on the course sits near kilometre 18; at this goal time it should take 9:50/mi, and giving it that time is the difference between finishing Sacramento on plan and unravelling in the last hour.
Mile-by-mile targets for 4:15:00
Grade-adjusted splits computed from the California Marathon elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model, scaled so the full course adds up to 4:15:00. Uphill sections get more time, downhills less, at one constant effort throughout.
| Mile | Target /mi | Target /km | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:12 | 5:43 | -67 ft (-20 m) | 9:12 |
| 2 | 10:01 | 6:13 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 19:12 |
| 3 | 9:21 | 5:48 | -52 ft (-16 m) | 28:33 |
| 4 | 9:38 | 5:59 | -22 ft (-7 m) | 38:11 |
| 5 | 9:42 | 6:02 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 47:53 |
| 6 | 9:46 | 6:04 | -9 ft (-3 m) | 57:39 |
| 7 | 9:49 | 6:06 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 1:07:28 |
| 8 | 9:50 | 6:07 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:17:18 |
| 9 | 10:11 | 6:19 | +33 ft (+10 m) | 1:27:28 |
| 10 | 9:32 | 5:56 | -31 ft (-10 m) | 1:37:01 |
| 11 | 9:26 | 5:52 | -52 ft (-16 m) | 1:46:27 |
| 12 | 9:50 | 6:07 | -8 ft (-3 m) | 1:56:17 |
| 13 | 9:49 | 6:06 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 2:06:06 |
| 14 | 9:41 | 6:01 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 2:15:47 |
| 15 | 9:57 | 6:11 | +12 ft (+4 m) | 2:25:44 |
| 16 | 9:40 | 6:01 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 2:35:25 |
| 17 | 9:31 | 5:55 | -32 ft (-10 m) | 2:44:55 |
| 18 | 9:44 | 6:03 | -11 ft (-3 m) | 2:54:39 |
| 19 | 9:47 | 6:05 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 3:04:27 |
| 20 | 9:41 | 6:01 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 3:14:07 |
| 21 | 9:45 | 6:04 | -8 ft (-2 m) | 3:23:53 |
| 22 | 9:49 | 6:06 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:33:42 |
| 23 | 9:48 | 6:06 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:43:30 |
| 24 | 9:45 | 6:04 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 3:53:15 |
| 25 | 9:46 | 6:04 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 4:03:01 |
| 26 | 9:50 | 6:06 | 0 ft (0 m) | 4:12:51 |
| 26.2 | 9:50 | 6:06 | 0 ft (0 m) | 4:15:00 |
Frequently asked questions
What pace is a 4:15 marathon?
A 4:15:00 marathon is 9:44 per mile or 6:03 per kilometre held for the full 26.2 miles (42.195 km). On the California Marathon specifically, the elevation profile means even effort produces uneven splits — the table on this page gives the target for every mile.
What should my halfway split be for a 4:15 at the California Marathon?
2:07:10. That is the grade-adjusted halfway target for this course, not simply half of 4:15:00 — it accounts for where the climbing sits. Reaching the half meaningfully faster than this on this course usually means you have spent the effort you need for the closing miles.
Should I run even splits at the California Marathon?
Even effort at a 4:15 goal produces splits between 9:12 and 10:11 per mile — about 59 seconds between the easiest and hardest one. Grade-adjusted pacing gives back time on the descents and spends it on the climbs, which is what running an even physiological effort actually looks like on a course with this profile.
How are these California Marathon splits calculated?
Each mile is weighted by its gradient using the Minetti et al. (2002) cost-of-running polynomial, which measures the metabolic cost of running at grades from −45% to +45%. The total is then scaled so the whole course adds up to 4:15:00. Uphill sections get more time and downhill sections less, at a constant effort throughout.
Is 4:15 a realistic marathon goal?
4:15 is the classic sub-4 target, close to the middle of a typical big-city field. Whether it is realistic for you depends on your recent race results and weekly volume rather than on the number itself — the race-time predictor on this site will convert a recent 5K, 10K or half-marathon result into a marathon estimate using the Riegel power-law model.