California Marathon 6:00 pace chart
A 6:00:00 finish at the California Marathon averages 13:44 per mile (8:32 per kilometre) — a steady, sustainable finish, and the pace most first-time marathoners should actually target. Run at even effort rather than even pace, the easiest mile comes in around 12:59/mi and the hardest around 14:22/mi — about 83 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 2:59:31 — a 0:58 positive split, which is what the terrain costs you rather than a pacing error. The hardest mile on the course sits near kilometre 18; at this goal time it should take 13:53/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 6:00:00
Grade-adjusted splits computed from the California Marathon elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model, scaled so the full course adds up to 6:00:00. Uphill sections get more time, downhills less, at one constant effort throughout.
| Mile | Target /mi | Target /km | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12:59 | 8:04 | -67 ft (-20 m) | 12:59 |
| 2 | 14:08 | 8:47 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 27:07 |
| 3 | 13:12 | 8:12 | -52 ft (-16 m) | 40:19 |
| 4 | 13:36 | 8:27 | -22 ft (-7 m) | 53:55 |
| 5 | 13:42 | 8:31 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 1:07:36 |
| 6 | 13:47 | 8:34 | -9 ft (-3 m) | 1:21:23 |
| 7 | 13:52 | 8:37 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 1:35:15 |
| 8 | 13:53 | 8:37 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:49:08 |
| 9 | 14:22 | 8:56 | +33 ft (+10 m) | 2:03:30 |
| 10 | 13:28 | 8:22 | -31 ft (-10 m) | 2:16:58 |
| 11 | 13:19 | 8:16 | -52 ft (-16 m) | 2:30:16 |
| 12 | 13:53 | 8:37 | -8 ft (-3 m) | 2:44:09 |
| 13 | 13:52 | 8:37 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 2:58:01 |
| 14 | 13:40 | 8:30 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 3:11:42 |
| 15 | 14:03 | 8:44 | +12 ft (+4 m) | 3:25:45 |
| 16 | 13:39 | 8:29 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 3:39:24 |
| 17 | 13:26 | 8:21 | -32 ft (-10 m) | 3:52:50 |
| 18 | 13:44 | 8:32 | -11 ft (-3 m) | 4:06:35 |
| 19 | 13:49 | 8:35 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 4:20:23 |
| 20 | 13:40 | 8:30 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 4:34:03 |
| 21 | 13:46 | 8:33 | -8 ft (-2 m) | 4:47:50 |
| 22 | 13:52 | 8:37 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 5:01:42 |
| 23 | 13:51 | 8:36 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 5:15:32 |
| 24 | 13:46 | 8:33 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 5:29:18 |
| 25 | 13:47 | 8:34 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 5:43:05 |
| 26 | 13:52 | 8:37 | 0 ft (0 m) | 5:56:58 |
| 26.2 | 13:52 | 8:37 | 0 ft (0 m) | 6:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
What pace is a 6:00 marathon?
A 6:00:00 marathon is 13:44 per mile or 8:32 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 6:00 at the California Marathon?
2:59:31. That is the grade-adjusted halfway target for this course, not simply half of 6:00:00 — 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 6:00 goal produces splits between 12:59 and 14:22 per mile — about 83 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 6:00:00. Uphill sections get more time and downhill sections less, at a constant effort throughout.
Is 6:00 a realistic marathon goal?
6:00 is a steady, sustainable finish, and the pace most first-time marathoners should actually target. 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.