Chevron Houston Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
A flat, fast single-loop through downtown Houston, the Galleria, Memorial Park, and the Heights with under 60 feet of total elevation change. Pulsed corral starts and dense crowd support make it one of the most BQ-friendly big-city races in the country. January conditions are typically cool and humid — ideal for racing.
The Chevron Houston Marathon is exceptionally flat and fast — rated 1/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 270 ft (80 m) and loses 260 ft (80 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 37 (near mile 23), demanding about 4% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 4.4%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Houston, TX, USA |
| Total ascent | 270 ft (80 m) |
| Total descent | 260 ft (80 m) |
| Net elevation | +7 ft (+2 m) |
| Steepest grade | 4.4% |
| Difficulty | 1/5 |
| Field size | ≈9,000 runners |
| Race day | Third Sunday of January |
| Elevation from | USGS 3DEP ned10m (US, 10 m) |
Bare-earth terrain model, smoothed over 500 m — it measures the ground, not the rooftops.
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 | 9:14 | 5:44 | +8 ft (+2 m) | 9:14 |
| 2 | 9:12 | 5:43 | +5 ft (+2 m) | 18:26 |
| 3 | 8:57 | 5:33 | -23 ft (-7 m) | 27:23 |
| 4 | 9:22 | 5:49 | +22 ft (+7 m) | 36:45 |
| 5 | 9:10 | 5:42 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 45:55 |
| 6 | 9:08 | 5:41 | -1 ft (0 m) | 55:03 |
| 7 | 9:05 | 5:39 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 1:04:09 |
| 8 | 9:09 | 5:41 | +1 ft (0 m) | 1:13:18 |
| 9 | 9:07 | 5:40 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 1:22:25 |
| 10 | 9:10 | 5:42 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 1:31:35 |
| 11 | 9:09 | 5:41 | +1 ft (0 m) | 1:40:44 |
| 12 | 9:11 | 5:42 | +4 ft (+1 m) | 1:49:55 |
| 13 | 9:12 | 5:43 | +6 ft (+2 m) | 1:59:07 |
| 14 | 9:08 | 5:40 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 2:08:15 |
| 15 | 9:10 | 5:42 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 2:17:25 |
| 16 | 9:09 | 5:41 | +1 ft (0 m) | 2:26:34 |
| 17 | 9:10 | 5:42 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:35:45 |
| 18 | 9:06 | 5:39 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 2:44:50 |
| 19 | 9:15 | 5:45 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 2:54:05 |
| 20 | 9:06 | 5:39 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 3:03:11 |
| 21 | 9:08 | 5:41 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:12:19 |
| 22 | 9:06 | 5:39 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 3:21:25 |
| 23 | 8:57 | 5:34 | -21 ft (-6 m) | 3:30:22 |
| 24 | 9:10 | 5:42 | 0 ft (0 m) | 3:39:33 |
| 25 | 9:17 | 5:46 | +12 ft (+4 m) | 3:48:49 |
| 26 | 9:12 | 5:43 | +4 ft (+1 m) | 3:58:01 |
| 26.2 | 9:05 | 5:38 | -2 ft (0 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chevron Houston Marathon flat or hilly?
The Chevron Houston Marathon is exceptionally flat and fast (1/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 270 ft (80 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Chevron Houston Marathon have?
About 270 ft (80 m) of total ascent and 260 ft (80 m) of descent, for a net change of +7 ft (2 m). Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP ned10m (US, 10 m) and smoothed over 500 m, so it will not match a GPS watch step for step.
What is the hardest part of the Chevron Houston Marathon course?
Kilometre 37 (near mile 23) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 4% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 4.4%.
When is the Chevron Houston Marathon?
The Chevron Houston Marathon is typically held on the third Sunday of January. The next edition is expected around January 17, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Chevron Houston Marathon?
The field is roughly 9,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Chevron Houston 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 Houston race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Mesa Marathon — 260 ft (80 m) ascent
- Valencia Marathon — 260 ft (80 m) ascent
- Osaka Marathon — 240 ft (70 m) ascent
- Berlin Marathon — 230 ft (70 m) ascent
How Chevron Houston Marathon ranks
- Flattest marathon courses — ranked 9 of 20 (270 ft (80 m) of climbing)
- Marathons with the hardest finish — ranked 9 of 10 (hardest at km 37 (mile 23) — 4% over flat effort)
Official race site: https://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com