Marine Corps Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
'The People's Marathon' — the largest US marathon with no qualifying standard and no prize purse, staffed end to end by Marines. From Arlington the course climbs through Rosslyn in the opening 10 km, flattens past the monuments and the National Mall, then finishes up the short, steep ramp to the Marine Corps War Memorial. October weather is usually ideal; the 14th Street Bridge cutoff at km 32 is the one clock recreational runners must beat.
The Marine Corps Marathon is moderately rolling — rated 3/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 770 ft (230 m) and loses 730 ft (220 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 3 (near mile 2), demanding about 22% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 10.2%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Arlington, VA, USA |
| Total ascent | 770 ft (230 m) |
| Total descent | 730 ft (220 m) |
| Net elevation | +43 ft (+13 m) |
| Steepest grade | 10.2% |
| Difficulty | 3/5 |
| Field size | ≈30,000 runners |
| Race day | Last Sunday of October |
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 | 9:16 | 5:46 | +15 ft (+4 m) | 9:16 |
| 2 | 9:46 | 6:04 | +60 ft (+18 m) | 19:03 |
| 3 | 9:57 | 6:11 | +68 ft (+21 m) | 28:59 |
| 4 | 7:48 | 4:51 | -158 ft (-48 m) | 36:47 |
| 5 | 9:52 | 6:08 | +50 ft (+15 m) | 46:39 |
| 6 | 8:44 | 5:26 | -51 ft (-15 m) | 55:23 |
| 7 | 9:12 | 5:43 | +9 ft (+3 m) | 1:04:35 |
| 8 | 9:10 | 5:42 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 1:13:45 |
| 9 | 9:05 | 5:39 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 1:22:50 |
| 10 | 9:01 | 5:36 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 1:31:50 |
| 11 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 1:40:58 |
| 12 | 9:05 | 5:39 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:50:03 |
| 13 | 9:07 | 5:40 | -1 ft (0 m) | 1:59:10 |
| 14 | 9:05 | 5:39 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 2:08:15 |
| 15 | 9:08 | 5:41 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 2:17:23 |
| 16 | 9:09 | 5:41 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:26:33 |
| 17 | 9:07 | 5:40 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 2:35:39 |
| 18 | 9:12 | 5:43 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 2:44:51 |
| 19 | 9:05 | 5:39 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 2:53:57 |
| 20 | 9:24 | 5:50 | +28 ft (+9 m) | 3:03:20 |
| 21 | 8:48 | 5:28 | -38 ft (-12 m) | 3:12:08 |
| 22 | 9:35 | 5:58 | +46 ft (+14 m) | 3:21:43 |
| 23 | 9:02 | 5:37 | -10 ft (-3 m) | 3:30:45 |
| 24 | 8:59 | 5:35 | -14 ft (-4 m) | 3:39:45 |
| 25 | 9:05 | 5:39 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 3:48:50 |
| 26 | 9:19 | 5:47 | +20 ft (+6 m) | 3:58:09 |
| 26.2 | 8:28 | 5:15 | -16 ft (-5 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Marine Corps Marathon flat or hilly?
The Marine Corps Marathon is moderately rolling (3/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 770 ft (230 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Marine Corps Marathon have?
About 770 ft (230 m) of total ascent and 730 ft (220 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 Marine Corps Marathon course?
Kilometre 3 (near mile 2) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 22% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 10.2%.
When is the Marine Corps Marathon?
The Marine Corps Marathon is typically held on the last Sunday of October. The next edition is expected around October 25, 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Marine Corps Marathon?
The field is roughly 30,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Marine Corps 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 Arlington race
Marathons with a similar profile
- New York City Marathon — 770 ft (230 m) ascent
- Dublin Marathon — 760 ft (230 m) ascent
- Boston Marathon — 770 ft (240 m) ascent
- London Marathon — 770 ft (240 m) ascent
Official race site: https://www.marinemarathon.com/