Mesa Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
A net-1,000-foot-downhill point-to-point from Usery Mountain through Mesa to Riverview Park — the fastest course on this list. The opening miles plummet through desert terrain before flattening into the second half. February dawn temperatures in the 40s–60s are ideal. The only real risk is overcooking the early downhill and blowing your quads.
The Mesa 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 260 ft (80 m) and loses 1120 ft (340 m), with a net drop of 263 m (863 ft). Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 8 (near mile 5), demanding about 17% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 3.7%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Mesa, AZ, USA |
| Total ascent | 260 ft (80 m) |
| Total descent | 1120 ft (340 m) |
| Net elevation | -863 ft (-263 m) |
| Steepest grade | 3.7% |
| Difficulty | 1/5 |
| Field size | ≈3,000 runners |
| Race day | Second Saturday 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 | 8:11 | 5:05 | -139 ft (-42 m) | 8:11 |
| 2 | 8:37 | 5:21 | -92 ft (-28 m) | 16:48 |
| 3 | 8:31 | 5:17 | -102 ft (-31 m) | 25:18 |
| 4 | 8:33 | 5:19 | -96 ft (-29 m) | 33:51 |
| 5 | 10:29 | 6:31 | +103 ft (+31 m) | 44:21 |
| 6 | 10:04 | 6:16 | +56 ft (+17 m) | 54:25 |
| 7 | 8:03 | 5:00 | -157 ft (-48 m) | 1:02:28 |
| 8 | 9:02 | 5:37 | -44 ft (-14 m) | 1:11:30 |
| 9 | 8:52 | 5:31 | -62 ft (-19 m) | 1:20:22 |
| 10 | 8:52 | 5:30 | -64 ft (-19 m) | 1:29:13 |
| 11 | 9:21 | 5:49 | -10 ft (-3 m) | 1:38:35 |
| 12 | 8:53 | 5:31 | -59 ft (-18 m) | 1:47:28 |
| 13 | 9:13 | 5:43 | -24 ft (-7 m) | 1:56:41 |
| 14 | 9:12 | 5:43 | -25 ft (-8 m) | 2:05:53 |
| 15 | 9:18 | 5:47 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 2:15:11 |
| 16 | 9:16 | 5:46 | -18 ft (-5 m) | 2:24:27 |
| 17 | 9:17 | 5:46 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 2:33:44 |
| 18 | 9:17 | 5:46 | -16 ft (-5 m) | 2:43:01 |
| 19 | 9:17 | 5:46 | -16 ft (-5 m) | 2:52:19 |
| 20 | 9:25 | 5:51 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 3:01:44 |
| 21 | 9:22 | 5:49 | -8 ft (-3 m) | 3:11:05 |
| 22 | 9:27 | 5:52 | +1 ft (0 m) | 3:20:33 |
| 23 | 9:30 | 5:54 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 3:30:03 |
| 24 | 9:27 | 5:52 | +1 ft (0 m) | 3:39:30 |
| 25 | 9:21 | 5:48 | -10 ft (-3 m) | 3:48:51 |
| 26 | 9:06 | 5:39 | -38 ft (-12 m) | 3:57:57 |
| 26.2 | 9:23 | 5:50 | -2 ft (0 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mesa Marathon flat or hilly?
The Mesa Marathon is exceptionally flat and fast (1/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 260 ft (80 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Mesa Marathon have?
About 260 ft (80 m) of total ascent and 1120 ft (340 m) of descent, for a net change of -863 ft (-263 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 Mesa Marathon course?
Kilometre 8 (near mile 5) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 17% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 3.7%.
When is the Mesa Marathon?
The Mesa Marathon is typically held on the second Saturday of February. The next edition is expected around February 13, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Mesa Marathon?
The field is roughly 3,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Mesa 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 Mesa race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Chevron Houston Marathon — 270 ft (80 m) ascent
- Chicago Marathon — 230 ft (70 m) ascent
- Bayshore Marathon — 350 ft (110 m) ascent
- Toronto Marathon — 380 ft (120 m) ascent
Official race site: https://mesamarathon.com