Sydney Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
The newest World Marathon Major, added in 2024. Starts at North Sydney, crosses the Harbour Bridge in the first kilometre, and finishes in front of the Opera House. Net-descending overall, but three significant climbs past halfway through the eastern suburbs make it surprisingly demanding.
The Sydney Marathon is among the hilliest big-city marathons — rated 5/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 2000 ft (610 m) and loses 2260 ft (690 m), with a net drop of 80 m (262 ft). Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 13 (near mile 8), demanding about 42% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 21.4%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Sydney, NSW, Australia |
| Total ascent | 2000 ft (610 m) |
| Total descent | 2260 ft (690 m) |
| Net elevation | -262 ft (-80 m) |
| Steepest grade | 21.4% |
| Difficulty | 5/5 |
| Field size | ≈25,000 runners |
| Race day | Mid-September |
Kilometre-by-kilometre 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 kilometres 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.
| Kilometre | GAP pace /km | GAP pace /mi | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:02 | 8:06 | -95 ft (-29 m) | 5:02 |
| 2 | 4:37 | 7:25 | -159 ft (-48 m) | 9:39 |
| 3 | 6:25 | 10:19 | +64 ft (+19 m) | 16:03 |
| 4 | 6:47 | 10:55 | -55 ft (-17 m) | 22:50 |
| 5 | 5:32 | 8:54 | -23 ft (-7 m) | 28:22 |
| 6 | 6:01 | 9:41 | +35 ft (+11 m) | 34:23 |
| 7 | 5:08 | 8:16 | -59 ft (-18 m) | 39:31 |
| 8 | 5:43 | 9:12 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 45:14 |
| 9 | 6:25 | 10:19 | +82 ft (+25 m) | 51:39 |
| 10 | 5:13 | 8:23 | -54 ft (-16 m) | 56:52 |
| 11 | 6:12 | 9:59 | +1 ft (0 m) | 1:03:04 |
| 12 | 5:30 | 8:52 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 1:08:35 |
| 13 | 5:48 | 9:20 | +20 ft (+6 m) | 1:14:22 |
| 14 | 7:55 | 12:45 | +209 ft (+64 m) | 1:22:17 |
| 15 | 5:20 | 8:35 | -61 ft (-19 m) | 1:27:38 |
| 16 | 5:02 | 8:06 | -75 ft (-23 m) | 1:32:40 |
| 17 | 6:17 | 10:07 | +69 ft (+21 m) | 1:38:57 |
| 18 | 5:15 | 8:28 | -36 ft (-11 m) | 1:44:12 |
| 19 | 5:11 | 8:20 | -50 ft (-15 m) | 1:49:23 |
| 20 | 5:48 | 9:20 | +21 ft (+6 m) | 1:55:11 |
| 21 | 5:25 | 8:43 | -20 ft (-6 m) | 2:00:35 |
| 22 | 5:33 | 8:56 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 2:06:08 |
| 23 | 5:27 | 8:47 | -14 ft (-4 m) | 2:11:36 |
| 24 | 5:42 | 9:10 | +12 ft (+4 m) | 2:17:17 |
| 25 | 5:37 | 9:02 | +4 ft (+1 m) | 2:22:54 |
| 26 | 5:54 | 9:29 | +31 ft (+9 m) | 2:28:48 |
| 27 | 5:53 | 9:28 | +29 ft (+9 m) | 2:34:41 |
| 28 | 5:19 | 8:34 | -31 ft (-9 m) | 2:40:00 |
| 29 | 5:37 | 9:02 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:45:37 |
| 30 | 5:28 | 8:48 | -16 ft (-5 m) | 2:51:05 |
| 31 | 5:57 | 9:35 | +36 ft (+11 m) | 2:57:02 |
| 32 | 5:46 | 9:17 | +20 ft (+6 m) | 3:02:48 |
| 33 | 5:22 | 8:38 | -24 ft (-7 m) | 3:08:10 |
| 34 | 5:26 | 8:44 | -18 ft (-6 m) | 3:13:35 |
| 35 | 6:02 | 9:42 | +46 ft (+14 m) | 3:19:37 |
| 36 | 5:37 | 9:02 | 0 ft (0 m) | 3:25:14 |
| 37 | 5:33 | 8:56 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 3:30:47 |
| 38 | 5:04 | 8:09 | -70 ft (-21 m) | 3:35:51 |
| 39 | 4:59 | 8:02 | -75 ft (-23 m) | 3:40:50 |
| 40 | 5:57 | 9:35 | +36 ft (+11 m) | 3:46:47 |
| 41 | 5:57 | 9:35 | +35 ft (+11 m) | 3:52:45 |
| 42 | 6:13 | 10:00 | +51 ft (+15 m) | 3:58:57 |
| 42.2 | 5:21 | 8:37 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sydney Marathon flat or hilly?
The Sydney Marathon is among the hilliest big-city marathons (5/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 2000 ft (610 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Sydney Marathon have?
About 2000 ft (610 m) of total ascent and 2260 ft (690 m) of descent, for a net change of -262 ft (-80 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 Sydney Marathon course?
Kilometre 13 (near mile 8) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 42% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 21.4%.
When is the Sydney Marathon?
The Sydney Marathon is typically held in mid-September. The next edition is expected around September 15, 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Sydney Marathon?
The field is roughly 25,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Sydney 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 Sydney race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Tokyo Marathon — 1740 ft (530 m) ascent
- Austin Marathon — 1070 ft (330 m) ascent
- Charlotte Marathon — 1010 ft (310 m) ascent
- Detroit Free Press Marathon — 970 ft (300 m) ascent
Official race site: https://sydneymarathon.com/