Toronto Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
Run since 2000 along Lake Ontario's edge, Canada's flagship road race and a primary North American Boston qualifier. The course starts on University Avenue, sweeps west to High Park along Lakeshore Boulevard, doubles back through the Beaches, then finishes near Bay and Wellington. Just 116 m of ascent and reliably cool mornings.
The Toronto 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 380 ft (120 m) and loses 420 ft (130 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 32 (near mile 20), demanding about 4% more effort than the same distance on flat ground.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Toronto, ON, Canada |
| Total ascent | 380 ft (120 m) |
| Total descent | 420 ft (130 m) |
| Net elevation | -39 ft (-12 m) |
| Steepest grade | 2.5% |
| Difficulty | 1/5 |
| Field size | ≈8,000 runners |
| Race day | Third Sunday of October |
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 | 5:56 | 9:33 | +23 ft (+7 m) | 5:56 |
| 2 | 5:52 | 9:27 | +18 ft (+5 m) | 11:48 |
| 3 | 5:45 | 9:15 | +5 ft (+2 m) | 17:33 |
| 4 | 5:28 | 8:48 | -24 ft (-7 m) | 23:02 |
| 5 | 5:22 | 8:38 | -37 ft (-11 m) | 28:23 |
| 6 | 5:15 | 8:27 | -50 ft (-15 m) | 33:38 |
| 7 | 5:42 | 9:10 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 39:20 |
| 8 | 5:42 | 9:11 | 0 ft (0 m) | 45:02 |
| 9 | 5:43 | 9:12 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 50:45 |
| 10 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 56:24 |
| 11 | 5:44 | 9:14 | +4 ft (+1 m) | 1:02:09 |
| 12 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:07:48 |
| 13 | 5:42 | 9:10 | -1 ft (0 m) | 1:13:30 |
| 14 | 5:40 | 9:08 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 1:19:10 |
| 15 | 5:46 | 9:17 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 1:24:56 |
| 16 | 5:41 | 9:08 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 1:30:36 |
| 17 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 1:36:16 |
| 18 | 5:48 | 9:20 | +11 ft (+3 m) | 1:42:05 |
| 19 | 5:38 | 9:04 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 1:47:43 |
| 20 | 5:44 | 9:13 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 1:53:26 |
| 21 | 5:41 | 9:09 | -1 ft (0 m) | 1:59:08 |
| 22 | 5:39 | 9:06 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 2:04:47 |
| 23 | 5:41 | 9:08 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 2:10:27 |
| 24 | 5:43 | 9:12 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 2:16:11 |
| 25 | 5:40 | 9:08 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 2:21:51 |
| 26 | 5:41 | 9:09 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 2:27:32 |
| 27 | 5:48 | 9:19 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 2:33:19 |
| 28 | 5:36 | 9:01 | -11 ft (-3 m) | 2:38:55 |
| 29 | 5:42 | 9:11 | +1 ft (0 m) | 2:44:38 |
| 30 | 5:47 | 9:18 | +8 ft (+2 m) | 2:50:24 |
| 31 | 5:40 | 9:06 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 2:56:04 |
| 32 | 5:48 | 9:20 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 3:01:52 |
| 33 | 5:57 | 9:35 | +26 ft (+8 m) | 3:07:49 |
| 34 | 5:29 | 8:50 | -23 ft (-7 m) | 3:13:18 |
| 35 | 5:35 | 8:59 | -13 ft (-4 m) | 3:18:53 |
| 36 | 5:43 | 9:12 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 3:24:36 |
| 37 | 5:39 | 9:05 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 3:30:15 |
| 38 | 5:41 | 9:09 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:35:56 |
| 39 | 5:49 | 9:21 | +12 ft (+4 m) | 3:41:45 |
| 40 | 5:40 | 9:08 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 3:47:25 |
| 41 | 5:44 | 9:13 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 3:53:09 |
| 42 | 5:53 | 9:29 | +20 ft (+6 m) | 3:59:02 |
| 42.2 | 6:04 | 9:46 | +6 ft (+2 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Toronto Marathon flat or hilly?
The Toronto Marathon is exceptionally flat and fast (1/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 380 ft (120 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Toronto Marathon have?
About 380 ft (120 m) of total ascent and 420 ft (130 m) of descent, for a net change of -39 ft (-12 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 Toronto Marathon course?
Kilometre 32 (near mile 20) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 4% more effort than flat running.
When is the Toronto Marathon?
The Toronto Marathon is typically held on the third Sunday of October. The next edition is expected around October 18, 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Toronto Marathon?
The field is roughly 8,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Toronto 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 Toronto race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Bayshore Marathon — 350 ft (110 m) ascent
- Honolulu Marathon — 440 ft (140 m) ascent
- Chevron Houston Marathon — 270 ft (80 m) ascent
- Mesa Marathon — 260 ft (80 m) ascent
Official race site: https://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/