Vancouver Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
Run since 1972 along Vancouver's English Bay and Pacific shoreline, one of Canada's longest-running road marathons. The point-to-point course climbs through the west side, traces the UBC Endowment Lands and Spanish Banks, sweeps around Stanley Park and across the Burrard Bridge to the downtown waterfront finish. Signature climb in the first half.
The Vancouver Marathon is moderately rolling — rated 3/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 950 ft (290 m) and loses 1140 ft (350 m), with a net drop of 59 m (194 ft). Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 9 (near mile 5.5), demanding about 28% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 9.0%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Vancouver, BC, Canada |
| Total ascent | 950 ft (290 m) |
| Total descent | 1140 ft (350 m) |
| Net elevation | -194 ft (-59 m) |
| Steepest grade | 9.0% |
| Difficulty | 3/5 |
| Field size | ≈5,000 runners |
| Race day | First Sunday of May |
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 | 6:17 | 10:06 | +57 ft (+17 m) | 6:17 |
| 2 | 5:33 | 8:56 | -19 ft (-6 m) | 11:49 |
| 3 | 5:34 | 8:58 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 17:24 |
| 4 | 5:52 | 9:26 | +16 ft (+5 m) | 23:15 |
| 5 | 5:09 | 8:18 | -62 ft (-19 m) | 28:25 |
| 6 | 5:04 | 8:10 | -73 ft (-22 m) | 33:29 |
| 7 | 4:51 | 7:48 | -102 ft (-31 m) | 38:20 |
| 8 | 5:37 | 9:02 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 43:57 |
| 9 | 6:17 | 10:07 | +58 ft (+18 m) | 50:14 |
| 10 | 7:17 | 11:43 | +150 ft (+46 m) | 57:30 |
| 11 | 5:57 | 9:34 | +25 ft (+7 m) | 1:03:27 |
| 12 | 5:50 | 9:24 | +11 ft (+3 m) | 1:09:17 |
| 13 | 5:51 | 9:25 | +14 ft (+4 m) | 1:15:08 |
| 14 | 5:40 | 9:06 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 1:20:48 |
| 15 | 5:38 | 9:05 | -8 ft (-2 m) | 1:26:26 |
| 16 | 5:20 | 8:35 | -43 ft (-13 m) | 1:31:46 |
| 17 | 5:51 | 9:25 | +13 ft (+4 m) | 1:37:37 |
| 18 | 5:35 | 9:00 | -14 ft (-4 m) | 1:43:13 |
| 19 | 5:33 | 8:56 | -18 ft (-6 m) | 1:48:46 |
| 20 | 4:31 | 7:17 | -144 ft (-44 m) | 1:53:17 |
| 21 | 5:12 | 8:22 | -59 ft (-18 m) | 1:58:29 |
| 22 | 5:45 | 9:15 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:04:14 |
| 23 | 5:36 | 9:01 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 2:09:50 |
| 24 | 6:20 | 10:11 | +60 ft (+18 m) | 2:16:09 |
| 25 | 5:25 | 8:43 | -35 ft (-11 m) | 2:21:35 |
| 26 | 5:44 | 9:14 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:27:19 |
| 27 | 5:47 | 9:18 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 2:33:06 |
| 28 | 5:22 | 8:39 | -37 ft (-11 m) | 2:38:28 |
| 29 | 5:54 | 9:29 | +19 ft (+6 m) | 2:44:22 |
| 30 | 5:45 | 9:15 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 2:50:06 |
| 31 | 5:53 | 9:29 | +9 ft (+3 m) | 2:56:00 |
| 32 | 5:29 | 8:49 | -25 ft (-8 m) | 3:01:29 |
| 33 | 5:37 | 9:02 | -11 ft (-3 m) | 3:07:05 |
| 34 | 5:57 | 9:35 | +26 ft (+8 m) | 3:13:03 |
| 35 | 5:41 | 9:09 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 3:18:44 |
| 36 | 5:44 | 9:14 | +1 ft (0 m) | 3:24:28 |
| 37 | 5:36 | 9:01 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 3:30:04 |
| 38 | 5:42 | 9:10 | -1 ft (0 m) | 3:35:46 |
| 39 | 5:49 | 9:21 | +11 ft (+3 m) | 3:41:35 |
| 40 | 5:35 | 8:59 | -13 ft (-4 m) | 3:47:10 |
| 41 | 5:42 | 9:11 | -1 ft (0 m) | 3:52:52 |
| 42 | 6:11 | 9:57 | +49 ft (+15 m) | 3:59:03 |
| 42.1 | 6:20 | 10:12 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vancouver Marathon flat or hilly?
The Vancouver Marathon is moderately rolling (3/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 950 ft (290 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Vancouver Marathon have?
About 950 ft (290 m) of total ascent and 1140 ft (350 m) of descent, for a net change of -194 ft (-59 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 Vancouver Marathon course?
Kilometre 9 (near mile 5.5) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 28% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 9.0%.
When is the Vancouver Marathon?
The Vancouver Marathon is typically held on the first Sunday of May. The next edition is expected around May 2, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Vancouver Marathon?
The field is roughly 5,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Vancouver 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 Vancouver race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Los Angeles Marathon — 940 ft (290 m) ascent
- Detroit Free Press Marathon — 970 ft (300 m) ascent
- Barcelona Marathon — 920 ft (280 m) ascent
- Charlotte Marathon — 1010 ft (310 m) ascent
Official race site: https://bmovanmarathon.ca/