The Best Net-Downhill Marathons
A course that trends downhill can hand you free speed, as long as your quads can take the pounding. These marathons finish meaningfully lower than they start, so the challenge shifts from your lungs to your legs.
Mon, Apr 19
2027
Boston Marathon
Boston, MA
Hilly
56°F
Avg temp
~29,025
Field
54%
BQ %
Sun, Dec 6
2026
California International Marathon
Sacramento, CA
Net downhill
58°F
Avg temp
~9,100
Field
30%
BQ %
Jun 2027
estimated
Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon
North Bend, WA
Net downhill
56°F
Avg temp
~500
Field
42%
BQ %
Sun, Sep 27
2026
Loch Ness Marathon
Inverness
Rolling
55°F
Avg temp
~4,160
Field
—
BQ %
Sun, Mar 7
2027
Tokyo Marathon
Tokyo
Flat
57°F
Avg temp
~36,175
Field
—
BQ %
Sun, Nov 15
2026
Lehigh Valley Marathon
Allentown, PA
Net downhill
55°F
Avg temp
~388
Field
10%
BQ %
Sat, Apr 24
2027
Salt Lake City Marathon
Salt Lake City, UT
Rolling
53°F
Avg temp
~1,931
Field
3%
BQ %
Sat, Mar 20
2027
Asheville Marathon
Asheville, NC
Rolling
58°F
Avg temp
~576
Field
—
BQ %
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2027
Bank of America Big Sur International Marathon
Carmel, CA
Hilly
60°F
Avg temp
~3,500
Field
10%
BQ %
Sep 2027
estimated
Marquette Marathon
Marquette, MI
Net downhill
66°F
Avg temp
~448
Field
22%
BQ %
Aug 2027
estimated
Sydney Marathon
Sydney
Rolling
64°F
Avg temp
~32,959
Field
—
BQ %
Sun, May 2
2027
Vancouver Marathon
Vancouver
Rolling
61°F
Avg temp
~6,886
Field
7%
BQ %
Sun, Oct 4
2026
Wineglass Marathon
Corning, NY
Net downhill
64°F
Avg temp
~1,971
Field
13%
BQ %
Sun, Mar 7
2027
Napa Valley Marathon
Napa, CA
Net downhill
66°F
Avg temp
~1,942
Field
13%
BQ %
Sun, May 2
2027
Colorado Marathon
Fort Collins, CO
Net downhill
66°F
Avg temp
~1,051
Field
12%
BQ %
Jun 2027
estimated
Anchorage Mayors Marathon
Anchorage, AK
Flat
66°F
Avg temp
~700
Field
—
BQ %
Sat, Dec 12
2026
Phoenix Marathon
Phoenix, AZ
Flat
65°F
Avg temp
~2,372
Field
6%
BQ %
Sat, Apr 3
2027
REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon
Las Vegas, NV
Net downhill
75°F
Avg temp
~1,179
Field
39%
BQ %
Sun, Feb 7
2027
Tallahassee Marathon
Tallahassee, FL
Flat
66°F
Avg temp
~296
Field
7%
BQ %
Sat, Feb 13
2027
Mesa Marathon
Mesa, AZ
Net downhill
73°F
Avg temp
~2,500
Field
16%
BQ %
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