How do I enter the Modesto Marathon?

Registration is open to all through RunSignUp. There's no lottery or qualifying standard. Prices increase closer to race day, and late registration is available up to race morning.

Is the Modesto Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, it is a certified Boston qualifier. The flat course and cool morning temperatures make it a realistic option if you're targeting a BQ time.

What is the time limit?

The time limit is 7 hours, giving a wide window for runners of varied paces to complete the course.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is essentially flat, with only 100 feet of cumulative gain and 100 feet of loss across the full out-and-back. The net elevation change is zero, so there are no significant hills to plan for.

What should I expect for race-day weather?

Mornings are typically cool, around 41°F at the start, warming into the low 70s by the afternoon. Conditions are generally dry with a low chance of rain, but later finishers may feel the midday warmth.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Modesto Marathon course is USATF certified, which means your finishing time is valid for qualifying purposes including Boston.

How large is the field?

The field is small, with recent editions finishing around 400 runners. This gives the race a low-key atmosphere with no large crowds or complex wave starts.

Sun, Apr 4 · 2027Modesto, CASince 2010

Modesto Marathon

Modesto's out-and-back course sits at nearly sea level with minimal elevation change, making it one of the more honest PR setups in California. Cool mornings and a straightforward entry make it easy to commit.

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MODESTO · US

Modesto

SUN, APR 4

2027

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Race Overview

EST. 2010

Modesto is a low-key race in the Central Valley that delivers something genuinely useful: a flat, USATF-certified course with open registration and a generous time limit. The out-and-back layout means you see the course twice, which is either reassuring or a little blunt depending on your day. You start in the cool morning air, often around 40 degrees, and if you're chasing a time, that first half is yours to bank on. Don't go out fast just because it feels easy. The course will give you nothing extra, but it won't take anything away either.

This is a small field, which means no crowds to get swept up in and no corrals to navigate. Entry is open and straightforward through RunSignUp, and registration stays available right up to race morning, so you don't need to plan a year out. It qualifies for Boston, and the flat profile means the course itself isn't the obstacle. If you've run your fitness and you execute your pacing, this race will reflect that honestly. Good option if you want a no-fuss shot at a time goal without fighting a lottery or flying somewhere big.

Field size

~403

403 finishers

BQ rate

—

Boston qualifier

Time limit

7:00

Generous cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:16:45

CJ Albertson

2019

Women

2:39:04

Anna Bretan

2015

The Course

100 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑100 ft

Total descent

↓100 ft

Net elevation

↑0 ft

Highest point

108 ft

Lowest point

34 ft

Course shape

Out and back

Same route, both directions

The course is a true out-and-back running through the Central Valley, with only 100 feet of gain and 100 feet of loss across 26.2 miles. The highest point sits at 108 feet, the lowest at 34 feet, so there are no meaningful climbs to plan around. The flat profile rewards even pacing: go out controlled and the second half mirrors the first. Cool morning temperatures support a fast first half, but the course can warm noticeably by the time later finishers are closing out. Surface is road throughout. The absence of net elevation change means any time loss comes from pacing errors, not the terrain. This is a course where your fitness is the main variable.

DIFFICULTYFLATPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

41°F

High

72°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

April in Modesto means a cold start and a warm finish. You'll likely be in layers at the gun, but by the back half of an out-and-back course with little shade, temperatures can climb into the low 70s. That gap between morning and midday is the thing to plan around. Don't overdress, and start hydrating early. If you're chasing a time, the cooler morning miles are your window. Don't burn them.

Entry

OPEN

Runners register online through RunSignUp. Registration is open to all participants with prices increasing closer to race day. Late registration available up to race day morning.

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Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

SJC

54 mi

from the start

≈ 85 min transferManageable drive

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into SJC, about 54 miles from the start, a manageable drive by rideshare or transit, roughly a 85-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Modesto, CA so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.

Frequently Asked

7 questions

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