San Diego

The San Diego Marathon features a point-to-point course that showcases the city’s diverse neighborhoods and coastal scenery. Starting inland, the race begins with rolling terrain and a gradual climb through the early kilometers, before transitioning into a long downhill section that drops runners toward sea level. The middle portion of the course is relatively flat, allowing for steady pacing as runners pass through urban streets and park areas. In the later stages, a notable climb around 35 km provides a final challenge before the course trends downhill again toward the finish near the waterfront. The net downhill profile makes it a potentially fast course, but the late elevation change requires careful pacing.