These Flat and Fast Downhill Marathons May Score You a PR, or Maybe Even Yet a BQ
Although fast, the downhill marathon brings its own set of challenges runners need to prepare for.
If you’re looking to nab that elusive Boston-qualifying time, the race you pick definitely matters. Many runners seek flat courses—like the Chicago Marathon—thinking that a lack of major hills will equate to faster finishing times.
But aside from flat courses, there’s an entirely separate type of marathon that promises speed that runners are flocking to: downhill marathons. Yes, that’s right— fast downhill marathons are a category in and of themselves.
“As the Boston-qualifying frenzy has heated up in recent years, so has the search for downhill marathons,” said Mike Sohaskey, cofounder of RaceRaves. Yes, there is an entire category of downhill marathons designed to help runners PR and potentially nab a BQ. And while some may debate the legitimacy of running your PR on a downhill marathon, they’re here and happening, and many runners are nabbing Boston times on the downhill marathons.
But, before you get excited about flying down these courses, there are some important caveats. One: If you’re signing up for a downhill marathon, you should definitely incorporate downhill running into your training program.
“Many of the courses with 5,000 feet of drop [several are on this list] will absolutely crush your quads,” warned Jessica Murphy, cofounder of BibRave. “While you may benefit from the elevation drop early on, you may overly fatigue your legs later on if they’re not used to the pounding.”
Another tip: Practice downhill running in your race day shoes before you toe the starting line, Murphy added. Why? “Running downhill can give you different hot spots on your feet, and if you haven’t practiced for it, you may be in for some race day foot pain or blisters, especially with some of the newer shoes that have a more significant heel-toe drop.”
Lastly, know that a downhill course is usually significantly above sea level. Racing at high altitude can be challenging, particularly if you’re a runner who lives and trains at a lower elevation. Sohaskey points out the ease of running downhill may help counteract the elevation. In any case, note the race’s starting altitude and take that into account when selecting a downhill race. (Also, keep in mind that race courses must be certified by USA Track and Field, Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), or a national governing body for distance running for the country in which the race is held in order to be eligible as a BQ race.)
With these pointers in mind, read on for a list of nine downhill marathons that might just help you achieve your Boston dreams. We compiled these suggestions with input from Sohaskey and Murphy and also reviewed info pulled from the Boston Marathon website. You can thank us when you get your BQ.
Mesa Marathon
Location: Mesa, Arizona
Date: February 10, 2024
Number of Finishers (2023): 1,924
Percentage of BQ (2023): 23.3 percent
Formerly known as the Phoenix Marathon, this race provides a gentle net elevation loss of nearly 1,000 feet as the course winds from Usery Mountain Regional Park to the town of Mesa, passing cactus-desert scenery and valley views along the way.
Fair warning: Much of the downhill occurs in the first half of the race, especially from the start to mile 4, and then again from miles 6 to 7.5. You should strategize (and save your strength) accordingly. On the plus side, there’s only one climb in the race, which arrives early on (shortly before mile 5). It’s an approximately mile-long hill that gains about 225 feet.
Revel Mt. Charleston
Location: Mt. Charleston to Las Vegas, Nevada
Date: April 1, 2023
Number of Finishers (2022): 1,599
Percentage of BQs (2022): 31.9 percent
The net elevation loss in this Nevada race is a staggering 5,126 feet, but don’t expect extremely dramatic drops. The descent is fairly even along the way with an average grade of 3.7-percent.
Your downhill journey begins in the forests of Kyle Canyon on Mt. Charleston at 7,633 feet above sea level and descends through Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest toward the finish line in Sin City at 2,507 feet. You won’t encounter any significant climbs along the way, but the elevation loss does peter out over the final 5 to 6 miles It’s still downhill; just not as steep. Plan your race strategy accordingly.
Mountains 2 Beach
Location: Ojai to Ventura, California
Date: May 21, 2023
Number of Finishers (2022): 1,314
Percentage of BQ (2022): 19.9 percent
Don’t be fooled by the first 3 miles of this part-mountainous, part-beachside course. They’re slightly uphill—you’ll ascend about 250 feet total—but not indicative of the rest of the primarily downhill race, which charts from downtown Ojai to the oceanside finish in Ventura.
Between miles 3 and 20, you’ll gradually wind your way down, with the exception of several small climbs, including a hill at mile 15 that’s about a 3-percent grade for one-third of a mile. Another small hill arrives at mile 24 (about 1.5-percent grade for about .6 miles) before the flat, beachfront finish.
Revel Rockies
Location: Squaw Mountain to Morrison, Colorado (Denver area)
Date: June 3, 2023
Number of Finishers (2022): 693
Percentage of BQ (2022): 21.4 percent
This course offers significant elevation drop. You’ll begin high in the Rocky Mountains at 10,510 feet and finish in the foothills of Denver at 5,802 feet. Along the way, you’ll peep some seriously soothing scenery (think: pine forests, canyons, rock formations, streams, creeks, and Colorado foliage).
The only climbs on the course come at about the midway mark as you chart through Evergreen Parkway. There are three of them—at miles 11.6, 13.3, and 14.1—and each rises about 50 feet between about .3 and .5 miles. After that, it’s essentially all downhill to the finish.
Super Marathon
Location: Hyak to North Bend, Washington
Date: June 17, 2023
Number of Finishers (2022): 295
Percentage of BQ (2022): 16.6 percent
This small race—the field is capped at 400 runners—delivers a seriously big perk: essentially no climbs—like none. The first 7.5 miles of the point-to-point course are flat, and the last 18.5 miles get even faster, following a gradual downhill that loses about 100 feet per mile all the way to the finish line in North Bend (net elevation loss from start to finish is roughly 1,500 feet).
As you conquer the gravel course, try to soak in your surroundings. Scenic highlights include the Cascade Mountains, railroad trestles, waterfalls, and the shores of Keechelus Lake.
Revel Big Cottonwood
Location: Guardsman Pass to Cottonwood Heights, Utah (Salt Lake City area)
Date: September 9, 2023
Number of Finishers (2022): 984
Percentage of BQ (2022): 27.4 percent
This race begins high—seriously high—at 9,696 feet above sea level. You’ll experience the most significant downhill portion during the first three miles as you fly down Guardsman Pass to Brighton, dropping more than 1,000 feet in the process. Enjoy that extra oxygen you gain because you’ll need it as you tackle a climb at mile 3 that covers about 100 feet in .4 miles.
After that, you’ll be averaging a 5-percent, downhill grade for nearly 15 miles before reaching a nearly 5-mile, out-and-back section at mile 18 that, fair warning, some race reviewers did not enjoy. (Actual words: “wicked” and “boring.”) Yet things look up again during the final two miles, which dip 300 feet to the finish line at 4,441 feet.
World’s Fastest Marathon
Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains to Granada, Spain
Date: October 14, 2023
Number of Finishers (2022): 53
Percentage of BQ (2019): 27 percent
The name of this race is extremely brazen, but not without cause. At the 2019 event (which was the inaugural edition), Kenyan runner Anthony Karinga clocked one of the fastest 30K marathon splits in history (1:25:40) before finishing in 2:09:38.
Perhaps one explanation for such blazing speed is the course dropping a whopping 6,358 feet from the start in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the finish in the historic city of Grenada.
St. George Marathon
Location: St. George, Utah
Date: October 7, 2023
Number of Finishers (2022): 1,381
Percentage of BQ (2022): 15 percent
This point-to-point course begins at 5,240 feet in Utah’s Pine Valley Mountains before sloping down nearly 2,600 feet to the finish line at St. George’s Vernon Worthen Park (elevation: 2,680 feet).
To be clear, the race isn’t all downhill. There are some uphill portions sprinkled throughout, including several climbs between miles 7 and 11 that total about 190-net-feet gained. But, by and large, the descents outnumber the climbs, and race reviewers praise the course for its speed and beautiful desert vistas.
Revel Big Bear
Location: Big Bear, California
Date: November 18, 2023
Number of Finishers (2022): 1,601
Percentage of BQ (2022): 39.8 percent
Topping the list with the highest percentage of Boston qualifiers, this is also the biggest race on our list.
Coined the fastest marathon in California, this downhill Southern California road race has a net drop of 5,083 feet. (The marathon starts at 6,629 feet elevation). Run alongside the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest and maybe nab that PR.
Jenny is a Boulder, Colorado-based health and fitness journalist. She’s been freelancing for Runner’s World since 2015 and especially loves to write human interest profiles, in-depth service pieces and stories that explore the intersection of exercise and mental health. Her work has also been published by SELF, Men’s Journal, and Condé Nast Traveler, among other outlets. When she’s not running or writing, Jenny enjoys coaching youth swimming, rereading Harry Potter, and buying too many houseplants.
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