Contemplative
21.1 km
6:00 /km
Coastal half at cliff pace.
Photo · Big Sur Race Library
Big Sur, California, USA·North America·AprilIconic
Big Sur International Marathon
Coastal, hilly, wild.
Snapped to real footpaths · Garmin · Strava · AllTrails · Komoot · Coros · Wahoo · Apple Watch · outdooractive
- Official distance
- 42.195 km · 21.1 km
- Elevation gain
- +610m
- Mindful tempo
- 5:35 /km — oceanic
- Character
- Coastal, hilly, wild
Highway 1 closed to cars for a day — Pacific cliffs, Bixby Bridge, grand piano at halfway.
Because moving beside water borrows its willingness; the current does part of the pacing for you.
The Pacific keeps time. Do not chase pace — chase presence.
Course
Open in OpenStreetMap Map & elevation profile
Course line · live Xymove map
Xymove · rendering the line
Xymove Map
42.195 km loop
Live · pinch, drag, zoom36.270, -121.808
Elevation profile
+610 m gainPeak 610 m · 42.195 km
Elevation profile: total gain 610 metres, peak 610 m above start, low 0 m.A physical profile — respect the ascents; let the descents restore the breath.
Big Sur, California36.270, -121.808
Race Day
Practical & atmospheric notes
Kind shoulder-season conditions — mild mornings, arm-sleeves off by kilometre eight for most runners.
A warm regional start — clubs in matching kit, coffee vans, a local mayor with a microphone. Human-scale and unhurried.
Loyal, knowledgeable crowd at trail-heads and villages. Deep silence between — the wind and your breath as company.
Nearly the whole race is a quiet segment. Save the deepest presence for kilometres 17–25 where the land narrows.
Mixed trail · packed earth · occasional rock
Race day is genuine trail terrain with elevation. Wheelchair and stroller access is not viable on the official line — a paved shorter alternative in the host city is suggested under recovery variations.
WheelchairStroller
Recovery
Point Lobos walk, warm chowder.
Along the line
Course imagery
Soul-Tuned Variations
One race, three ways to run it.
Recovery echo
6 km
6:40 /km
Sand beach shuffle.
Stronger
42.195 km
4:50 /km
Push the flats, ease the hills.
One shared standard · Four tempos
The PureSoul family moves with the same heart. Choose the tempo the day is asking for.
Visit sister site
PureSoul Walking
Soft, restorative · step-free, wheelchair friendly
Open
You are here
PureSoul Running
Only forward · run with the land
Continue here
Visit sister site
PureSoul Hiking
Forest-grounded · deeper trails, longer days
Open
Visit sister site
PureSoul Cycling
Long, open lines · quiet lanes, long horizons
Open
Visit the PureSoul Family hub
Shared maps · shared GPX engine · shared Soul Signature language. Whichever door you enter, the craft standard is the same.