Surf City Marathon.
The Surf City Marathon is run on Super Bowl Sunday along the Pacific Coast Highway at Huntington Beach - the town that trademarked the name Surf City USA. The course is about as flat as a marathon gets: 86 per cent of it is flat ground, and the only climb waits at kilometre 13.5.
Surf City Marathon 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
Start and finish sit on the Pacific Coast Highway at Huntington Street. The course first runs northwest up Seapoint Street and Overlook Drive, turns through Huntington Central Park and comes back to the highway; from there it stays with the water - the Bolsa Chica Bike Trail and the PCH out to the turnaround at Warner Avenue, then back past the pier to the finish.
The profile holds exactly one rise: at kilometre 13.55, a 380-metre climb averaging a good four per cent and touching almost seven, worth 16 metres. Nothing else. Over the full distance the total comes to 70 to 125 metres depending on smoothing, and the route never leaves the band between sea level and about 30 metres - what the organiser describes as sea level to roughly a hundred feet.
The setting is the point: a wide coastal highway on the Pacific, beach on one side, the Bolsa Chica wetlands on the other, and the Huntington Beach Pier as the landmark you pass twice. In early February the Southern California coast is cool and damp, often under a marine layer in the morning, with the wind turning onshore as the day goes on.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 13.6 | 0.4 km | 4.3 % | 6.8 % | +16 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Surf City Marathon.
Start under control
A course without climbs means nothing slows you down and nothing excuses you. Over the first twelve kilometres it is easy to run ten or fifteen seconds per kilometre too fast, and because the road is wide and quick you notice late. Set your pace before the start and run a boring first half.
Hold your rhythm
The short climb at kilometre 13.5 is not a difficulty, but it is the race's only change of rhythm - carry the same effort over it and do not surge at the top. After that comes the long highway section, and this is where the race is decided: kilometres of straight road without reference points, at the same gradient and the same cadence. Run that alone and you lose pace without registering it.
Spend what is left
The real opponent is wind on the way back. The coast at Huntington Beach has a pronounced onshore breeze that builds through the morning - what pushes you outbound stands against you over the last twelve kilometres. Budget for it rather than planning an even split across the whole distance, and find a group for the return.
Training plan for Surf City Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
For an age-group runner this is three to five hours of even aerobic work. The course asks for no climbing strength, no technique and no altitude - it asks you to hold one pace for a very long time without interruption, which is harder than it sounds.
Train race pace
The emphasis belongs on long runs with a large share at marathon pace: blocks of 25 to 32 kilometres with most of the distance at race pace, plus threshold sessions. Short hill repetitions are not needed here; a few moderate rises under fatigue are enough so that the climb at kilometre 13.5 is not a foreign body.
Rehearse the course
Two things this course forces are worth training specifically. Wind first: long runs on open coastal or exposed routes, deliberately planned so the second half runs into it. Monotony second - put part of your long runs on long, straight, featureless roads so that pace survives without changing scenery.
Arrive fresh
An early-February date means a winter build for most runners and a race day around ten to fifteen degrees, in damp ocean air, possibly under cloud. If you are travelling from a cold winter, do not overdress for the last long sessions: the coastal air is mild, and overheating on the open highway kilometres is a more realistic risk than getting cold.
Courses
Download the Surf City Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Surf City Marathon dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Surf City Marathon.
How long is Surf City Marathon?
Surf City Marathon is 42.2 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Surf City Marathon have?
Surf City Marathon has around 125 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Surf City Marathon?
Surf City Marathon is classified as Flat, averaging 2.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 86% of the route is flat, 8% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Surf City Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Surf City Marathon starts at kilometre 13.6, runs for 0.4 km at an average of 4.3% and gains 16 metres.
Is Surf City Marathon a loop course?
Yes, Surf City Marathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Surf City Marathon course?
Yes. The Surf City Marathon course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Surf City Marathon?
Preparation for Surf City Marathon should account for 42.2 km, 125 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Surf City Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Surf City Marathon should reflect 42.2 km, 125 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Surf City Marathon take place?
Surf City Marathon takes place on February 7, 2027.
Where does Surf City Marathon take place?
Surf City Marathon takes place in Huntington Beach, United States.
Which distances does Surf City Marathon offer?
Surf City Marathon offers 4 distances — Marathon: 42.2 km; Half Marathon: 21.1 km; 5K: 5 km; Beach Mile: 1.61 km.
How do I register for Surf City Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: runsurfcity.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
