Mountains 2 Beach Marathon

Location: California
Country: United States
Website: https://www.mountains2beachmarathon.com/
2025 Marathon Date: 13/04/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 19/04/2026
Winning Time 2025: 02:30:49
% Sub-3s: 5-10%
# Sub-3s: 100–499
Total Runners: 1k–3k

Mountains 2 Beach is a spring marathon held in California, known for its net downhill profile and high conversion rate of fast amateur times. The race begins in the hills outside Ojai and follows a gradual descent toward the coastal city of Ventura, with most of the route tracking a bike path and lightly trafficked roads.

The course is popular among Boston Qualifier chasers and sub-3 hopefuls due to its elevation profile. While not steep, the descent is consistent enough to aid pace maintenance over long stretches, especially in the first half. The second half flattens out slightly as runners move closer to sea level, but the overall structure remains fast.

Late May weather in coastal California is generally cool in the early morning, warming gradually as the sun rises. Conditions are usually dry, and the rural start helps avoid urban heat effects. However, runners should still be prepared for possible headwinds in the latter miles as the course approaches the beach.

Organisation is tight, with a strong emphasis on pacing, logistics and runner support. While the race is relatively small, it features clear kilometre markers, frequent aid stations and a straightforward point-to-point transport system. Crowd support is light in rural sections but picks up near the finish line.

Mountains 2 Beach is one of the most time-efficient marathons in the U.S. for sub-3 aspirants. Its combination of early season timing, generous descent and consistent weather make it a strategic choice for those targeting qualification goals or personal bests. While not a major city marathon, it consistently punches above its weight in terms of fast finishes and race-day execution.