The 10 Hardest U.S. Marathons — Ranked by the Data
Every marathon is 26.2 miles. But not every 26.2 miles feels the same.
To rank the hardest U.S. marathons, Action Network analyzed 25 major races using two measurable factors: course difficulty and real-world finish results. We examined elevation gain, slope, and estimated pace impact from Go&Race, then paired that with historical finish-time averages and variability from MarathonGuide.
Each race received two normalized 0–100 scores—one for Course Ease and one for Finish Feasibility. We weighted them equally to produce a final Finishability Score, reflecting how demanding each marathon environment is relative to the others in the study.
In this ranking, “hardest” refers to the races that combine more disruptive terrain with wider finish-time spread—the conditions most likely to test consistency over 26.2 miles.
Key Findings
- Honolulu ranks as the No. 1 hardest U.S. marathon, posting the lowest Finishability Score (26.2) and the slowest average finish time in the study at 6:17:36.
- Kauai (No. 2) and Los Angeles (No. 3) round out the top three hardest races—Kauai records a Finishability Score of 26.7, while Los Angeles combines 191 meters of climbing with a 5:18:31 average finish time, one of the slowest among major-city races.
- San Francisco ranks No. 4 hardest despite being the steepest course—it climbs 353 meters and is estimated to run 5.4% slower than a flat marathon, the largest terrain-driven slowdown in the dataset.
- Boston ranks as the No. 2 easiest overall, pairing a 74.2 Finishability Score with the fastest average finish time analyzed (3:38:07) despite 166 meters of elevation gain.
- Chicago ranks 11th overall—proving flat doesn’t automatically mean easy—with just 5 meters of ascent, it still posts a 4:21:56 average finish time and a finish-time spread of more than one hour.
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The 10 Hardest U.S. Marathons
1. Honolulu Marathon (Honolulu, HI)
Finishability Score: 26.2
Average Finish Time: 6:17:36
Honolulu ranks as the hardest marathon in the study. While the course includes just 85 meters of climbing and is largely flat, its finish data tells a different story. The 2024 average finish time was 6:17:36—the slowest in the dataset—with a 1:43:57 finish-time spread, nearly double that of many mainland races. The terrain isn’t extreme. The variability is.
2. Kauai Marathon (Kauai, HI)
Finishability Score: 26.7
Total Ascent: 203 meters
Average Finish Time: 4:59:48
Kauai pairs meaningful elevation with limited flat terrain (just 67.7% classified as flat) and an estimated 3.7% slowdown compared to a flat course. Its average finish time sits just under five hours, with a wide 1:10:02 spread. Sustained rolling terrain combined with performance dispersion pushes it firmly into the top two hardest.
3. Los Angeles Marathon (Los Angeles, CA)
Finishability Score: 36.6
Total Ascent: 191 meters
Average Finish Time: 5:18:31
Los Angeles combines steady elevation with one of the slowest average finish times among major U.S. marathons. The 2025 race averaged 5:18:31, with a 1:14:49 finish-time spread. Large, open-entry fields tend to widen performance gaps. LA’s numbers reflect that.
4. San Francisco Marathon (San Francisco, CA)
Finishability Score: 48.1
Total Ascent: 353 meters
Estimated Pace Impact: 5.4% slower than flat
San Francisco is the steepest course in the study, with aggressive climbs and descents including downhill grades as steep as -23%. The terrain is estimated to slow runners by 5.4% compared to a flat course — the largest slowdown in the dataset. Yet it ranks fourth, not first, because its finish-time variability (49:24) is tighter than Hawaii’s races. Hills drive difficulty. Volatility drives rank.
5. Maui Oceanfront Marathon (Wailea, HI)
Finishability Score: 48.3
Total Ascent: 149 meters
Average Finish Time: 4:59:39
Maui blends moderate elevation with a nearly five-hour average finish time and a 1:01:58 finish spread. It’s not the steepest race in the study, but its performance variability keeps it inside the top five hardest. Consistency, not just elevation, defines difficulty here.
6–10: Snapshot Rankings
- Walt Disney World Marathon (Orlando, FL)
Finishability Score: 50.4
Flat terrain (46 meters ascent), but a 5:52:29 average finish time—one of the slowest outside Hawaii—increases structural difficulty. - Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon (Anchorage, AK)
Finishability Score: 50.8
204 meters of climbing paired with a 4:43:14 average finish time and moderate finish variability. - Flying Pig Marathon (Cincinnati, OH)
Finishability Score: 52.1
Rolling terrain (119 meters ascent) and a 4:32:46 average finish time place it inside the hardest tier. - Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego Marathon (San Diego, CA)
Finishability Score: 52.4
182 meters of elevation and a 4:51:34 average finish time signal sustained fatigue over distance. - Marine Corps Marathon (Dumfries, VA)
Finishability Score: 55.2
168 meters of climbing and a 4:36:39 average finish time keep it at the edge of the top 10 hardest.
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The 5 Easiest U.S. Marathons
1. California International Marathon (Sacramento, CA)
Finishability Score: 76.5 (Highest in Study)
Total Ascent: 23 meters
Average Finish Time: 3:51:36
California International ranks as the most finish-friendly marathon analyzed. The course features just 23 meters of climbing and is estimated to run slightly faster than a flat benchmark. Its 3:51:36 average finish time is the fastest among the 25 races studied, with a tight 52:40 performance spread. Minimal terrain disruption plus consistent finish clustering make CIM the most forgiving environment in the dataset.
2. Boston Marathon (Boston, MA)
Finishability Score: 74.2
Total Ascent: 166 meters
Average Finish Time: 3:38:07
Boston is not flat—it climbs 166 meters—but it ranks second easiest overall. Why? Its average finish time of 3:38:07 is the fastest in the study, and its finish-time spread (39:49) is the tightest. Qualification standards narrow the field. That consistency shows up in the data.
3. Houston Marathon (Houston, TX)
Finishability Score: 73.1
Total Ascent: 40 meters
Estimated Pace Impact: 0.1% slower than flat
Average Finish Time: 4:12:50
Houston pairs near-flat terrain with a modest 0.1% estimated slowdown versus a flat course. The 4:12:50 average finish time sits well below most large-field races, and variability remains controlled at 51:01. Flat and predictable remains a winning formula.
4. Surf City Marathon (Huntington Beach, CA)
Finishability Score: 71.9
Total Ascent: 115 meters
Average Finish Time: 4:31:01
Surf City blends moderate elevation with relatively tight finish clustering (53:25 spread). While not as flat as Chicago or Houston, its field performance remains steady year to year. Moderate terrain, moderate dispersion, manageable overall demand.
5. Detroit Free Press Marathon (Detroit, MI)
Finishability Score: 71.0
Total Ascent: 25 meters
Average Finish Time: 4:32:12
Detroit features just 25 meters of climbing and a tightly clustered 53:17 finish spread. Despite an average finish time just over 4:30, its terrain simplicity keeps structural difficulty low. Flat courses don’t guarantee fast finishes—but they reduce volatility.
Full Data Table
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Expert Insight
Action Network Data Analyst
“Hills matter—but they’re only part of the story. The toughest marathons are the ones where elevation and wide finish-time gaps combine, making it harder for runners to hold pace and stay consistent over 26.2 miles.”
What the Data Reveals
Every marathon covers the same 26.2 miles—but the environment surrounding those miles changes everything.
This analysis shows that difficulty isn’t dictated by elevation alone. Some of the steepest courses didn’t rank as the hardest overall, while several flatter races still proved demanding because of a wide finish-time spread. When terrain and performance variability compound, the data reflects it—in slower averages, wider spreads, and lower Finishability Scores.
For runners choosing a race, that distinction matters. The hills are visible on a course map. Finish-time volatility isn’t. And over 26.2 miles, both shape how demanding the day ultimately becomes.
Methodology
Action Network analyzed 25 major U.S. marathons to determine which race environments are most and least finish-friendly.
Each race was evaluated using two equally weighted factors:
- Course Difficulty: Elevation gain, slope, flat sections, and estimated pace impact based on Go&Race course data.
- Finish Results: Average finish time and finish-time spread from the most recent available results on MarathonGuide.
All metrics were normalized on a 0–100 scale to allow direct comparison across races. The two components were weighted equally to produce a final Finishability Score, which ranks marathons relative to one another in this study.
The rankings reflect structural difficulty based on terrain and real-world performance data. They do not predict individual outcomes.
Sources
- Go&Race (course maps and elevation data)
- MarathonGuide.com (historical race results and finish-time data)
- Full dataset: Google Sheet
