The legendary Boston Marathon course follows a point-to-point route from rural Hopkinton to Boston and is certified per the guidelines set forth by the IAAF and USA Track and Field.
If run wisely and with patience, the course can be very fast. However, many runners who are aggressive in the early downhill miles may struggle once they reach the Newton Hills and/or the downhill/flat last 10K.
The Mesa Marathon is a fast net downhill, point-to-point course which drops nearly 1000 feet from start to finish. The race starts below the large white Phoenix sign painted on Usery Mountain. Runners will experience a nearly completely downhill finish from approximately the 10K point to the finish.
The downhill course and favorable weather make this an attractive PR and BQ course.