The out-and-back Beat the Heat Marathon course starts on Big Dry Creek Trail and heads toward Standley Lake Regional Park. At about 2.5 miles runners begin four miles of the gravel trail and roads within the park. The course exits the park and travels west toward the south trailhead and the west turnaround.
After the west turnaround, runners skip the dogleg to return to Big Dry Creek Trail and follow it east for approximately 16 miles to the east turnaround. The course is approximately 14 miles on asphalt and concrete and the rest on soft surfaces.