Phoenix Marathon

The Phoenix Marathon course is a fast, certified point-to-point road race that begins with a steady net downhill descent before transitioning onto flat city and river paths. Taking off from the base of South Mountain Park, runners benefit from nearly 300 feet of gentle elevation loss along Central Avenue across the opening five miles. The route is run entirely on paved city streets and dedicated paths, offering runners a smooth, unobstructed surface to find their stride early in the morning air without facing any steep, quad-thrashing drops.

At mile five, the course shifts away from the roads and enters an 11-mile out-and-back stretch along the paved Salt River trail. This long, flat section carries participants past open riparian wetlands and native desert vegetation, offering an uninterrupted section free of road crossings and turns. Leaving the river corridor around mile 16, the course climbs gradually back into the city to pass the Arizona State Capitol before navigating downtown Phoenix along Washington Street and Central Avenue. The route goes through the ASU Downtown campus near mile 20, rises over the Interstate 10 tunnel deck at Hance Park, and tracks north along 3rd Street through midtown before heading into Steele Indian School Park for the final loops toward the finish line.

Executing a disciplined pacing strategy requires a conservative start over the early descending miles to avoid over-striding before reaching the flat middle miles. While the Salt River trail provides an ideal setting to lock into a consistent cadence, the wide-open riverbed leaves runners completely exposed to the rising sun as the morning heats up. Tactical hydration and effort management along the trail ensure athletes have enough energy left for the gradual climb into downtown and the late miles on 3rd Street. Because the course features minimal elevation obstacles after the opening miles, maintaining a steady even effort serves as the ideal recommended pacing strategy to secure a strong finish.