Scenic score
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Big Sur International Marathon vs California International Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofBig Sur International Marathon or California International Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Big Sur International Marathon has the stronger available profile on scenery score and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
Big Sur International Marathon
- Mapped route
- Not held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
California International Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held Favoured
- Elevation profile
- Not held
| Metric | Big Sur International Marathon | California International Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 51/100 |
| Conditions | 88/100 ✓ | 88/100 |
Conditions
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 88/100 Favoured
Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Big Sur International Marathon | California International Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-04-26 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-12-06 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Big Sur to Carmel, California | Sacramento, California |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Not held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Not held | Not held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Point To Point |
| Surface | Road (Highway 1 asphalt) | Road |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Net Downhill |
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Scenery | Coastal, Waterfront, Mountain, Forest, Countryside | City, Riverside, Historic, Parkland |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Destination, Competitive | Unavailable |
| Technicality | Moderate | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 665 m | Unavailable |
| Total descent | 771 m | Unavailable |
| Net elevation | -105 m | -111 m |
| Max absolute grade | 5.0% | Unavailable |
| Cutoff | 6:00:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Field cap | 4,500 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Ballot | Mixed |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- Big Sur International Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-04-26 (legacy event-level date).
- California International Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-12-06 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Big Sur to Carmel, California
- California International Marathon
- Sacramento, California
Actual distance
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 42.2 km
- California International Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Not held
- California International Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Not held
- California International Marathon
- Not held
Course type
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Point To Point
- California International Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Road (Highway 1 asphalt)
- California International Marathon
- Road
Elevation character
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Hilly
- California International Marathon
- Net Downhill
Terrain
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Road
- California International Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Coastal, Waterfront, Mountain, Forest, Countryside
- California International Marathon
- City, Riverside, Historic, Parkland
Atmosphere
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination, Competitive
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
Technicality
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Moderate
- California International Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 665 m
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
Total descent
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 771 m
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
Net elevation
- Big Sur International Marathon
- -105 m
- California International Marathon
- -111 m
Max absolute grade
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 5.0%
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
Cutoff
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 6:00:00
- California International Marathon
- 6:30:00
Field cap
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 4,500
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Ballot
- California International Marathon
- Mixed
Qualifying status
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- California International Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.