Scenic score
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
California International Marathon vs Big Sur International Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofCalifornia International Marathon or Big Sur International Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Big Sur International Marathon has the stronger available profile on scenery score and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
California International Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held Favoured
- Elevation profile
- Not held
Big Sur International Marathon
- Mapped route
- Not held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
| Metric | California International Marathon | Big Sur International Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic score | 51/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| 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 | California International Marathon | Big Sur International Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-12-06 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-04-26 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Sacramento, California | Big Sur to Carmel, California |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Not held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Not held | Not held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Point To Point |
| Surface | Road | Road (Highway 1 asphalt) |
| Elevation character | Net Downhill | Hilly |
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Scenery | City, Riverside, Historic, Parkland | Coastal, Waterfront, Mountain, Forest, Countryside |
| Atmosphere | Unavailable | Scenic Tour, Destination, Competitive |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | Unavailable | 665 m |
| Total descent | Unavailable | 771 m |
| Net elevation | -111 m | -105 m |
| Max absolute grade | Unavailable | 5.0% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 6:00:00 |
| Field cap | Unavailable | 4,500 |
| Entry model | Mixed | Ballot |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- California International Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-12-06 (legacy event-level date).
- Big Sur International Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-04-26 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- California International Marathon
- Sacramento, California
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Big Sur to Carmel, California
Actual distance
- California International Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- California International Marathon
- Held
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Not held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- California International Marathon
- Not held
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Not held
Course type
- California International Marathon
- Point To Point
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- California International Marathon
- Road
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Road (Highway 1 asphalt)
Elevation character
- California International Marathon
- Net Downhill
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Hilly
Terrain
- California International Marathon
- Road
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- California International Marathon
- City, Riverside, Historic, Parkland
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Coastal, Waterfront, Mountain, Forest, Countryside
Atmosphere
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination, Competitive
Technicality
- California International Marathon
- Non Technical
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Moderate
Total ascent
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 665 m
Total descent
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 771 m
Net elevation
- California International Marathon
- -111 m
- Big Sur International Marathon
- -105 m
Max absolute grade
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 5.0%
Cutoff
- California International Marathon
- 6:30:00
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 6:00:00
Field cap
- California International Marathon
- Unavailable
- Big Sur International Marathon
- 4,500
Entry model
- California International Marathon
- Mixed
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Ballot
Qualifying status
- California International Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- Big Sur 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.