Course Map
About this Race
The Mountains 2 Beach Marathon is one of the fastest courses in the United States, a net-downhill point-to-point route from Ojai down to the Ventura coast in Southern California, largely on a smooth bike path. The consistent gentle descent and forgiving terrain make it a renowned Boston-qualifying and personal-best machine. Held in April, it typically offers cool morning conditions before the beachside finish. The scenery flows from mountains to ocean, with the descent doing much of the work. It suits the time-focused runner above almost all else, rewarding those chasing a qualifier on one of the country's quickest courses.
Course Insight
Mountains 2 Beach is a net-downhill April course from the hills toward the coast, fast and famously friendly to Boston qualifiers, finishing near the beach. The descent is a gift and a trap, since the early drop can shred quads if you take it greedily. Pace the downhill gently and let it work for you rather than against you. Spring conditions are usually pleasant. Run the descents under control and the seaside finish is a fast, happy reward.
Difficulty Breakdown
A balanced marathon with no single defining challenge.
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 153m
- Elevation loss
- 380m
- Highest point
- 198m
- Lowest point
- 4m
- Net elevation
- -227m
- Start
- Ojai, California
- Cutoff time
- 7h 0m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:20:08 — Ryan Burd (USA), 2023
- Women's
- 2:51:28 — Jenny Hitchings (USA), 2018
Race History
The Mountains 2 Beach Marathon was established in 2013 and rapidly earned a reputation as one of the fastest courses in the United States, a net-downhill point-to-point route from Ojai to the Ventura coast. Its consistent descent on smooth bike paths made it a renowned Boston-qualifying machine. From its founding it drew time-focused runners chasing qualifiers. Held each April, it remains a premier destination for fast times.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Los Angeles International (LAX), Santa Barbara (SBA) & Hollywood Burbank (BUR)
- Best area to stay
- Downtown Ventura for proximity to the beach finish, Ojai for charming stays near the start, and the Ventura coast for seaside options.
- Getting to the start
- It's point-to-point downhill from Ojai to Ventura; take the official shuttle from the Ventura finish area up to the Ojai start before dawn.