My marathons

San Diego Marathon

06:156:15 AM Sixth Ave & Quince St at Balboa Park, San Diego
San Diego–Coronado Bridge
San Diego–Coronado Bridge. Photograph by U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Larry S. Carlson, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

The course

The marathon starts at Sixth Avenue and Quince Street beside Balboa Park and finishes in downtown San Diego, at Ash Street and Union Street on the organiser's 2026 course.

The course in short 3 lines
  • From Balboa Park to the waterfrontA point-to-point race: start at the park's edge, finish downtown.
  • Up to eight neighbourhoods in one runA tour of the city's districts, with live music on the course.
  • A 6:15 start and seven hours to finishThe organiser lists an average air temperature of 68°F (20°C) for the weekend.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseLandmarkFrom Balboa Park to the waterfrontA point-to-point race: start at the park's edge, finish downtown.

The race is point to point, not a loop: runners leave from the edge of Balboa Park and finish in the downtown grid. The start and finish corners are those of the organiser’s 2026 course.

Sourced

Whole courseCrowdUp to eight neighbourhoods in one runA tour of the city's districts, with live music on the course.

The organiser pitches the route as an insider tour of the city: up to eight neighbourhoods, with entertainment stages and live music placed along it from start to finish.

Sourced

Whole courseConditionsA 6:15 start and seven hours to finishThe organiser lists an average air temperature of 68°F (20°C) for the weekend.

The half marathon starts at the same time and place, so the first miles are shared. The 7-hour limit is the figure on the organiser’s 2026 course page. The organiser also states the marathon is a certified course and a Boston Marathon qualifier.

Sourced

Race fuel

Energy gel
An energy gel sachet
Illustration · drag to turn

5 gels for San Diego, plus 1 spare

Finish

One every 40 minutes, by the clock:

  1. km 7mile 4.4
  2. km 14.1mile 8.7
  3. km 21.1mile 13.1
  4. km 28.1mile 17.5
  5. km 35.2mile 21.8

Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side.

Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.

Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.

Anti-chafe
Compeed Anti-blister stick
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.

Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.

Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Number belt
A race number belt
Illustration · drag to turn

Compressport Race Belt

Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.

Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.

Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Electrolytes
A tube of electrolyte tablets
Illustration · drag to turn

SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20

One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.

One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.

Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Blister plasters
Compeed Blister plasters, medium, 6
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.

Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.

Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
distance
42.2 km26.2 mi
cut-off
7:00 h
first held
1998

Point to point from the edge of Balboa Park to a finish in downtown San Diego, the race that started the Rock 'n' Roll marathon series.

Race week

Timetable

Friday 4 June Expo

  1. 12:0012:00 PM–19:007:00 PM

    Health & Fitness Expo opens San Diego Convention Center, 111 W. Harbor Dr., Halls FGH

Saturday 5 June Expo

  1. 07:007:00 AM

    5K start Presidents Way & Park Blvd.

  2. 09:009:00 AM–17:005:00 PM

    Health & Fitness Expo opens San Diego Convention Center, 111 W. Harbor Dr., Halls FGH

Sunday 6 June Race day

  1. 06:156:15 AM

    Marathon start Sixth Ave & Quince St at Balboa Park. The half marathon starts at the same time and place.

  2. 07:007:00 AM–15:003:00 PM

    Finish Line Festival Waterfront Park. Gear bags must be claimed before the festival closes.

  3. Time not published

    Overall time limit 7 hours for the marathon. The organiser's course page gives this limit with its 2026 race details. 7:00 limit: 9:57/km for 42.195 km7:00 limit: 16:01/mi for 26.2 mi

Times as published by IRONMAN, in San Diego time, checked .

Add to calendar .ics file, times in San Diego time

Trip

Getting a place

Entry through the organiser

Entry details on the organiser’s site →

IRONMAN, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.

Make your postcard

Questions about the San Diego Marathon

When is the San Diego Marathon 2027?

Sunday 6 June 2027. The start is at 6:15 AM.

How do I enter the San Diego Marathon?

Entry is through the organiser. Entry fee: US$172.54 (for the 2027 race). Entry details on the organiser’s site

What is the time limit at the San Diego Marathon?

Runners have 7 hours to finish.

1 more question
Where does the San Diego Marathon start?

Start: Sixth Ave & Quince St at Balboa Park.

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