Catalina Island Marathon

This event will feature the exciting marathon course used historically on the Catalina Island Conservancy’s lands, including much of the rugged terrain, spectacular vistas and special challenges. The course begins in the town of Avalon and begins to climb nearly right from the beginning. Runners will take Wrigley Terrace Road and climb nearly 400 feet before the second mile marker. The course will continue onto Renton Mine Road where a series of switchbacks will carry runners over the next few miles as the climb higher and higher. At the 4.7 mile mark, runners will hit East Peak at 1,563 feet and will continue their climb until they topple out at over 1,600 feet. Once on East End Road, runners will hit that elevation high and then begin a short downhill section for less than a mile. The water station at the 6.2 mile marker will be the designation of another short climb followed by a descent to the 7.4 mile marker. The course climbs again at Memorial Road and runners will need to complete an out-and-back section along Divide Road. Once runners come to the Hermit Gulch Trail water station at mile 9.8, the rest of the course is truly downhill. Over the next 3.2 miles, runners will descend 1,500 feet back to Avalon. This quad-burner finish is sure to test even the most seasoned runner, but will promise to be a fun way to fly through the final miles.