Weather
Climate Avg| Time | Temp | Dew Pt | Humidity | Wind | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 42.2 – 42.2°F | 38° Crisp | 84 – 84% | 4 mph N | Clear sky |
| 8:00 AM | 42.9 – 42.9°F | 38° Crisp | 83 – 83% | 4 mph N | Clear sky |
| 9:00 AM | 43.3 – 46.9°F | 38° Crisp | 74 – 79% | 4 mph NW | Partly cloudy |
| 10:00 AM | 48.4 – 56.2°F | 41° Ideal | 65 – 68% | 3 mph W | Partly cloudy |
| 11:00 AM | 53 – 61°F | 42° Ideal | 58 – 58% | 3 mph W | Clear sky |
| Finish | 55.8 – 65.5°F | 43° Ideal | 52 – 53% | 3 mph W | Partly cloudy |
Based on 3-year average for this date. Real forecast available in 85 days.
Elevation Profile
Course Stats
Mile Splits
| Mile | Grade |
|---|---|
| 1 | +0.4% |
| 2 | +1.7% |
| 3 | +0.7% |
| 4 | -2.5% |
| 5 | +0.5% |
| 6 | -0.9% |
| 7 | +0.1% |
| 8 | +0.1% |
| 9 | -0.2% |
| 10 | -0.1% |
| 11 | -0.1% |
| 12 | +0.0% |
| 13 | -0.1% |
| 14 | +0.0% |
| 15 | -0.1% |
| 16 | +0.1% |
| 17 | -0.1% |
| 18 | +0.2% |
| 19 | +0.1% |
| 20 | +0.2% |
| 21 | -0.6% |
| 22 | +0.7% |
| 23 | -0.1% |
| 24 | -0.2% |
| 25 | -0.1% |
| 26 | +0.1% |
| 27 | +0.5% |
RM Difficulty Index
Race-Day Weather History
Race-morning conditions on this date over the past 5 years: median 50°F with a 42°F dew point and 5 mph wind. 1 of 5 years were warm enough to slow race pace.
| Year | Temp | Dew Pt | Wind | Rain | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43°F | 37°F | 5 mph | — | Partly cloudy |
| 2023 | 50°F | 42°F | 4 mph | — | Partly cloudy |
| 2022 | 58°F | 56°F | 2 mph | — | Drizzle |
| 2021 | 63°F | 59°F | 9 mph | — | Partly cloudy |
| 2020 | 46°F | 40°F | 7 mph | 0.27" | Rain |
Morning conditions (race window) on the Marine Corps Marathon calendar date each year, from the ERA5 reanalysis archive — the race’s usual slot, not necessarily each edition’s exact day.
Marine Corps Marathon Pace Calculator & Race Plan
The Marine Corps Marathon runs through Arlington and DC, finishing at the Marine Corps War Memorial. The course has some rolling hills and one soul-testing stretch on Hains Point around miles 17-20 that's flat but exposed and mentally tough with no crowd support.
October weather in DC can be perfect or unexpectedly warm. The model accounts for the rolling terrain and the weather, and gives you realistic splits for the back half when Hains Point and the late hills combine with fatigue.
Marine Corps Marathon FAQ
When is the next Marine Corps Marathon?›
The next Marine Corps Marathon is on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
How long is the Marine Corps Marathon?›
The Marine Corps Marathon is 26.2 miles (42.195 km), the standard marathon distance. It runs in Arlington & Washington, DC.
How much elevation gain does the Marine Corps Marathon have?›
The Marine Corps Marathon has about 363 ft (111 m) of climbing and 361 ft of descent, with a maximum grade of 2.52%.
Is the Marine Corps Marathon flat, downhill, or hilly?›
The Marine Corps Marathon starts and finishes at roughly the same elevation (net +0 m). With 363 ft of total climbing along the way, the profile rolls even though the net change is small.
How hard is the Marine Corps Marathon?›
Runner's Math scores the Marine Corps Marathon 34/100 (Moderate) — #21 of 38 marathon courses in our library, ranked by modeled time cost. The profile costs about 0:39 versus a flat course for a runner at 4:00-marathon pace.
What's the weather usually like at the Marine Corps Marathon?›
Over the past 5 years on this date, median race-morning conditions were 50°F with a 42°F dew point and 5 mph wind. 1 of 5 years were warm enough to slow race pace.