All marathons

Early April · West Coast · Loop

Bakersfield Marathon

Bakersfield, CA · Saturday, April 3, 2027

Event listed as: Marathon

  • Best for PR
  • Boston Qualifier

Registration opens on the organizer's site

Typical start

56°

Cooler than 14% of U.S. marathons

Modeled historical conditions

Elevation gain

200ft

Flatter than 54% of races

Estimated total climb

Field size

600

Larger than 22% of races

Estimated field

PR potential

9.0/10

Ahead of 56% of races

Almanac model

Percentiles compare this race against all 224 U.S. marathons in the Almanac.

Course profile

200 ft gain · 0 ft net

Flat course, loop.

0510152026.2
Schematic profile drawn from total gain, total loss and course category, on a shared vertical scale of 200 ft. Not a surveyed GPS trace.

Race-day weather

Modeled from location, month and coastal proximity, not verified race history.

6 AM

48°

Start

56°

Midday

63°

ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk

Typical start sits at 56°F, good conditions.

Typical dew point 34°F, 6% chance of precipitation, wind around 7 mph. All modeled.

The bottom line

A quietly fast race that does not ask for much beyond honest pacing.

Bakersfield Marathon is a strong choice for a PR attempt, and Bakersfield offers very little meaningful elevation. The tradeoff is atmosphere: expect long quiet stretches and few spectators.

Why runners choose this race

A loop course around Bakersfield, CA, with very little meaningful elevation change.

The case for it

  • PR attempts
  • Boston qualification
  • Runners who want a low-key start

The tradeoffs

  • You want crowds and on-course energy

Course and logistics

Course type
Loop
Surface
Road
Profile
Flat
Total gain
200 ft(estimated)
Total loss
200 ft(estimated)
Net elevation
0 ft(estimated)
Field size
~600 runners(estimated)
Crowd support
Quiet, low-key
Entry
Easy
Entry fee
$89(most recent listed price)
Day of week
Saturday
Start / finish
Start and finish in the same area

Race details

Typical timing
Early April
Next confirmed date
Saturday, April 3, 2027
Registration
Open now
Region
West Coast
Editorial tier
Recommended
Data last reviewed
2026-08-26
  • Best for PR
  • Boston Qualifier
  • Loop course
  • Flat course
  • Easy entry

Similar races

Races with a comparable profile.

Mid-April · West Coast

Corvallis Marathon

Corvallis, OR

Weather
41°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~500 runners
Course
Flat
Elevation
200 ft gain

Willamette Valley farmland and Oregon State campus

PR9Weather9Experience7

Late August · West Coast

PeaceHealth Appletree Marathon

Vancouver, WA

Weather
50°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~500 runners
Course
Flat
Elevation
120 ft gain · 0 ft net

Event listed as: Marathon

PR9Weather9Experience6