Greater St. Louis Marathon

Greater St. Louis Marathon 2026 Course Analysis

Greater St. Louis Marathon is a full marathon held in St. Louis, United States of America, scheduled for Saturday 24 October 2026. The course is run on trail surface with 300m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 171m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Greater St. Louis Marathon website.

Elevation Profile

This is a hilly course with 300m of total elevation gain. The route climbs from 123m to as high as 171m above sea level — a substantial 48m elevation range. Runners should train on hills and plan for a more conservative pacing strategy, especially on the climbs.

Expected Race Day Weather

Based on historical weather data for October, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Moderate temperatures between 9°C and 22°C are expected. While comfortable for most runners, those targeting fast times should pay attention to hydration, as these temperatures can impact performance over the full distance. There is a low chance of rain (6%), so dry conditions are likely.

Surface Type: Trail

Greater St. Louis Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.

How Difficult Is Greater St. Louis Marathon?

Our difficulty rating for Greater St. Louis Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.

Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Greater St. Louis Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.