Jed Smith Ultra Classic Marathon

The Jed Smith Ultra Classic Marathon takes place in Sacramento in January 2026 on a completely flat road course, making it an excellent choice for runners chasing a personal best or testing their fitness early in the year. The course is legitimately pancake-flat with zero elevation gain, so don't expect any hills to break up the rhythm or provide mental recovery periods, which means you'll need to manage your pacing carefully to avoid hitting a wall in the final miles. Sacramento in January offers mild weather conditions typical of Northern California winters, so come prepared for potentially cool mornings that warm up during the race. The road surface and flat terrain make this a straightforward marathon without technical footwork or steep descents to punish your quads, but the lack of terrain variation also means there's nowhere to hide if you go out too fast. If you're targeting a time goal or building your marathon fitness, this is the kind of course that rewards smart execution and controlled effort from start to finish.