Big Sur Marathon 2015: Route, Course Map, Times, Event Details

One of the nation's favorite marathon events is back on Sunday with the arrival of the 2015 Big Sur Marathon.

Flanked by the scenic Pacific Ocean on the left and coastal mountain ranges on the right, marathoners from around the world will take to the 26.2-mile event in the hopes of reaching the finish line.

The By the Bay 3K takes place on Saturday before Sunday's feature event. Here is a look at the Sunday schedule, per bsim.org:

21-Miler Start	6:30 a.m.
Marathon Start	6:45 a.m.
Relay Start	6:45 a.m.
10.6-Miler Start	7:00 a.m.
9-Miler Start	7:35 a.m.
5K Start	7:45 a.m.
5K Awards	9:15 a.m.
Marathon, B2B & Relay Awards	11:30 a.m.
Post-Race Celebration Party	4:30 p.m.

Below, let's take a look at the course and event details.

Route, Course Map

A hill-riddled journey with plenty of sights begins for marathoners at Big Sur Station. 

Soon after, the route takes marathoners through key landmarks such as Andrew Molera State Park, the Little Sur River Bridge and the dreaded highest point of the marathon, Hurricane Point.

As the event shares on Twitter, the marathon makes a point to weave through state parks:

It will all feel downhill from Hurricane Point, as marathoners work through Garrapata Bridge and reach the finish line at Rio Road. The event's official website provides the full map with each key point highlighted with elevation.

Marathoner Kate Olson shares a look at an elevation chart provided to runners:

Suffice it to say, the marathon offers plenty of challenges for experienced runners and casual event-goers alike.

Event Details

Anyone and everyone can get involved with the Big Sur Marathon. 

As the above image shows, the sights make the race one of the most scenic around, but it goes much deeper than visuals. 

Mark Anderson of the Monterey County Weekly details some of the race's most popular traits, including its efforts to be as green as possible and provide for charity:

"

Led by The Offset Project, the marathon recycled or composted more than 97 percent of its waste materials last year, even up cycling “heat sheets” (the warming mylar blankets that greet runners at the finish) into Trex’s wood-alternative decking. Some 2,555 pounds of clothing was donated to the Last Chance Mercantile, 185 pairs of shoes donated to Gateway Center and 41 cases of bananas, grapes and bagels (or around 2,400 pounds) donated to the Food Bank for Monterey County.

"

Even better, Anderson also points out that a sense of teamwork surrounds the event with four-person relay teams taking part, too.

When it comes to race-day details, registration was open to the public with no age restrictions at all, although the event's site notes there are time restrictions for each checkpoint on the chance runners need to be transported to the finish line.

There, runners receive innovative medallions, as the event revealed on Instagram:

Given the event's all-inclusive features and a point to focus on nature along the way, it should not come as a surprise to hear the event is as popular as ever:

Expect nothing short of another historic marathon on Sunday, as runners from around the globe once again flock to an event both comforting and challenging. 

The reward is a place in Big Sur Marathon history—the biggest one yet, too.

Info courtesy of bsim.org unless otherwise specified.