
Hawaii, United States of America · Friday 11 September 2026
The Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon is an annual event held on the Big Island, commencing in Volcano and concluding in Hilo. The route descends over 3,700 feet in elevation, making it one of the fastest certified marathon courses in the United States, and regularly serves as a Boston Marathon qualifier, with more than half of finishers achieving this standard in some years.
Adjusted Time
3:47:20
Time difference: -12.7 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
On our difficulty model, Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon plays about 6 minutes faster than an average road marathon - a genuine PB course for a 3:30 runner. It ranks #1149 hardest of 1150 marathons we analyse, and #574 of 575 in United States of America. Use the calculator above to see the exact adjusted time for your own goal pace.
Estimated finish times on this course versus the same effort on an average road marathon, based on its elevation, surface, and expected race-day temperature.
| Average-course time | On Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00:00 | 2:50:09 | −09:51 |
| 3:30:00 | 3:18:42 | −11:18 |
| 4:00:00 | 3:47:20 | −12:40 |
| 4:30:00 | 4:16:03 | −13:57 |
| 5:00:00 | 4:44:48 | −15:12 |
| 5:30:00 | 5:13:36 | −16:24 |
| 6:00:00 | 5:42:26 | −17:34 |
Use the calculator above for your exact goal time. Want a prediction from your own training? Try the marathon time predictor.
Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon is a full marathon held in Hawaii, United States of America. It is scheduled for Friday 11 September 2026. The course is run on road surface with 37m of total climbing and around 1154m of descent (a net drop of roughly 1117m), with its high point near 1228m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon website.
This is a net-downhill course: it descends roughly 1117m more than it climbs (37m of ascent against about 1154m of descent), dropping from a high point near 1228m toward 109m above sea level. Point-to-point downhill courses like this are among the fastest available for a personal best or a Boston qualifier - just be aware that sustained descending fatigues the quads late in the race, so ease off early and do some downhill running in training.
Based on historical weather data for September, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Moderate temperatures between 13°C and 23°C are expected. While comfortable for most runners, those targeting fast times should pay attention to hydration, as these temperatures can impact performance on race day. There is a low chance of rain (19%), so dry conditions are likely.
Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon is run on road surfaces, which provide the fastest and most predictable conditions for racing. Road courses allow for consistent pacing and are typically the best choice for a personal best.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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