2026 Two Cities Marathon - Nov 1

2026 Two Cities Marathon - Nov 1 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Two Cities Marathon - Nov 1
CityFresno
Date2026-11-01 at 06:30
Field Size~710 runners
Time Limit7 hours
Cutoff pace9:57/km
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Official SiteGo Race Productions

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature16.4°C / 62°F
Humidity52%
Wind13.7 km/h
Rain Chance12%
Typical ConditionsMild, dry early-November Central Valley morning — a cool start near 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) at the 6:30 a.m. gun, warming gently with little chance of rain

What to Prepare: Fresno in early November usually gives near-ideal racing weather: a cool, dry start around 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) climbing into the 60s and 70s by midday, with very low rain odds. Note that race morning is the end of daylight saving — clocks fall back overnight, so double-check your alarm. A throwaway long-sleeve for the start and sunglasses for the back half are usually all you need.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 13.7 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

Cooler Typical Warmer
Temperature 12.7°C 16.4°C 20°C
Dew point -3.8°C 5°C 10.3°C
Wet-day chance: 12% Runnability: 85/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course TypeFlat out-and-back / loop on city streets and rail trail
Elevation Gain107m
TerrainRoad and paved rail trail (flat, lightly shaded city streets and the Fresno-Clovis Rail Trail)
ProfileOne of California's flattest road marathons and a deliberate PR and Boston-qualifying course. The route starts and finishes at Clovis Community College on the north edge of the Fresno-Clovis metro, and a redesigned 2021 layout sends runners along quiet north-Fresno avenues and a long stretch of the paved Fresno-Clovis Rail Trail, looping through Clovis neighborhoods and parks before returning to the college. Total elevation change is minimal — about +107 m (354 ft) of gain with almost identical loss, spread as gentle grade rather than any real hill — so splits stay honest from gun to finish. It is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier, with a smaller, focused full-marathon field (around 700 finishers) that keeps the front end uncrowded. The trade-off for the flatness is exposure: long, open, lightly shaded sections mean sun and the Valley's dry air are the main challenges rather than terrain.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Two Cities Marathon - Nov 1

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Two Cities Marathon and what time does it start?

The Two Cities Marathon is held on Sunday, November 1, 2026 in Fresno and Clovis, California — the event's 18th edition. The full marathon starts at 6:30 a.m. local time at Clovis Community College, together with the half marathon and 10K. Note that race morning is the end of daylight saving time, so clocks fall back overnight; set your alarm accordingly.

Is the Two Cities Marathon flat? Is it a good PR or Boston-qualifying course?

Yes. It is one of the flattest road marathons in California, with only about +107 m (354 ft) of gentle elevation change and no real hills. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier, and the 2021 redesign made it even straighter and faster, so it is a popular target for runners chasing a PR or a BQ time. Check your goal on the Boston qualifying calculator.

Where does the Two Cities Marathon course go?

The race starts and finishes at Clovis Community College (Willow and International Avenues) on the north side of the metro. The route threads quiet north-Fresno avenues and a long section of the paved Fresno-Clovis Rail Trail, looping through Clovis neighborhoods and parks before returning to the college. It is run almost entirely on flat road and trail, with open, lightly shaded stretches — so plan for sun exposure rather than climbing.

What is the time limit for the Two Cities Marathon?

The full marathon has a 7-hour course limit. The course is marshaled from the 6:30 a.m. start until roughly 1:30 p.m., and runners are asked to hold at least a 16-minute-per-mile pace so streets can reopen on schedule. That works out to finishing inside about 7 hours; use the pace calculator to plan your splits against the cutoff.

How do I register for the Two Cities Marathon?

Registration is handled online through RunSignup via the official run2cm.com site; there is no lottery — entry is first-come, first-served, and prices rise in tiers as race day approaches, so signing up early saves money. The marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K all run the same morning. The full marathon is a focused, mid-sized field of roughly 700 finishers.

What is the weather like for the Two Cities Marathon?

Early November in Fresno's Central Valley usually delivers near-ideal racing weather: a cool, dry start around 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) warming into the 60s and 70s by late morning, with very low rain odds. The main weather challenges are sun and dry air on the open, lightly shaded course, so plan for hydration and sun protection rather than cold or rain.

How big is the Two Cities Marathon?

It is a mid-sized regional marathon with a relatively small full-marathon field — about 710 full finishers in 2025 and roughly 580 on average across recent years. The combined weekend (marathon, half, 10K and 5K) draws several thousand participants, but the full keeps a focused, uncrowded feel that runners chasing a fast time tend to appreciate.

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