Miles 2-4 are absolutely flat, and will give each runner a chance to get into a rhythm. At about 4.75 miles there is a 40 ft. uphill that finishes at mile 5. For the next 4 miles, the course passes through the countryside, with two more smaller hills, but an overall elevation drop of 90 ft. until you reach Savona (the first Team Relay exchange zone). Savona is an excellent viewing opportunity as it is conveniently located just off Interstate 86 which parallels much of the marathon course, and offers easy access from start to finish.
Out of Savona, runners continue through the countryside while continuing on a slightly downhill trend (40 ft. over the next 4 miles). The halfway point is in Campbell (home of Polly-O String Cheese), where again the crowds turn out to cheer runners ahead… back into the country again. Runners ascend about 30 ft. just beyond mile 14, before gradually losing 80 ft. in elevation as they reach Coopers Plains (Mile 18.2). Team Relay exchange #2 is in Coopers Plains, so again, the activity and spectator level is high, just as the runners need an additional moral boost.
Proceeding from Coopers Plains to Painted Post is only a couple miles. There runners enter a park (after the last, brief climb of 25 ft.), and tour a residential neighborhood. They then exit onto a bike path, that takes them through the village of Riverside and into Corning. Once the runners enter the bike path (mile 22.5), it is a flat trek to the finish.
In Corning, runners are greeted by many spectators as they proceed through several neighborhoods, before hitting the downtown area.
