Dirty December Trail Run

Dirty December Trail Run is a holiday trail race in San Diego, California, featuring enough dirt and climbing to make the costume contest feel delightfully absurd. Runners can select a marathon, half marathon, 10K, or a six-hour Hill Climb, accommodating those seeking a standard distance and those preferring to spend hours repeating a challenging hill. Race-day temperatures are typically mild, ranging from the mid-40s to mid-60s Fahrenheit. The courses are demanding: the 10K gains approximately 1,000 feet, the half marathon about 2,300 feet, and the marathon around 3,500 feet. The Hill Climb is the distinctive choice: a loop of roughly 2.5 miles that descends Cardiac hill before sending runners back up, repeated for six hours. The top male and female finishers receive King and Queen of the hill awards. The event maintains a low-key community atmosphere, offering solo and team costume prizes, long-sleeve tech shirts for participants, finisher awards, and complimentary entries for the next year for the overall male and female winners in each distance. The rules emphasize that this is genuine trail running, not a casual park jog: participants must carry at least 40 ounces of water, remain on the marked trail, check in at all aid stations, and be aware of uneven terrain, steep cliffs, rattlesnakes, and mountain lions.