Gare di Half Marathon vicino a Grand Terrace

Big Bear Lake si trasforma nel fulcro dell'ultra-running con le HOKA Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB, un evento che ha avuto una bella crescita dal 2023. Questa tappa del circuito UTMB World Series ti accoglie con l'ospitalità di una comunità di montagna, richiamando migliaia di atleti e diventando ormai un appuntamento fisso nel calendario dell'ultra-running. La partenza e l'arrivo sono in centro a Big Bear Lake, un punto di ritrovo centrale per chi vuole venire a tifare gli atleti. Questa gara è super accogliente per chi è alla prima ultra o per chi è nuovo del trail running, offrendo un ambiente serio ma allo stesso tempo di supporto per mettersi alla prova sui sentieri.

Luz y Vida is a Día de los Muertos run/walk in Riverside, California, with 5k, 10k, 15k, and half marathon options from Ryan Bonaminio Park. A Better World Running organizes it, and the setup is low-key: bib pickup happens the morning of the race, all distances start early, and registration includes a custom finisher medal, a drawstring goodie bag, free photos, free videos, posted results, snacks, and samples. The course uses a marked open path shared with pedestrians, runners, and cyclists, so this is not a closed-road race. The 5k is an out-and-back, the 10k repeats that loop twice, the 15k repeats it three times, and the half marathon uses three 4.36-mile loops. Aid is available at the turnaround and start/finish area with water, Gatorade, and Gu gels. Strollers are allowed, dogs are not, and half marathoners get a 3-hour-15-minute limit with early starts available by request.

The Saddleback Marathon is a hilly trail marathon held in the Saddleback Mountains of Cleveland National Forest, near Silverado, California. The race route crosses areas between Orange and Riverside Counties, including the Trabuco District and locations such as Blue Jay Campground, Black Star Canyon, Ortega Highway, and The Main Divide. Wildfires and Covid have previously impacted the event, leading to cancellations and course adjustments, so the exact route may vary. Participants can expect a mix of truck trail ascents, technical singletrack, campground sections, and local trails like San Juan, Chiquito, San Juan Loop, Falcon Trail, and the Candy Store Loop. Entry is limited, cutoffs are enforced, and carpoolers will receive commemorative memorabilia.

The Five Star Thanksgiving Turkey Trot is an Atlanta race held on Thanksgiving morning, offering live 5K, 10K, 15K, and half marathon races, along with virtual options for each distance. The event is intentionally low-cost; runners not qualifying for free entry can register for a small fee, with race-day registration costing slightly more. The race originated from the organizers' decision, two weeks before Thanksgiving, to acknowledge participants from that season's races. This tradition continues: finishers from other Five Star races qualify for one free live 5K entry, though the Turkey Trot itself does not count towards this free spot. Shirts, hoodies, and finisher medals are available as optional purchases, allowing runners to customize their participation.

Allora, c'è questa Reindeer Run Riverside, una corsa/camminata che fanno nel periodo delle feste. Si tiene al Ryan Bonaminio Park a Riverside, California, e ci sono diverse distanze: 5k, 10k, 15k e la half marathon. Partenza e arrivo sono proprio in fondo al parco. Il pettorale lo puoi ritirare lì al parco, il sabato e la domenica mattina. C'è parcheggio gratuito sia nel piazzale del parco che lungo Tequesquite Avenue. I percorsi sono dei giri di andata e ritorno, ben segnalati, su un percorso condiviso, quindi incontrerai altri pedoni, runner e ciclisti. Il 5k è un singolo giro di andata e ritorno, il 10k sono due ripetizioni del giro del 5k, il 15k tre ripetizioni. La half marathon invece fa tre giri da 4.36 miglia, con un tempo limite di 3:15. I bagni li trovi vicino a partenza e arrivo. Il punto di ristoro, al giro di boa, offre acqua, Gatorade e gel Gu. I passeggini sono ammessi, ma i cani no. Chi arriva al traguardo riceve una medaglia personalizzata, una goodie bag, foto e video gratuiti, spuntini e i risultati li pubblicano entro 12-24 ore.

La Citrus Heritage Run parte dall'Arlington Heights Sports Park a Riverside, California, e ti offre una half marathon, una 10K, una 5K, e pure una gara di 1 miglio per i bambini fino a 12 anni. Le distanze più lunghe partono presto, e tutte le gare finiscono entro tarda mattinata, così è proprio una giornata di gara focalizzata, non un festival che si trascina. Il percorso si snoda tra gli aranceti del California Citrus State Historic Park, così puoi sentire il profumo di agrumi e fiori d'arancio mentre ti godi la vista delle montagne vicine e dello skyline di Riverside. La gara attira un bel po' di attenzione a livello locale, pensa che in un'edizione passata tutte le distanze erano sold out. I partecipanti si portano a casa maglie tecniche a manica lunga, medaglie da finisher e premi per categoria d'età. Ci sono band dal vivo lungo il percorso, punti di ristoro per l'idratazione, e all'arrivo trovi succo d'arancia fresco da un agrumeto del posto, cibo caldo, birra e mimose.

The NATRO Native American Trail Marathon Championship is a trail running race series focused on increasing Native runner participation on trails. Its first sponsored event, NATRO@Soboba, took place in La Jacinta, California, on the Soboba Indian Reservation. This event offered 25-kilometer and 5-kilometer races, deviating from a marathon-only format. Participants could register in either Open or Native divisions, accommodating Native competition while also welcoming the broader trail running community. The series originated from the Native American Trail Running Organization, established by Sheldon Subith with assistance from Native race directors. Subith contributes a runner's and coach's perspective to the initiative; he is a skilled masters trail runner and coaches cross country at Noli Indian School in San Jacinto. NATRO@Soboba also connected the race to youth running, allocating a portion of the proceeds to Noli Indian School’s cross country and track programs. The initial development was practical and community-focused from the outset; Subith mentioned NATRO began as a concept and required more time than anticipated to reach its inaugural Soboba race.

Bedrock Valley Trail Runs is a spring trail race series in Hemet, California, held around Diamond Valley Lake. All courses are on unpaved trails. The series includes a full marathon, half marathon, 15K, 10K, Stroller 5K, and a 1 Mile Kid's Fun Run, catering to trail runners and families, not just long-distance racers. The race begins early and maintains a small field with a 400-participant limit and no prize money. The location has a unique history: the lake area is situated on bedrock where remains of hundreds of mastodons and other prehistoric animals were discovered. The event has been held annually since 2012 as an American Trail Running Association member race.