The Running Fence Run: A Run of Freedom- Celebrating Christo's 1976 "Running Fence” art project 2026

The Running Fence Run takes place in September in Bloomfield, California. Participants can choose from 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon distances, all set within the Sonoma County hills. The event is centered on Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Running Fence, a large, white-fabric artwork that spanned 24.5 miles across Sonoma and Marin counties, remaining visible for just two weeks in September. The race incorporates running as an element of the artwork itself, not merely as a theme. Organizers refer to it as a Run of Freedom and a work of performance art. This concept originates from Christo, who characterized Running Fence as a scream of freedom, and from the self-funded nature of the installation by him and Jeanne-Claude. The marathon distance also connects to the art; the original marathon route was situated near the 24.5-mile span of the fence. A specific detail from the local running community adds to the event's character: a Runner's World cover once depicted a runner who completed the entire length of the Running Fence.