About This Race
The half marathon distance represents the full Black Mountain experience, taking runners deep into the park's most demanding terrain over 13.1 miles of technical singletrack. This course requires sustained focus and strong technical skills as it winds through the mountain's challenging trail network. Seasoned trail runners seeking a true test of their abilities will find this distance appropriately demanding.
All distances start and finish at Black Mountain Community Park, with routes diverging based on distance selection. The half marathon tackles the most challenging terrain, featuring significant climbing on technical singletrack trails that demand careful footwork and sustained effort. The shorter distances utilize less technical but still challenging groomed dirt trails, offering substantial climbing while remaining more accessible to developing trail runners.
Elevation Profile
Elevation profile estimated from terrain data. Actual course may differ.
The course gains 722 ft over 13 miles, with the steepest section between mile 4–mile 4.
Location
Practical Info
SAN - San Diego International Airport
Best For
Notable Features
This race serves as an ERS Championship Qualifier and is deliberately scheduled as a post-Thanksgiving tradition, combining holiday recovery with serious trail running. The event maintains exclusivity with a 300-runner cap, ensuring it sells out while preserving the trail experience. The technical nature of the half marathon course, described as the most challenging in the series, attracts competitive runners while the shorter distances provide stepping stones for developing trail runners.