Filled with 22 miles of fire trails that wind along hills and ridges overlooking San Pablo Bay, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park plays host in the spring to the 13th annual Wildcat Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, a race that takes runners on a mostly trail run through this park which lies just a short drive north from nearby San Francisco.
Hosted by the locally-based race management group Brazen Racing — which also organizes races like January’s Coyote Hills Half Marathon and the Bay Breeze Half Marathon in February — the race is set to feature a maximum field size of 500 runners and some of the Bay Area’s most gorgeous views.
The race gets its name, of course, from the park in which it is run. At more than 2,400 acres, the park stretches all the way from the Tilden Nature Area at its southern end to Alvarado Park at its northernmost point, and in between it’s filled with wildlife from foxes, raccoons and deer to redtailed hawks, turkey vultures and great horned owls, who live among its live oaks, bay laurels, dogwood and willow trees and the chapparal growing along the hillsides.
Wildcat Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
May 18, 2024
El Sobrante
Trail
Ready to sign up?
100-500
Downhill
Park Run
High: 70°
/ Low: 55°
Runners in the half marathon — like those in both the 5K and 10K — will follow an out-and-back course for the race that starts and finishes at El Sobrante’s East Bay Waldorf School, along Clark Road.
From there, runners in the 13.1-mile race follow what is roughly a figure-8 shaped course that takes them down into Wildcat Canyon for a hilly race with an overall elevation gain of about 2,200 feet.
The hills, organizers add, can be quite challenging, and they recommend walking up the steeper hills in order to enjoy the views on the downhill runs — and the race is open to runners as well as walkers and hikers, organizers note.
Overview
Filled with 22 miles of fire trails that wind along hills and ridges overlooking San Pablo Bay, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park plays host in the spring to the 13th annual Wildcat Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, a race that takes runners on a mostly trail run through this park which lies just a short drive north from nearby San Francisco.
Hosted by the locally-based race management group Brazen Racing — which also organizes races like January’s Coyote Hills Half Marathon and the Bay Breeze Half Marathon in February — the race is set to feature a maximum field size of 500 runners and some of the Bay Area’s most gorgeous views.
The race gets its name, of course, from the park in which it is run. At more than 2,400 acres, the park stretches all the way from the Tilden Nature Area at its southern end to Alvarado Park at its northernmost point, and in between it’s filled with wildlife from foxes, raccoons and deer to redtailed hawks, turkey vultures and great horned owls, who live among its live oaks, bay laurels, dogwood and willow trees and the chapparal growing along the hillsides.
Course Description
Runners in the half marathon — like those in both the 5K and 10K — will follow an out-and-back course for the race that starts and finishes at El Sobrante’s East Bay Waldorf School, along Clark Road.
From there, runners in the 13.1-mile race follow what is roughly a figure-8 shaped course that takes them down into Wildcat Canyon for a hilly race with an overall elevation gain of about 2,200 feet.
The hills, organizers add, can be quite challenging, and they recommend walking up the steeper hills in order to enjoy the views on the downhill runs — and the race is open to runners as well as walkers and hikers, organizers note.
