Black Cat 10 & 20 Miler

Join us for the Annual Black Cat 10 & 20 Miler happening in Salem, MA in preparation for the Boston Marathon in April! Participants will choose from a 10 or 20 mile distance, those who choose the 20, will have a 4 hour time cap to complete the 20 mile distance. The course will offer aid stations every 1.5-2 miles and there will be a ton of cheerful volunteers. Participants will receive an epic custom finisher medal that will be a nice addition to anyone's medal collection. The event attracts close to 600+ runners, including elites to beginners traveling from all over the Country. We promise running through the historic streets of the Witch City & scenic Marblehead will make these miles fly by! 

We do welcome dogs and strollers. We do ask that you line up in the back at the start line. Dogs must be leashed at all times, they are allowed inside the B&S facility.

Plenty of parking in and around Shetland Park. There is a new garage that is meter parking that is at the corner of Lynch Street and Pingree St. Also a garage located across from the Waterfront Hotel on the corner of Congress/Derby Street.

March 29, 2026 (No Rain Date)

10 mile and 20 mile

7:30AM - Sunshine start for 20 Milers Only (*More details in copy)
8:00AM - 10 and 20 Mile Race Start 

• 6:45AM - Race day registration opens (closes at 8AM)
• 7:30AM - Sunshine start *20 mile ONLY*
• 8:00AM - 10 and 20 mile race start
• 9:00AM - Post Event Party Start
• 9:15AM - Award Pickup Start

10 Mile Fees (+$5 for the 20 Miler)
$80 through 12/31
$85 through 2/28
$90 through 3/22
$95 through 3/28 till 8PM
$115 on Race Day

**No Shirt Entry – **$5 off your entry on or before 3/8

Saturday 3/28, Pre-Race Packet Pickup: 11-2PM at B&S Fitness (GPS: 90 Leavitt St, Salem, MA)

Sunday 3/29, Race Day, starting at 6:45AM at B&S Fitness Fitness

*Yes you can pick up for your friends.

Both the 10 and 20 will start at the same time. The 20 Mile is two loops of the 10 mile route. 

To see the map with elevation click here: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2479681

The course will have a water station approx. every 2 miles. Stations will have either Gatorade or Water, sometimes both.  At the turn around fuel station at located at the VFW Post on West Shore Dr, there will be Gu’s, petroleum jelly, and bathrooms.

**Note, water stations will not be setup until 8AM so those participating in the 730AM sunshine start, should be equipped with nutrition/fuel for the beginning portion of the course.

More course information will be available here: https://www.bnseventmanagement.com/blackcat

4 hour time cap beginning at 8AM.

20 milers - You must be at the halfway point by 10AM to be eligible for a second lap. 

**Sunshine start at 730AM will be made available for only 20 milers who are unsure whether they’ll finish within the 4 hour time slot. You will get your finishing time and a medal but will not be eligible for awards. Any 10 milers that start at 730AM will be DQ'd and not receive a published race result.

A location inside the B&S facility will be available to leave your items.
All items must be picked up between 9:00AM and Noon. 

Top 3 Overall M/F in each race
Top 3 M/F in each age group: Under 19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89,90+
Top 3 Non-Binary
**No double dipping

*There will an award ceremony recognizing the top 3 male and female runners in each distance. The 10 miler at 9:30AM and the 20 miler at 10:30AM. There will be no official award ceremony for age groups. Awards can will be claimed at the “awards table.”  There will be a picture opportunity there as well! 

Announcements will be made when you can begin to pick up your awards.

Water/gatorade will be available at the finish line. Catered breakfast items, hot soup, fresh fruit, an assortment of baked goods, packaged food and hot coffee will be available post race inside the B&S facility.

We encourage you to hang around afterwards to explore downtown Salem where there are several restaurants, bars, cafes and boutique shops that are worth checking out.

If you’re looking for brunch/lunch or a post run beverage in Salem just down the street from race site we recommend visiting LongBoards Restaurant & Bar! Just show them your bib number and SAVE 15% off your food!!

If you're heading right out of town, consider swinging by Sylvan Street Grille at some point on the 29th! Sylvan Street Grille is our series wide, year long post race pour provider. Choose from their Salisbury or Peabody location, anytime, all day! Just show them your race bib on the day of the event to redeem your much earned, free beer or glass of wine!!

The Black Cat supports a variety of organizations including the Salem Academy Charter School, North Shore Vortex Baseball Team, Salem State University Women’s Soccer, Rebekah’s Angels Foundation, Allie Castner Foundation, VFW Marblehead and the Salem Park and Recreation.  

We understand life happens and things may come up. We’ve implemented a FREE deferral and transfer policy through March 1st. Refunds/deferrals after March 1st (without insurance), will incur a $10 fee for administration purposes.

Please email B&S Event Management at events@bnsfitness.com or call 978-204-8588

Bib chip timing provided by our race series partner Bay State Race Services. 
Questions about timing? Email timers@verizon.net 

Races are held in rain, snow or shine unless we determine that race conditions are dangerous. This will be based on a prudent decision made on race weekend. If the race needs to be cancelled there will be no refunds, but we will do our best to establish a postponement date. That being said, if a postponement date cannot be reached with all involved parties, each athlete must accept any such risk of their entry fee paid including other amenities paid for such as t-shirts, insurance, and online administrative fees. All fees collected are used to develop and produce the event, including all race supplies, staffing, and administration.