Pre-Registration Bakersfield Marathon 2027

This page is only for registration for 2027

Go to runbakersfield.com for the 2026 event

2018 Roadrunner 5K Course Map.

CASH AWARDS & TROPHIES

Full Marathon - Overall Male & Female Winners 
1st     $1000
2nd    $750
3rd     $500

Half Marathon - Overall Male & Female Winners 
1st     $500
2nd    $250
3rd     $125

TROPHIES

Full & Half Division Winners
Divisions: Under 19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
Trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place male/female division winners

10K Winners

Division: Under 19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
Trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place male/female division winners

6K Winners
Divisions:Under 19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
Trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place male/female division winners
 

 
To register as an exhibitor, please visit our Expo & Festival Registration Site!
 
Location:    Kern County Museum 3801 Chester Avenue
Date:           Saturday, April 3rd, 2027
Time:          10:00am to 4:00pm

You will need to show your ID in order to pick up your own bib on Saturday and/or on Sunday.

If you are picking up a bib for another participant, you must

1. Show a copy of their ID (this can be on your phone or printed) and

2. Hand in a signed waiver from that participant.

Waivers must be printed on paper and will be left behind at registration.

You can not email the waiver or show a copy of on your phone. These will not be accepted.

You can download the waiver at this link.

New courses for 2027!  All events will end at the Kern County Museum. Stay tuned for the unveiling of our exciting new routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - Can I pick up A bib For another participant?

A - Only if you have a copy of their ID, and a printed waiver that they have signed. Download a copy of that waiver at this link.

Q - Is there free parking?

A - Yes, please note the entrance to the parking lot will be close from 6:30am to 8:00am, please arrive early and visit this page for maps and more details.

Q - What is the minimum age to register for each event?

A -  Although there is no "standard" age at which a runner should get involved in the sport of running, we recommend runners be at least age 14 for the Marathon, 10 for the Half Marathon, 8 for the 10K, and 6 years old for the 6K. Ultimately, it is up to each parent or guardian to adjust our recommended age, higher or lower, depending upon their dependent's ability to participate in our event.

Q - Are dogs allowed on the course?

A - No. Pets, wagons, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters or bicycles of any kind are NOT allowed on the course for safety concerns.

Q - Are baby strollers allowed?

A - Yes, you are allowed to run with a jogger stroller. 

Q - Will there be race day registration?

A - Events may sell out, but you will be able to register in person on race day pending availability. Prices will increase race day.

Q - Will there be race day packet pickup available?

A - VIP packet pick up is available on race day for an extra fee, starting at 6am.

Q - Will there be a bag drop-off at the event?

A - Yes. Bag drop-off will be available near the start/finish line to check your personal belongings. Pick-up will be available at any point during the day. 

Q - Is the Bakersfield Marathon a Boston Qualifier?

A - Yes, the Bakersfield Marathon is a USATF-certified, Boston Qualifying course.

Q - Can I run with headphones?

A - Yes. USATF, the national governing body of the sport, recently amended its ban on headphones, iPods and similar devices. It is recommended that athletes keep only one earbud in to be able to hear directions from race officials or emergency vehicles.

Q - Can my friends and family see me along the course?

A - Yes! There are many accessible points around the course for spectators. Keep in mind that street closures may alter driving routes around Bakersfield during the race.

Q - Can someone special cross the finish line with me without a bib?

A - The Finish Line is reserved for FINISHERS ONLY. Out of respect to the other runners, please tell friends and family that they can only cheer you on as you cross the finish line.

Q - How "fast" is the course?

A - The Bakersfield Marathon is mostly flat with some hills at the beginning. Please check out the elevation profile on the course maps page for more detail.

Q - I have never run a race or marathon before, is The Bakersfield Marathon a good fit for my first race?

A - Absolutely! The Bakersfield Marathon is a community event that is geared towards everyone from experienced runners to walkers! The positive energy surrounding The Bakersfield Marathon can carry ANYONE across the finish line. Register today and commit to taking on a new challenge!

GPS Readings on Certified Courses

If you just ran the Bakersfield Marathon or Half-Marathon and wore a GPS watch (Garmin, Timex, etc.), used a Nike + or a smart-phone mapping program, you probably found it read more than 26.2 or 13.1-miles. This is not unusual. As a matter of fact, it’s typical.

But don’t worry, the Bakersfield Marathon & Half Marathon course was not long. The course you ran was certified as accurately measured by USA Track and Field, the governing body for road running in this country. All road race courses are measured by a standard bicycle fitted with a calibrated mechanical counter on the front wheel. Courses are not measured by GPS, tape measure, surveying equipment, car, or even by walking the route with a measuring wheel. 

I am an experienced course measurer as well as a runner who wears a GPS when I train and race. I have found GPS readings on certified course are almost always longer than the actual measured distance. There are a couple of important reasons for this:

1)     Publicly-available GPS devices, while amazingly precise, are still not 100% accurate. After all, they are receiving signals from at least four different satellites more than 12,500 miles above the earth! I have found most GPS devices measure 1-to-2% long. Others may find their GPS on this or other courses reading 1-2% short. GPS accuracy is affected by elevation, the number and frequency of turns, tree coverage, tall buildings, bridges, tunnels, and the quality and quantity of satellite reception.

How much difference can 1-2% make? In a half marathon, 2% is more than 1,380 feet or more than a quarter mile. Therefore, readings of 13.25-13.35 miles or more for a certified 13.10938-mile half marathon are not unusual. This doesn’t mean you necessarily ran that far: it means that is the distance your GPS recorded.

2)     Courses are measured by the shortest-possible route. This means that the measuring bicycle is ridden within a foot of the curb/pavement edge and turns are “straightened out” as much as possible. For most runners not at the very front or very back of the race, however, this shortest route is not always available. This is because of the thousands of other runners on the course, running to one side to access a water stop or a restroom, the desire to run alongside friends, yielding the fastest line to passing runners, etc. This is true with any road race but you would be surprised how much these small changes in your running “line” can add up over the entire distance.

The GPS is a useful and informative training device. I trust the stopwatch function, of course, but I know the distance feature will almost always give me a reading that is “too long.” Consequently, if I use the "pace per mile" or "average pace" functions, they are going to register times that are a bit too fast. For example, if your Garmin computes that you are running a 10 minute-per-mile pace, you are likely actually running 10:06-10:12 minutes per mile (the typical 1-2% variance).

If you want to learn more about how courses are measured, visit the “Course Certification” area in the “Products and Services” section of the USA Track and Field website (http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/certification/).

Note that if you used a smart-phone based measuring system (e.g., Mapmyrun on your iPhone), the measured distance is usually even less accurate than a GPS watch like a Garmin. Here is a very-comprehensive article comparing the accuracy of various devices: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/06/2011-sport-device-gps-accuracy-in-depth.html

If you have any additional course measurement questions, please feel free to contact your Bakersfield Marathon Race Directors at directors@activebakersfield.org.

Thanks for your participation and best wishes for your training and racing.

Doug Thurston
USATF Official Course Certifier
doug@bsim.org 

Bakersfield Marathon Legacy Club Continues in 2023!

A free program for participants who run an event with us every year, the Legacy Club will continue to gain more benefits and exclusivity with each passing year. If you ran in our inaugural 2016 race and became a Legacy Club Member in 2017, and have run with us every year since — then don’t miss out on continuing to be a part of this elite club! Run with us in 2023 and continue your legacy! Scroll to the bottom to see the latest perk our legacy runners will receive.

While our 2020 and 2021 virtual events don't count towards Legacy Club status, you can opt to register for our 2023 Virtual Race to keep your legacy status. This is a great way to keep your Legacy Club status intact if you have a conflict on race day. 

All Legacy Club members who are signed up for the 2023 event are listed in the document that you can download by clicking on the following link.

Legacy Club 6th Year Confirmed

All past Legacy Club members, who signed up for the first five years but have yet to sign up for the 2023 event, are listed in the document that you can download by clicking on the following link.

Legacy Club Eligible But Not Yet Signed Up

If you believe you should be listed but are not or your name is on the wrong list, please contact directors@activebakersfield.org. 

This list was last updated at 1pm on March 5th, 2023.

The 2023 Legacy Club Gift is pictured below!

Our 2023 Bakersfield Marathon Travel Blanket packs and zips easily to form a pillow, then converts effortlessly to become a comfortable blanket. Perfect for our Legacy Runners to get cozy after a long training run!"

Free parking is available for participants, guests and late-arriving vendors.

The entrance will be active between 4:00am and 6:30am, closed starting at 6:30am and re-opening at 8:00am.

Use 40th Street to approach Chester Avenue and wait for a Police Escort to cross into the parking lots adjacent to Sam Lynn Ball Park.

40th Street may be reached by using Jewett Street from 34th Street. See map below for details.

2022 Bakersfield Marathon Photos

2019 Bakersfield Marathon Photos

2018 Bakersfield Marathon Photos

2017 Bakersfield Marathon Photos

2016 Bakersfield Marathon Photos

RACE ETIQUETTE GUIDE

No runner wants to disrupt the race of another. Here are some tips and reminders, adopted from the Road Runners Club of America, to help all runners have a safe and enjoyable race:

Race Etiquette on Course
·       If you drop something as the race starts, don’t stop and pick it up! Wait until almost everyone has crossed the starting line; then retrieve it.
·       Don’t drop clothing on the course after you warm-up. If you must shed layers of clothing, tie them around your waist or place them on the side of the road where no one will trip over them. If you drop it; don’t expect to get it back.
·       Run or walk no more than two abreast.
·       Do not block runners coming up behind you by swerving needlessly back and forth across the course.
·       If you are walking in a group, stay to the back of the pack and follow the two abreast rule.
·       Bodily functions are a fact of life during a race. If you need to spit, blow your nose or throw-up, move to the side of the road and do it there. If nature calls, look for a port-a-potty available at every aid station.
·       Move to the side if someone behind you says “excuse me” or “on your right/left”. The person behind you is giving you a heads up before passing. It’s proper race etiquette to let that person pass you without blocking their effort.
·       If someone in front of you is wearing headphones, and they are blocking, gently touch their elbow or shoulder as you pass to alert them to your presence.
·       If you need to tie your shoe or stop for any reason (phone call, nose blow, etc) move to the side of the road and step off the course.
·       “Selfies” are all the rage these days but they can be very disruptive to other runners. If you want to take a picture, please check your surroundings carefully and stay off to the side of the course.
·       Yield the right of way to all police and emergency vehicles and official race bicycles or scooters.
·       Don’t cheat! Don’t cut the course or run with someone else’s number.

Aid Station Etiquette
·       When approaching an aid station to hydrate or re-fuel, move to the right and grab your fluid/nutritional needs from the volunteers or the aid tables then continue forward away from the volunteers or aid table.
·       If you need to stop at an aid station step to the right side of the road and proceed to the aid station, but do not block others from accessing the aid tables or volunteers handing out fluids.
·       Drop your used cup in the road as close to an aid station as possible or look for a trash can at each aid station. Do not throw your cup off into the bushes.
·       If you use an energy gel, take the used wrapper with you or dispose at an aid station trash can. Do not put energy gel wrappers in used cups. They are composted separately after the race.
·       If you see someone in distress on the course, flag down a course marshal on bicycle or report their number and position at a first aid station next to every water station.
·       Please remember that there is no way to restock paper in the portable toilets during the race. If you want to make sure you have what you need, bring it with you!

Finish Line Etiquette
·       Once you have crossed the finish line, keep moving forward as directed by volunteers. There is a great place to wait for your friends later in the finish area.
·       Exit the chute and wait for friends or family in a central location.
·       Enjoy the post-race refreshments, but remember it is not an all you can eat buffet for you and your family. There are many other finishers behind you who want to have the same variety of foods and fluids.
·       Stay around for the awards ceremony to cheer on the overall winners along with the age group winners. Running is one of the few sports where the participants get to mingle closely with the event winners.

Award Winner Etiquette
·       If you won an award, stay for the award ceremony. It is about you, after all.
·       If you feel you deserved an award but your name was not announced, don’t run on stage to debate the award with the announcer. The announcer usually just reads the information given to them by the race officials. Find a race official and discuss the discrepancy with them.

Remember no event is perfect and people work hard to make them safe and enjoyable. The Bakersfield Marathon & Half Marathon is staffed primarily by volunteers, but there is a race director or race committee that is responsible for an event. If you have ideas for improving an event or concerns you would like to address, share them with the race director or race committee in a positive and productive manner after the race.

Thank you for your participation.
The Bakersfield Marathon Race Committee

Saturday, March 25, 2023 - Health & Fitness Expo / Packet Pickup

Hours       10:00am - 4:00pm

Location   Buck Owens' Crystal Palace

Sunday, March 26, 2023 - Race Day

5:00am    Parking Entrance Opens

5:30am    Same Day Registration & Packet Pickup

6:30am    Parking Entrance Closes until 8:00am

6:55am    National Anthem

7:00am    Full Marathon Start

7:15am    Half Marathon Start

7:30am    10K Start 

7:45am    6K Start

8:00am    Festival Area Opens

8:00am    Food Area Opens          

8:30am    Beer Garden Opens

2:00pm    Finish Line Closes

2:30pm    Beer Garden Last Call

3:00pm    Beer Garden Closes

3:30pm    Festival Area Closes

We are always looking for excellent companies to partner with us in bringing the Bakersfield Marathon to life. If your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor please email directors@activebakersfield.org.

Please find our Sponsorship Package available here for download. 

We are excited to welcome our Training Partners!

Glinn and Giordano Physical Therapy

Glinn and Giordano Physical Therapy is thrilled to be a part of the 2022 Bakersfield Marathon! Being in Bakersfield for over 40 years they are well versed in working with our community in performance enhancement, injury prevention and recovery.

Glinn & Giordano will be hosting a training session to review some of the major components of running including:

·       Common Injuries
·       Risk Factors
·       Running skills and drills
·       Strength and mobility
·       Posture
·       Cadence
·       Nutrition

Whether you’re an experienced runner or just beginning feel free to join their training session on January 12, 2022.  Make sure you bring clothes you can move in because they will be reviewing and performing exercises and drills to work on while training for the 2022 Bakersfield Marathon.

Count on Glinn & Giordano to be there at the start of the race to help with any last minute preparations.  Can’t wait to see you all there!   
If you would like to attend the training session please RSVP as space will be limited. Reach out at (661) 832-9737 or sjelmini@ggphysicaltherapy.com

Click on PDF to open and print Volunteer Water-Station Instructions.

Please be reminded that some water-stations have pop-up tents designed for First-Aid personnel, as well as 1 table and chairs.
First-aid personnel can find their supplies inside of the water-station foot-lockers.

Thank you all for your volunteer service!

In addition to giving local runners an opportunity to run a Boston-qualifying marathon in their own backyard, we are excited to welcome runners from across the U.S. and around the world. The Bakersfield Marathon has a race for everyone!

We have a scenic Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Run through Downtown Bakersfield!

Packet pickup is on Saturday, April 3rd, 2027 where you are invited to take part in our Health and Fitness Expo.

 Gender Specific Runner Shirt (those who sign up less than a month before the event are not guaranteed a shirt)
 Custom Finisher's Medallion
 Runner Breakfast
 One Free Beer (21+)
 15 Water/Aid Stations
 3 Gel Stations in the Full, 1 in the Half
 USATF Certified Boston Qualifier
 Health & Fitness Expo 
 Finish Line Food & Beer Festival  
 Walker-Friendly Course (16 min/mile for the Full Marathon)