Bakersfield Marathon

The 9th Annual Bakersfield Marathon will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Bakersfield, California, with the start and finish line located at the Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301. The event features a scenic and historic course through downtown Bakersfield, certified by USATF, and is a Boston Qualifier for the Full Marathon. The race will be held on a day expected to have mild temperatures, with a high of around 68°F and light winds. Participants can expect a well-organized road event with multiple race distances, aid stations, and amenities designed for runners of all levels.

What distances are available for this event?

• →Full Marathon
• →Half Marathon
• →10K
• →6K
• →Kids 1K
• →Diaper Dash (1/4 Mile)
• →Virtual Run/Walk

How much does registration cost?

• →Full Marathon: $170.60 (incl. fee)
• →Half Marathon: $149.40 (incl. fee)
• →10K: $80.50 (incl. fee)
• →6K: $69.90 (incl. fee)
• →Kids 1K: $11.60 (incl. fee)
• →Virtual Run/Walk: $69.90

What are the start times for each race?

• →Full Marathon: 7:02 AM PDT
• →Half Marathon: 7:07 AM PDT
• →10K: 7:47 AM PDT
• →6K: 7:52 AM PDT
• →Kids 1K: 9:40 AM – 10:00 AM PDT (Saturday, March 21, 2026)
• →Diaper Dash (1/4 Mile): 9:15 AM – 9:30 AM PDT (Saturday, March 21, 2026)

What are the time limits for each race?

• →Full Marathon: 7 hours (Must average 16 min/mile or faster)
• →Half Marathon: 6 hours 15 minutes (Must average 28 min/mile or faster)
• →10K: 2 hours (Must average 19 min 15 sec per mile or faster)
• →6K: 1 hour 45 minutes (Must average 28 min/mile or faster)

Are pacers available for the races?

• →Full Marathon: Yes (Targets: 3:05, 3:25, 3:35, 3:40, 3:50, 3:55, 4:05, 4:20, 4:35, 4:50, 5:05, 5:20)
• →Half Marathon: Yes (Targets: 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:45, 3:00)

What aid and gels are provided during the races?

• →Full Marathon: 15 Water/Aid Stations; 3 Gel Stations
• →Half Marathon: 15 Water/Aid Stations; 1 Gel Station
• →10K: 15 Water/Aid Stations; 1 Gel Station
• →6K: 15 Water/Aid Stations; 1 Gel Station

What amenities and features are included in the event?

• →Gender-specific runner shirt (not guaranteed for registrations less than one month prior)
• →Custom finisher's medallion
• →Runner breakfast included
• →Finish Line Food & Beer Festival
• →One free beer for participants 21+
• →Health & Wellness Expo (Saturday, March 21, 2026)
• →RaceJoy app integration for live GPS tracking, progress alerts, and "Send-a-Cheer" audio messages
• →Group discounts for groups of 15+ (15% off registrations)

What are the special offers for children?

• →Children 9 and under receive a $25 entry fee for the 6K during registration
• →Diaper Dash (1/4 Mile) is available for ages 5 and under

What is the virtual run/walk option?

• →Virtual Run/Walk: Participants can run or walk anywhere and submit results via the RaceJoy app
• →Registration deadline: March 22, 2026 at 12:29pm PDT

What are the course rules for the event?

• →If a participant falls behind the pace required to finish before the specific event time limit, they may be asked to move to the sidewalk as roads reopen on schedule
• →Pacers will run an even pace throughout the course, holding sign indicators for their finish times

What is the event schedule?

• →Kids events on Saturday, March 21, 2026
• →Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 6K, and Kids 1K on Sunday, March 22, 2026
• →Health & Wellness Expo on Saturday, March 21, 2026 (Packet pickup location)

What is the policy on race day registration?

• →Virtual Run/Walk registration closes on March 22, 2026 at 12:29pm PDT
• →Full Marathon and Half Marathon registration closes on March 20, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
• →10K and 6K registration prices increase after March 15, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
• →Kids 1K registration prices increase after March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT

What is the course description?

• →The courses wind through Bakersfield’s most scenic and historic neighborhoods, specifically traversing historic Downtown Bakersfield
• →The course is walker-friendly with a 16 min/mile cutoff for the full distance
• →The event is USATF Certified, making the Full Marathon a Boston Qualifier

What is the policy for participants using the RaceJoy app?

• →Participants must carry their phone and activate tracking on race day to use RaceJoy features
• →The app is used for live GPS tracking, progress alerts, and "Send-a-Cheer" audio messages from spectators