Event Overview

Welcome to The Big Alta! This event is the latest collaborative trail racing experience from Freetrail and Daybreak Racing, located in trail-famous Marin County, California! With every step, these thoughtfully crafted single-loop courses provide an unforgettably scenic trail race experience. On the home trails of Freetrail, The Big Alta offers two race distance options: a tough, inspiring 50K, along with a shorter yet equally exhilarating 28K.

A feast for the eyes, these courses will treat runners to seemingly endless vistas that stretch across the entire San Francisco Bay Area. Both the 50K and 28K routes pay homage to course landmarks Loma Alta and Big Rock Ridge, two of the highest points in Marin County. The Big Alta will not only challenge its participants physically, but also reward their efforts with awe-inspiring views, heaps of trail community love and of course, all the electric race weekend vibes and hype!

Through the combined skillsets of Freetrail and Daybreak Racing, we will endeavor to deliver a premium quality race experience for our participants and volunteers, filled with spectacular views, challenging trails, good vibes, and an exciting finish line experience to celebrate human achievement. We hope you'll join us!

Land Acknowledgement: We honor and recognize that we gather for this event on the traditional lands of the native Coast Miwok people, who have occupied and stewarded these lands for countless generations.

Registration

Laughs, smiles, hugs and high fives are free. The registration fee includes a beautiful, fully marked race course (by the Race Directors), professional organizing staff, fun staging venue, parking, chip timing and results, full service aid stations, medical support, event radio communications, post race food and beverages, custom finisher awards, professional photography and many other essential services and requirements we don't need to mention.

The registration fee does not include a race shirt, hat or other add-on sales. Please review the Daybreak Racing Cancellation Policy if you have questions about withdrawing from the race. 

Event Timeline

*Race dates pending final permit approval

Friday, March 21, 2025

• Optional Bib Pickup: 2:00PM-6:00PM

• Location: San Francisco Running Company shop at 247 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Saturday, March 22, 2025

• Bib Pickup Opens: 6:45AM @ Marinwood Park

• 50K Race Start: 8:00AM (single mass start, no waves)

• Podium Awards Ceremony: 2:30PM

• Final Cutoff: 5:00PM at Finish Line

Sunday, March 23, 2025

• Bib Pickup Opens: 6:45AM @ Marinwood Park

• 28K Race Start: 8:00AM (single mass start, no waves)

• Podium Awards Ceremony: 12:30PM

• Final Cutoff: 2:00PM at Finish Line

Event Sponsors

Getting Here

The event is staged at Marinwood Community Park, located at 775 Miller Creek Road, San Rafael, CA 94903, about 22 miles (30-35 minute drive) north of downtown San Francisco.

AIRPORTS: Nearest major airports are San Francisco Int’l (SFO) and Oakland Int’l (OAK).

Accommodations

Numerous hotel lodging accommodations exist within a 5-10 minute drive of the Start/Finish in San Rafael to the south and Novato to the north.

Parking

All event participant parking is curbside parking along Miller Creek Road near Marinwood Community Center and Marinwood Park. Please no parking on neighborhood side streets or in the Marinwood Park parking lot, reserved for general public and race official use only.

Race Day!

Weather

Check the latest local weather HERE. Late March temperatures can vary considerably, with daytime highs generally in the 55-75°F range and morning lows in the 40°F’s. It can still be a fairly turbulent time of year here, which can bring a broad range of weather in a single day, including sun, breezes, clouds, wind, fog, wind and/or rain showers… It’s coastal Nor Cal, come prepared!

Bib Pickup options

• Friday, March 21, 2PM-6PM at San Francisco Running Co’s Mill Valley Shop (247 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941).

• Race day check-in both days is from 6:45am-7:50am on race morning at the staging area.

• 28K runners may pick up their bib anytime on Saturday at the race staging area during the 50K race from 9am-4pm.

Livestream

The 2024 races had livestream coverage provided by Mountain Outpost, viewable on their Youtube channel (a great conditions scouting opportunity too!).

Results

Live tracking and results will be provided by Ultralive.net. Official results will be posted to Ultrasignup shortly after the event concludes.

Post Race Celebration!

Stay and enjoy the finish line vibes while we cheer on all the race finishers! A post race meal and beverages are available for all participants and volunteers at the finish line area. 

Awards

Every participant receives a custom award as they finish their race. A raffle of some awesome sponsor swag will be held while runners are out on the course! Prizes will be given to raffle winners as they finish their race.

Podium Prize Purse

Thanks to our generous sponsors, podium finishers (top 3) will be awarded prize money (purse amounts to be announced as we approach race weekend).

General Info

Race Swag

Our race t-shirts and hats are from Territory Run Co. Race shirts and hats are not included in the race entry fee and can be purchased during registration. Swag must be picked up at the race. All unclaimed swag will be sold on race day. 

Inclement Weather Policy

Our permitting agencies reserve the right to rescind permits if severe storm conditions are predicted on race weekend. In such a case, we willd make every effort to postpone the event to a later date before cancelling.

If we have extended rain/inclement weather on race day, we will implement a gear requirement for all runners. This is to ensure runners are adequately prepared to confront harsh conditions, particularly in the event of a safety incident or injury on course. An email will go out to all runners by Thursday morning of race week activating the gear requirement if inclement weather is in the forecast.

Required gear will include: a running pack, rain jacket, smartphone with course info and means of contact by race staff, emergency blanket, whistle, ID, 400 calories of nutrition, 1 liter capacity of fluids, and a hat or bandana. 

Pet/Dog Policy

Friendly, leashed dogs are allowed at the event staging area but not on the course.

Cancellations

See the Daybreak Racing Cancellation Policy.