Golden Gate Headlands Marathon

About the race

The Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K is the 42nd annual running event held at the Marin Headlands Visitor Center and Fort Barry in Mill Valley, CA, with the start and finish at the Historic Gunnery Range in Rodeo Valley. Distances offered include:

• Marathon
• Half Marathon
• 10K

The course combines single track hiking trails and fire roads and passes ridgelines with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The shoreline scenery includes sections with wildflowers. The route is marked with orange ribbon. Marathon participants complete the half marathon loop twice and must check in at the finish before beginning a second loop.

Course logistics include a 6 hour cut-off for the marathon (13:45 min/mile pace), a cut-off that equates to 27:30 min/mile for half marathoners, and a 56:15 min/mile pace for 6.4 mile participants. Aid stations are located at miles 6, 13, and 19 for marathoners; half marathoners encounter an aid station at mile 6; there are no aid stations on the 10K course. Runners are advised to carry water. Food and drink are available at the finish area.

Athlete check-in is at the start/finish field across from the Marin Headlands Visitors Center; bibs are mailed to participants and safety pins and course maps are available at check-in. Parking is on Smith Road toward Rodeo Beach with attendants directing vehicles; allow about 15 minutes from parking to check-in and extra time for a one-way tunnel on Bunker Road. Registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable; refund protection cannot be added after checkout and if not purchased, cancellation requests submitted by March 3, 2027 may receive a rollover credit minus a $20 fee. Headphones and other audio devices are not allowed on course sections with narrow trails and steep drop-offs. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

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