RACE OVERVIEW
Race Date
November 9, 2025
Start Time & Location
7:00 AM on Del Monte Avenue in downtown Monterey
Course Time Limit
The Half Marathon course and finish line are only open for a 3.5 hour finish pace, or 16-minutes-per-mile. This time limit begins with the final start wave. Runners who are unable to maintain a 16-minute pace may be turned-around early and/or redirected to an alternate course. Aid stations, official finish times, finish medallions, and post-race refreshments are only available to runners who maintain a 3:30 finish pace or below.
THE OCEAN VIEW CHALLENGE
The Ocean View Challenge is a special entry category for those who do the Pacific Grove Lighthouse 5K on Saturday, November 8 and the Monterey Bay Half Marathon on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
Entrants receive…
- Discounted entry fee
- Finish medal AND shirt for the Pacific Grove Lighthouse 5K
- Finish medal AND shirt for the Monterey Bay Half Marathon
- Exclusive Ocean View Challenge medal after finishing Sunday’s half marathon
- Personalized race bibs with first name
ENTRY LIMITS AND QUALIFICATIONS
The half marathon is limited to 9,000 qualified entrants (must be 12 years or older, in good health and well-trained). Only those participants who are able to complete the race in 3.5 hours (chip time) will receive a Monterey Bay Half Marathon finishers’ medallion and an online finishers’ certificate.
REGISTRATION & ENTRY FEES
Registration for the 2025 race is now OPEN! Make sure you are signed up for our email list to be the first to know when registration opens.
PACKET PICK-UP
You must be present to pick up your bib, participant shirt and race packet at the Health & Fitness Expo; you cannot delegate another person to pick-up in your place unless you have completed an official MBHM PPU Authorization. Please be sure to make your travel plans accordingly.
PARKING & TRANSPORTATION
DOWNTOWN EAST & WEST GARAGES The Garages are located on Franklin between Washington and Alvarado Streets in downtown Monterey just blocks from the start and finish. To park here you MUST ARRIVE by 5:30 AM. Parking is free until 11 AM. See Parking Map for more information.
STREET PARKING There is parking available on city streets. Many meters and surface lots ARE enforced on Sunday.
FREE MONTEREY PENINSULA COLLEGE PARKING AND SHUTTLE All day free parking is available at Monterey Peninsula College (MPC). Free shuttles will take runners from MPC to a drop-off near the race start every 10 minutes from 5 to 6:15 AM. If exiting to Monterey from Highway 1, take exit 401A and turn left onto Aguajito Rd. at the traffic light at the bottom of the exit ramp. Turn right at the entrance to MPC and then right again onto Via Lavandera. If coming down Munras Avenue from exit 399B, turn right on Fremont and proceed to the intersection of Aguajito and Fremont, then turn right. Follow signs inside the Monterey Peninsula College parking lot. Plan on arriving no later than 6 AM.
FREE DEL MONTE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING AND SHUTTLE All day free parking is available at Del Monte Center (DMC). Free shuttles will take runners from DMC to a drop-off area near the race start every 10 minutes from 5 to 6:15 AM. Take exit 399B from Highway 1 to Munras Ave. Del Monte Center is immediately on the right after exiting. Follow signs and directions for parking. Plan on arriving no later than 6 AM.
RETURN SHUTTLES Return shuttles to both MPC and DMC depart from Figueroa Street at the Recreation Trail (near the race start area) from 8:30 AM to 12 Noon. See the map on page 6 for the departure location.
RUNNER DROP-OFFS The designated runner drop-off location for private vehicles is on Pacific Street between Jefferson and Madison (in front of City Hall). It’s a short five-minute walk from here to the start on Del Monte.
BIKE VALET Free secure bicycle parking is available for runners and spectators near the finish area between 5:30 and 11:30 AM.
START CORRALS
Half marathon participants will assemble in corrals before the race with a pulsed start (1-3 minutes between each corral release). Corral assignments are based on the predicted time entered during registration. Please be accurate with your predicted time to ensure a safe and smooth start for all. Your official time does not begin until you cross the start line.
If you are Active Duty military or a military Veteran, you can opt to be in a special Military corral which will start between Corrals B and C.
Click HERE for a map of the start area.
COURSE - MAP, SAFETY, & RULES
Download the Course Map
Course Elevation Charts
USATF Course Certification: CA23010DT
Note: Your GPS device will generally indicate a course length longer than 13.1 miles. For a comprehensive explanation of course measurement and GPS reading, click HERE.
Course is subject to change.
Due to liability and safety concerns and the nature of the course, there are NO animals, unofficial pacers, skates, skateboards, bikes, wheelchairs, hand cranks, strollers, knee scooters, baby joggers or children in backpacks, permitted on the course.
AID STATIONS
Water stations, also offering nuun, will be found approximately every two miles on the course. GU will be available at two aid stations on the course (miles 5.9 and 9.4). If you are taking part in our BYOB program (“Bring your own Bottle”), a fill up station will be available at the turnaround (approximate mile 7.8). There will be first aid and medical care at all aid stations and at the finish.
TIMING & PACING
Bib chip timing is provided by SVE. There will be split mats near miles 4, 6, 7.8 and 11.
Pacing is provided by Fleet Feet Monterey. Pacers will be leading finish times of 1:30, 1:45, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50, 3:00, 3:15 & 3:30.
For all your race day needs, be sure to visit the Fleet Feet booth at the Expo!
AWARDS
To be eligible for overall and divisional awards, one must show a time for all split timing mats located on the course. These will be near miles 4, 6, 7.8 and 11.
Cash bonuses are based on GUN, not chip time. Divisional awards will be based on chip time.
Overall awards will go five deep for male, female, and gender nonconforming. Divisional (age group) awards will go three deep for 15 and under, ages 16-19, and then in five year age divisions from 20 and up.
The awards ceremony begins at 10:00 AM at Custom House Plaza-Monterey State Historical Park and will feature the overall top 5 men and women. Age group awards as well as overall gender nonconforming awards will be available at the awards tent in the finish festival.
ELITE RUNNERS
Elite Standards for entry:
Men – Sub 1:11:00 (or equivalent mark) in last 24 months
Women – Sub 1:25:00 (or equivalent mark) in last 24 months
Masters Men – Sub 1:20:00 (or equivalent mark) in last 24 months
Masters Women – Sub 1:30:00 (or equivalent mark) in last 24 months
If you have achieved one of these standards in the last 24 months, you are entitled to a complimentary entry. To claim your entry, please fill out the form below. If you have questions regarding your elite status, send us an email at registration@bsim.org
*The Monterey Bay Half Marathon will not provide elite athlete travel stipends, lodging, or meals.
If you’re an elite runner, Submit your information.
We will award a cash incentive for runners that break the times below.
Course Record Men – 1:02:13
Course Record Women – 1:08:03
Men
Sub 1:06:00 – $250
Sub 1:05:00 – $500
Sub 1:04:00 – $750
Sub 1:03:00 – $1000
Course Record Bonus – $2000
Women
Sub 1:15:00 – $250
Sub 1:14:00 – $500
Sub 1:13:00 – $750
Sub 1:12:00 – $1000
Course Record Bonus – $2000
BANDITS & BIB SWITCHING
While it may seem like no big deal to run without registering (a bandit) or to give or sell your race bib to another person, it does present serious consequences to both the race organizers and the participant field alike. Race results and finisher’s awards can be impacted and medical staff might not be able to identify a participant in need of treatment on the course. It is imperative that the person wearing the bib and taking part in the race is the same person that is in our registrant database.
If a person is caught wearing a bib that is registered to someone else, both parties will be banned from participating in all Big Sur events for a period of one year. The person wearing the bib will also be disqualified from any official results.
IPODS AND AUDIO DEVICES
Our organization strongly discourages the use of iPods and other headphone devices as using an audio device may compromise your safety and that of others. We truly hope you’ll opt to leave your headsets at home and instead let the incredible scenery, the music we provide on the course, and your fellow runners serve as your motivation and inspiration
CHARITY
The Big Sur Marathon Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create beautiful running events that promote health and benefit the community. Under the brand are the Big Sur International Marathon in April and the Monterey Bay Half Marathon in November. Each year, the organization donates over $300,000 to local nonprofits via their grant program to community volunteer groups.
