Cancellation Policy & Registration Protection

CATEGORY CHANGES

• Downgrades (higher price point race to lower price point race) are available for a $10 fee. Click here for instructions on how to downgrade your registration.
• Upgrades (lower price point race to a higher price point race) are available for a $10 fee plus the cost difference at the current price tier. Click here for instructions on how to upgrade your registration.
• Downgrades/upgrades must be processed by August 1, 2026 and are only supported if the category is still open for registration.

TRANSFERS

• Ocean View Challenge transfer fee – $35
• Half marathon transfer fee – $25
• 5K transfer fee – $10
• 3K transfer fee – $5
• For instructions on how to transfer your registration, please click here.

DEFERRALS

• Deferral fee – $75 (Deferrals are only permitted for the half marathon and Ocean View Challenge distances.)
• The deadline to defer is October 18, 2026
• If you are claiming a 2025 deferral for the 2026 race that deadline is June 21, 2026.
• For instructions on how to defer your registration, please click here.

PREGNANCY DEFERRAL

Registrants who are pregnant and are unable to participate in the race can click here to read our Pregnancy Deferral Policy.

REGISTRATION PROTECTION

During the registration process you will have the opportunity to purchase Protecht Registration Protection for an additional fee. Please see this PDF for all FAQs on Registration Protection. For a full copy of their policy please click here. The Big Sur Marathon Foundation office has no access or influence with regard to their process.

CANCELLATIONS

Per the marathon running industry policy, all entry fees are non-refundable. This policy applies to all entrants and is in effect whether you are injured, have an unexpected family/business emergency, have a medical emergency, etc. If the course has to be changed or the race cancelled due to an act of nature, or the event time changed due to circumstances beyond our control, there are no refunds or rollovers. You may not sell or give your bib to another person without going through the transfer process. There are NO exceptions.

You do have the option to purchase opt-in Protecht Registration Protection for an additional fee at the time of registration.

BANDITS & BIB SWITCHING

While it may seem like no big deal to run without registering (a bandit) or give or sell your race bib to another person, it does present serious issues to both the race organizers and the participant field. 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.