Half Marathon

RACE OVERVIEW

Race Date

November 10-12, 2023

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 11 and the Monterey Bay Half Marathon on Sunday, November 12, 2023.

Entrants receive finish medallions for both races plus an exclusive Ocean View Challenge medallion after finishing the half marathon: three medallions in all!

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 is now open! Please click on the registration tab at the top of this page.

Deferrals from the Cancelled 2018 Monterey Bay Half Marathon

All entrants from the canceled 2018 Monterey Bay Half Marathon who chose to defer to 2020 or 2021 were given the option to switch their deferral to 2022 or 2023. Those entrants should have received  an email with the link to register their new deferral option at haku. If you did not receive an email, please reach out at registration@bsim.org. The deadline to sign up for 2022 or defer to 2023 is June 19th, 2022.

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.

COURSE SAFETY RULES

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.

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 Packet Pick-Up Authorization Form. Please be sure to make your travel plans accordingly.

COMMUNICATIONS

Prior to race weekend, you will receive a series of communications containing important information. If you have a Gmail account, be sure to check your All Mail or spam folders as our eBlast or eNewsletter may not land in your inbox. Communications are sent via our registration provider, haku.com.

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CONFIRMATION

If you received a confirmation email, then you are registered for an event. If you did not receive one, be sure to check your spam and all mail folders. If you still can’t locate it, contact haku technical support at 831.713.2227 or email registration@bsim.org.

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 15 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 DESCRIPTION & MAP

Course is subject to change.

The out-and-back certified course begins on Del Monte Avenue at Camino El Estero and heads east on Del Monte next to the Window on the Bay Park. Runners turn right on Camino Aguajito at the eastern end of Lake El Estero and then make the next right onto Third Street. After crossing Camino El Estero, Third becomes Pearl Street. Runners stay on Pearl until Alvarado where they turn right. At Franklin Street, runners turn right again and then left on Washington, left on Del Monte and pass through the Custom House Tunnel. After emerging from the tunnel, runners veer right onto Foam Street. They take Foam to Drake and turn right again and then left onto Cannery Row. They run the length of Cannery Row and then turn right on Ocean View Blvd. in Pacific Grove. At Fountain Avenue runners turn left and proceed to Lighthouse Avenue in downtown Pacific Grove where they turn right. They take another right at the Pacific Grove Post Office onto Central Avenue. At 17th Street runners turn left and continue down to Ocean View Blvd. and Lover’s Point. The next six miles are run next to the Monterey Bay. Ocean View becomes Sunset Drive just past Asilomar Blvd. Runners will make the turnaround at Asilomar Beach. They will return to Lover’s Point the same way (but in the ocean side lane) and then get on the Recreation Trail. Runners take the Rec Trail back to Cannery Row where they will again run down the Row to Drake. At Drake runners get on the Rec Trail again and take it to the finish at Custom House Plaza-Monterey State Historical Park.

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 Map
Course Elevation Charts

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.

TIMEKEEPING - PACE

Bib chip timing is provided by South Valley Endurance.  There will be split mats near miles 4, 6, 7.8 and 11.

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. Double dipping is allowed; athletes winning cash bonuses are eligible for divisional awards.

Overall awards will go five deep for male, female, and gender nonconforming.  Divisional (age group) awards will go three deep in five year age divisions (male, female, and gender nonconforming) after 15 and under and ages 16-19.

The awards ceremony begins at 10:00 AM at Custom House Plaza-Monterey State Historical Park.

ELITE RUNNERS

Elite Competition Standards for entry:

Men – Sub 1:09:00 (or equivalent mark) in last 24 months

Women – Sub 1:18:00 (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

PACING

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!

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 non-profit organization and the proceeds from our events are donated to local charities and grant groups.