Race details for all distances
Race date: June 21, 2025
Packet pick-up
Pre-race Packet Pickup is available the week leading up to the race at the Injinji Store located at 6975 Flanders Dr, San Diego, CA 92121)
Wed June 18: 10am-2pm
Thurs June 19: 10am-5:30pm
Fri June 20: 10am-2pm
You can also pick up your packet and bib on race morning.
Race morning check-in windows:
50k: 5:00am-6:15am
25k: 5:00am-6:45am
Half-marathon: 5:00am-7:45am
***ALL distances on race morning MUST check-in, even if you already have your bib*** if you do not check-in on race morning, you will be a DNS.
Race start times:
50K Start- 6:30 AM (race briefing at 6:20am)
25K Start - 7:00 AM (race briefing at 6:50am)
Half Marathon Start - 8:00 AM (race briefing at 7:50am)
RACE HEADQUARTERS: Hilltop Community park 9711 Oviedo Way, 92129
Race Entry
Limited entry spots, first come first serve. When there are no more entry spots available, registrants may add themselves to the waitlist on the registration page on UltraSignUp Registrants on the wait-list will be notified by email if they are eligible to participate, and they must respond within 24 hours. If for any reason the event is cancelled due to an act of nature or permit issues, the race directors will make every effort to refund all unobligated funds to entrants or will roll over entry fees to a rescheduled race date. Entrants must be aware that there are always risks involved in trail racing and there can be no guarantees that all entry fees will be refunded if the run is not held as advertised due to unforeseen circumstances.
Registration Details
Entrants must register on Ultrasignup.com.
In the event you must withdraw from the race, you are entitled to a 50% refund before April 30th, 2025. There will be no refunds granted after April 30th. You may transfer your bib to another runner on Ultrasignup up to 2 weeks before the race.
Course Marking
UPDATED FOR 2025
All routes have a lot of fun twists and turns. It’s super easy to miss a turn because you’re having the best time, ever, in your life.
Runners must know the course. Here are some suggestions to ensure you don’t miss a turn:
1) Export the route as a .gpx from HelloDrifter and upload to your favorite app to follow the course (Strava, for example)
2) Put the .gpx on your watch for turn-by-turn directions
3) Go oldschool and print a physical map
4) Memorize the entire thing (jk, please have the route on you!)
The course is marked with some knee-level white signs at key junctions, however…
You MUST follow the color/style ribbon associated with your distance. Your bib has the same color as your ribbon. Because all three distances share significant amounts of the course, please expect to see all three colors in many spots.
50k: Orange ribbon
25k: Blue ribbon
Half-marathon: Checkered white & black
Road Crossing (50k only)
There is one major road crossing on the 50k course, at the San Dieguito Trail Head aid station (50K only). Use extreme caution when crossing the road and yield to all traffic! There will be signs indicating “runners crossing,” but VEHICLES HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. Please listen to the volunteer road guards and prioritize your safety.
Aid Stations
Aid stations will have (at a minimum): Water, ice, liquid nutrition, gels, fruit, salty foods/chips, sweets, shade, and first aid. Some aid stations will provide additional items at their discretion. This is a cup-less race. You will receive a re-usable cup with your registration.
Dropping Out of the Race
If you as the runner drops from the race for any reason, it is YOUR responsibility as the participant to personally notify the nearest aid station captain that you are withdrawing from the race, and give them your runner’s bib. Failure to notify an aid station that you are out of the race may result in costly search and rescue measures. All race directors take this very seriously! We don’t want to have to send a helicopter to your house and find out you’re in the shower.
Drop Bags
Runners in the 50k only can have drop bags (clearly marked with name, bib #, and dropbag location) for personal needs at the Black Mountain Ranch Park Aid Station. Drop bags will be transported back to the Start /Finish after closure of that aid station. Drop bags should be placed in the marked designated area at the pre-race check-in area (it’s literally a tarp, just put your bag on it), prior to the race start. Forgotten drop bags may be picked up but may not be mailed following the event (unless you’re nice and email us if you forget it). Unclaimed drop bags will be donated to charity after a four week period.
Awards
All entrants will receive a bag with cool custom race goodies as their race packet, and a medal when you finish. The podium placers (1st-3rd, male, female, and nonbinary in each race) will receive a trophy and special awards as donated by our sponsors or provided by the RDs. 1st place for Masters (50+) given to male, female, and nonbinary will additionally be awarded.
$1,000 CASH PRIZE to RUNNERS WHO BREAK 50k COURSE RECORDS in their respective category:*
MEN’S CR - MAKAI CLEMONS 3:39:29, 2024
WOMEN’S CR - KALIE DEMERJIAN 4:47:31, 2021
*Race Directors reserve the right to verify entrant's GPS measured results for the correct on-course completion of the 50K course under the course record for men and women, separately. If it is determined that the participant did not complete the correct 50K course correctly in it’s entirety, the entrant will not be eligible for the cash prize. The cash prize will be taxed according to tax laws.
Volunteers
Thank you for respecting and showing your appreciation to our volunteers. They are here to help you on your journey and we could not stage this event without the selfless donation of their time and support. A simple "thank you" costs you nothing and means a lot to those who contribute to your run. If you know of anyone who would like to help out at an aid station, the start/finish, to pre-run the course to check course markings, to sweep a portion of the course, or any other assistance, we would love to hear from them....have them volunteer here: https://ultrasignup.com/volunteer.aspx?dtid=55329 or email the Race Director: blackmountaintrailracing@gmail.com
Further Rules and Regulations
UPDATED 2025
Sorry, yes, there are more rules. It’s fun, we promise!
These rules and regulations are designed to keep all participants safe and to ensure their best opportunity at finishing the race to the best of their ability.
1. Safety: Prioritize and ensure safety at all times.
2. Bibs: Bib numbers must always visible on the front of your body/clothing to ensure proper runner identification.
3. Aid-station check-ins: Check in and out at every aid station with the time keeper. Ensure that they acknowledge you by your bib number; do not assume they saw you enter or leave.
4. Absolutely NO littering. Anyone caught littering is at risk of disqualification. This is a cupless race. You will be provided with a complimentary re-useable cup in your registration/swag bag.
5. Stay on the course: If you get lost, retrace your steps to get back on course. Do not leave the trail or attempt to take any shortcuts, as this will result in your potential disqualification. Course-cutting, either intentional or accidental has led to disqualification of runners in past races. We do not want you to be this person!
6. Crews: Crews are only allowed to aid runners at crew-accessible aid stations, within aid station boundaries. The only aid stations that are crew accessible are the Start/Finish, Gliderport and Black Mtn Ranch Park. If a crew helps a runner at any other aid station, the runner is at risk of being disqualified. There is somewhat limited parking at these aid stations depending on how busy the parks are, so be prepared to walk at least a half a mile if you have to park nearby. Please abide by park regulations (no glass, no amplified music, no littering).
7. Dropping: If you intend to withdraw/drop from the race, you must notify the nearest aid station captain and give them your bib. Leaving the course without doing so could initiate a costly Search and Rescue operation. In the case that this occurs, southern California race directors will be informed and will not be liable for any fees incurred during your rescue.
8. Cut-off times: Please see each individual race page and scroll down to view cutoff times for aid stations and race completion. Aid station cutoff times are not negotiable; Please do not argue with aid stations captains, as their decisions are final. We want you to succeed, but more importantly, we want you to be safe. If you miss a cut-off, we will regretfully have to DNF you. But it’s a badge of honor. Just ask the race director, who has a staggering amount of DNFs, but is just curmudgeonly enough to keep trying.
9. Course sweeping: Note that after our final runner at each aid station, a safety sweep will be running the course and removing ribbons. If you leave an aid station, you must be prepared to make it to the next one. Do not try to return to an aid station, as the course markings may already have been removed if you are near the back end of the field of runners.
10. Alcohol: Alcohol beverages will not be provided by the race. We will not police your beverage choices, but NO GLASS PLEASE! Our permit will be jeopardized if glass bottles are used.
11. Food: After 10:30am, pizza and non-alcohol cold beverages (sodas, sparkling waters, a few delicacies) will be provided for finishers until supplies run out.
12. Medical: You are responsible for your own safety. We strive to have medical care volunteers during the run but they are not at every aid station. We have arranged to have volunteer medics on hand, but they cannot be everywhere at once. In case of an emergency, we will endeavor to get local emergency personnel to an injured runner (or vice versa) as soon as possible. This is an event with risks. Please thoroughly read the registration waiver and recognize it is up to you to make wise decisions with regards to how you feel and potential dangers. The race has liability insurance only. This is insurance to cover litigation over negligent acts and does not cover medical costs incurred by the runner. If you do not have medical insurance, we recommend you join Road Runners Club of America. This race is sanctioned and insured by RRCA and members may be able to be reimbursed for medical costs if the medical condition was not due to negligence on the part of the runner. For more information, check out RRCS.org online, all the information is on their web site.
13. Pets: Although dogs are allowed on park grounds, we ask that you practice courtesy when bringing your best friend. If you wish to bring your dog(s), please keep them on leash and away from any area where runners will be coming through (finish line, aid stations, on-course). If you or your crew do not abide by the requests of aid station captains to control or remove your dogs from the area, you may be DQ’d.
14. Smoking: No smoking in the open space or Hilltop park (sorry, this includes cannabis).
15. Headlamps: Sunrise for June 20, 2023 is 5:40 am. The races will start in plenty of light, but race volunteers will begin working in the dark to setup the event. Please bring a headlamp or flashlight if you plan to be there before sunrise.
16. Parking: Parking is limited at Hilltop. However, there is ample street parking on the steep road leading up to the park. Please pay attention to parking signs and curb your tires to avoid a ticket.
17. Bathrooms: There will be portable restrooms at the start/finish line. There will also be a portable restroom at San Dieguito Aid Station for the 50k and Gliderport Aid Station for all runners. Brick & mortar restrooms at Hilltop Community Park are opened by park staff around 8:00am. There are also porta-potties at the Black Mountain Ranch Aid Station, but they are .15 miles from the aid and are not maintained by the race, so use them at your discretion.
18. Ghost runners: We have unfortunately had folks “ghost run” the course without a bib on race-day. If we catch you doing this, we will disqualify the person you’re running with and put your name on the no-no list forever. While we encourage people to challenge themselves, we need to know who is on course and participating in our race, for the safety of everyone, including you.
19. Poles: Poles are allowed if you know how to use them and can refrain from accidentally turning a fellow runner into a pincushion.
20. Pacers: No pacers are allowed, per our permit limitations. You may crew your runner from designated crew spots, see #6.
21. Discrimination: Black Mountain Trail Racing does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, creed, national origin, gender, age, physical or mental disability, body size, Veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or gender expression. We reserve the right to disqualify any runner who does not align with our policies.