110th Dipsea Race Pushed Back To November

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The 110th Annual Dispsea race has been postponed until later this year amid concerns about the coronavirus.

America’s oldest trail race, originally scheduled for June 13, will be held Nov. 7 at 8 a.m.

“Because of ongoing public safety health concerns and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dipsea Race Committee has decided to postpone the 110th Annual Dipsea Race,” race organizers said in a statement on its website announcing the postponement.

The historic race from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach through 7.4 miles of rugged terrain was first run in 1905.

The race’s 2020 cancelation amid the pandemic was the first time the race wasn’t held since 1945. The race was cancelled from 1942-1945 amid World War II with military operations conducted on Mt. Tamalpais.

The race hasn’t been held as late as November since 1939, when it was run on Nov. 26, the latest date in Dipsea history.

Race applications will available in mid-August.

Runners who qualified for Dipsea Race Invitational Status at the 2019 race will be automatically qualified for the Invitational Status for the 2021 race.

Race organizers said the Marin County Fire Department requested that the race not be held until after wildfire season, which typically ends in late October.

“We want to put the safety of our runners of all ages, volunteers, families, friends and the community-at-large first and we felt it would be too ambitious, even risky, to attempt to hold the race on June 13 with so many unknowns,” said Dipsea Race Committee Chairman Merv Regan.

“We apologize for not holding the race on the traditional date on the second Sunday in June as we had hoped, but, for this year only, we are moving the race back to November with the goal of staging a race that provides a safer and more comfortable environment.”

For more information and updates about the 110th Dipsea Race visit the Dipsea website, the Dipsea Facebook page (@dipsearace), or the Dipsea Twitter page (@TheDipsea).