Judgment Day Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Run/Walk

Judgment Day Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Run/Walk

Race Date

Oct 4, 2026

Location

Bakersfield, CA

The Experience

THE LAST RACE IN OUR SERIES, JUDGMENT DAY...ONE OF THE BEST COURSES IN THE VALLEY! HALF MARATHON DESCRIPTION: A VERY SCENIC COURSE. IT STARTS & FINISHES AT THE HISTORIC SAM LYNN BALLPARK. YOU WILL RUN OUT THE BACK GATE TO THE PAVED KERN RIVER PAVED TRAIL (EAST) INTO THE PANORAMA VISTA PRESERVE (DIRT TRAILS) FOR A 3.5 MILE LOOP, AND THEN BACK ONTO THE KERN RIVER PAVED TRAIL TO CHINA GRADE ROAD.  RUNNERS WILL TURN RIGHT ONTO THE ALFRED HARRELL HWY/CHINA GRADE LOOP (CLOSED ROAD) - YES THAT'S A CHALLENGING 1 MILE CLIMB UP TO THE PANORAMA BLUFFS, BUT EVERYONE LOVES IT, AND JUDGMENT DAY WOULDN'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT IT! ONCE AT THE TOP, YOU WILL CONTINUE THROUGH PANORAMA PARK ALONG THE BLUFFS WITH AWESOME VISTA VIEWS, BEFORE SWEEPING BACK DOWN (CLOSED MANOR STREET EXIT) TO THE PAVED RUNNING TRAIL ALONG THE KERN RIVER, AND FINISHING BACK INSIDE THE BALLPARK.  10K COURSE DESCRIPTION: OUR 10K WAS INTRODUCED IN 2025, AND IT DID NOT DISSAPPOINT! YOU WILL START WITH THE HALF MARATHON RUNNERS, STARTING INSIDE THE HISTORIC SAM LYNN BALLPARK, AND RUNNING OUT THE BACK GATE TO THE PAVED KERN RIVER PAVED TRAIL (EAST). AT MILE 2.8, THERE WILL BE "SPLIT" WHERE THE HALF MARATHON GOES LEFT, AND THE 10K COURSE GOES RIGHT, AND UP THE 0.40 MILE DIRT TRAIL, ABOUT 190' ELEVATION GAIN (STRAVA CALLS IT BLUFF HILL). ONCE AT THE TOP, YOU WILL JOIN THE PANAROMA PAVED TRAIL, AND CONTINUE THROUGH PANORAMA PARK ALONG THE BLUFFS WITH AWESOME VISTA VIEWS, BEFORE SWEEPING BACK DOWN (CLOSED MANOR STREET EXIT) TO THE PAVED RUNNING TRAIL ALONG THE KERN RIVER, AND FINISHING BACK INSIDE THE BALLPARK.  THESE COURSES HAVE EVERYTHING! START/FINISH INSIDE THE BALLPARK ON GRASS, PAVED TRAILS, DIRT TRAILS, PAVED (CLOSED) ROADS, AN UPHILL, A DOWNHILL, AND LOTS OF FUN!!   5K COURSE DESCRIPTION: START & FINISH FROM INSIDE SAM LYNN BALLPARK, IT'S AN OUT & BACK, ALL ON THE KERN RIVER (PAVED) TRAIL. IT IS FAST & FLAT!! HALF MARATHON & 10K START TIME: 7:30AM 5K START TIME: 7:40AM

Aid Stations at Miles: 1.4, 3.6, 6.1, 7.1, 9.1, 10, and 11.6. Porta Potties at Miles: 1.5, 3.6, 6.1, 7.1, 10, and 11.5 WHAT MAKES THIS EVENT STAND OUT? Plenty of Aid Stations, and they are FUN and go ALL OUT FOR YOU!!Interactive Race Day Experience with RaceJoyLive Results Texted to PhoneFREE Hot Breakfast, Made FreshFREE La Rosa's Fruit Bars FREE Race PhotosPost Race Michelob Ultra Beer GardenWater, Electrolit, and GU, on the CourseDJ Music on the Course & Finish VenueTop Age Group AwardsOverall Male & Female AwardsWomen's Race Tank TopsMen's Race Short-Sleeve ShirtAwesome Finisher Medals

Logistics

Race Day

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Start Time

7:30 AM

Giveaway

Women's Tank Top or Men's (unisex) Short-Sleeve Shirt

Start Location

Sam Lynn BallPark, Bakersfield, CA, 93301

Directions

Course Info

Course Type

Loop Course

Terrain

road

Difficulty

Ultra-Flat

Also Offers

6.2 Miles3.1 Miles13.1 Miles

Historical Performance

Median Finish

2:06:13

9:38/mi

Winning Time

1:19:13

6:03/mi

Finishers (2025)

295

States Represented

3 / 50

Gender Split

49% Female51% Male

Finish Time Distribution

1:154:10

FASTER 25%

1:48:59

MEDIAN

2:06:13

SLOWER 25%

2:26:45

Average runner age: 38

Race Day Weather

5-year historical avg

Start (Low)

65°

Afternoon (High)

92°

Hot conditions — adjust pace expectations, prioritize hydration

0.0"

Precipitation

8 mph

Wind

34%

Humidity

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