Marin Headlands Marathon Recap

Trail Racing with Enviro-Sports

On Saturday April 6th, 2024 over 300 runners joined together for the 39th Annual Golden Gate Headlands Trail Run. With a course featuring three distance levels, 10k, half marathon and a full marathon, breathtaking views of the Golden Gate and Pacific Ocean, the course truly had something for everyone.

What started at 7:30am on a crisp morning near Rodeo Beach, with the sun barely peeking over the hills and warming the dewy grass and sand below, became a celebration for athletes who joined for a pre-race check in and eagerly awaited their start times. Nearing 9am the first marathon runners took off, covering a loop course with over 4,000ft of elevation gain over the 26.2 miles. Mixed with single track, fire roads, steep uphill and sections on sand and stairs, each distance level held a variety of terrain to keep athletes guessing and enjoying their time on the trails. Runners neared an aid station half way through the half marathon before embarking on a consistent uphill section, rewarding them with a view of the Golden Gate bridge at the top and then all single track to the finish.

Notable racers included the youngest athlete at nine years old, and the oldest at 72. Each distance was filled with individuals new to the trail racing scene and those who have done tens of marathons before. The welcoming environment made everyone excited to be here and share the energy of the race.

The community was like no other. Runners were there supporting each other and cheering on the other finishers, and the overwhelming support from volunteers and friends and family of the runners made the course feel like a celebration through the duration of the race.

 

To view more races by Enviro-Sports and sign up for your own, check out their website or visit our events page for more races in the area.