The Tamalpa Challenge 2026

The John Lawson Tamalpa Challenge returns to China Camp State Park in San Rafael, California. This year marks its third edition, honoring the memory of John Lawson, a dedicated runner who passed away suddenly in 2000.
Race participants will start at different times based on gender categories:
- Women (all ages) will kick off proceedings at 9:00 AM.
- Masters men will follow at 10:00 AM.
- Open men will round out the field at 11:00 AM.
The course, largely unchanged from previous years, spans approximately 4.20 miles of rolling single-track trails and a quarter-mile stretch on asphalt. The race begins near the Miwok Meadows gate, with the finish line located in the same area within the picnic grounds.
To ensure safety for all runners, warm-up and cool-down activities are encouraged to be conducted off the course once racing has commenced. Suggestions include using the Shoreline Trail south of the Miwok gate starting point or carefully running on the paved road towards the finish area.
China Camp State Park's capacity rules require a limit of 200 people in the Miwok Meadows picnic area at any given time, so please respect this by limiting your post-race stay. The event saw full participation both in 2023 and 2024, with early registration highly recommended.
For those unable to secure a spot through initial registrations, limited last-minute substitutions are available for runners who registered but did not claim their bibs. Email the race director at [email protected] by October 11th if you need assistance in submitting your entry.
Parking is restricted and carpooling is strongly encouraged to minimize congestion. Participants should park along San Pedro Road, which is close to the Miwok Meadows gate but approximately 300 yards from registration at the picnic area.
For additional information or details about this memorable race, visit the John Lawson Tamalpa Challenge website or contact the race director directly.