21st Annual Garin Park XC Challenge 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (Los Angeles)
- Location
- Hayward, California
- Entry fee
- From $25
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Race (all ages) | 5K | Oct 3, 20269:00 AM | $25 | – |
| Masters Men (ages 40 and up) | 5K | Oct 3, 20269:45 AM | $25 | – |
| Open Men (ages 39 and under) | 5K | Oct 3, 202610:30 AM | $25 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $25 until Oct 2.
Online registration closes Oct 2, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $25, entry is about 32 percent below a typical 5K in California, which costs $37 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in California runs 38:06, about 12:16 a mile, based on 623 races with published results. Women typically finish in 41:27 and men in 33:40.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:04 AM, and the Women's Race (all ages) starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 30 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Garin Regional Park, 1320 Garin Ave., Hayward, CA 94544
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 3 the day usually runs from 55°F at dawn to 75°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 4% of days. Cold snaps dip to 51°F and hot years reach 94°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- Garin Regional Park, 1320 Garin Ave., Hayward, CA 94544Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 30 feet
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 3, 2026)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is 21st Annual Garin Park XC Challenge?
- Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $25 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 2, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for California?
- At $25, entry is about 32 percent below a typical 5K in California, which costs $37 right now.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K.
- Where does it start?
- Garin Regional Park, 1320 Garin Ave., Hayward, CA 94544.
From the organizers
Take on the hills of the Garin Park XC Challenge in one of the beloved East Bay Regional Parks. Complete with stunning views, challenging climbs, and a few gopher holes to keep your wits alive, this ~5k XC race will make your quads burn like the ends of a beef brisket, and your lungs rethink their purpose in life. After your heart consults Webster's to make sure it does indeed have the correct definition of myocardial infarction, it will bask in the glory of a flat ~0.5 mile stretch into the finish where it feels all the love.