Registration is open.
Likely to sell out. 497 finished the Marathon in 2026, and this year's cap is 500.
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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Apr 3, 2027 | ||||
| Valley Strong Credit Union Diaper Dash 1/4 Mile | Kids | Apr 3, 20277:00 AM | $10$15 after Mar 29, 2027 | 145 |
| Valley Strong Credit Union Kids 1K | Kids | Apr 3, 20277:30 AM | $10$15 after Mar 29, 2027 | 270 |
| Sunday, Apr 4, 2027 | ||||
| Marathon | Marathon | Apr 4, 20276:50 AM | $120$130 after Oct 1, 2026 | 500 |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Apr 4, 20277:00 AM | $90$95 after Oct 1, 2026 | 1,340 |
| 10K | 10K | Apr 4, 20277:10 AM | $50$55 after Oct 1, 2026 | 1,700 |
| 6K | Other | Apr 4, 20277:20 AM | $42.50$48 after Oct 1, 2026 | 1,625 |
| Virtual Run/WalkVirtual | Marathon | Apr 4, 20276:50 AM | $50$65 after Feb 24, 2027 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Kids fee goes up to $15 on Mar 29, 2027.
Online registration closes Apr 4, 2027, unless the race fills first.
At $120, entry is about the same as a typical marathon in California ($110).
A typical finisher at a marathon in California runs 4:28:53, about 10:15 a mile, based on 17 races with published results. Women typically finish in 4:46:59 and men in 4:18:52.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:41 AM, and the Valley Strong Credit Union Diaper Dash 1/4 Mile starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 410 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
3801 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Aggregated from official results for Bakersfield Marathon. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
At the 2026 6K, the fastest tenth finished in 37:29 or better, the top quarter in 44:49, and half the field in 53:25; the last tenth came in after 1:12:44.
At the 2026 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 55:48 or better, the top quarter in 1:04:11, and half the field in 1:16:11; the last tenth came in after 1:45:44.
At the 2026 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:52:32 or better, the top quarter in 2:08:30, and half the field in 2:32:25; the last tenth came in after 3:26:17.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 29:09 | 26:10 |
| 20-29 | 35:10 | 29:43 |
| 30-39 | 32:59 | 30:48 |
| 40-49 | 36:03 | 34:00 |
| 50-59 | 42:00 | 32:54 |
| 60-69 | 48:35 | 35:41 |
| 70+ | 54:30 | 48:08 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
Up 278 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2022 to 2026, the field went from 372 to 1,439 finishers, and the median time dropped from 57:43 to 53:25.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,439 (+37%) | 53:25 | under 37:29 | 22:40 |
| 2025 | 1,053 (+41%) | 51:17 | under 36:23 | 23:07 |
| 2024 | 746 (+57%) | 53:17 | under 36:08 | 22:54 |
| 2023 | 475 (+28%) | 1:00:03 | under 40:08 | 24:31 |
| 2022 | 372 | 57:43 | under 37:16 | 28:05 |
From each year's official results for the Other; virtual options are left out.
Slower than most California 10Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2026 10K field finished under 1:04:11, against 56:15 in a typical California 10K, so times here run 14 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Around April 3 the day usually runs from 51°F at dawn to 73°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 13% of days. Cold snaps dip to 40°F and hot years reach 86°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.
What the organizers of Bakersfield Marathon cover on their registration page, in brief.
Schedule and packet pickup
To register as an exhibitor, please visit our Expo & Festival Registration Site! Expo & Festival registration has now closed. If you are interested in joining our Expo or Finish Line experience in 2027, please email…
Schedule and packet pickup
While you pick up your race packets on Saturday, the day before the Marathon, let your kids get in on the excitement with the 1 Kilometer fun run or Diaper Dash! It's the perfect way for them to feel part of the race-day experience. Every…
Course
Each event has its own time limit, if you fall behind the pace needed to finish your event before the time limit is reached, you may be asked to move to the sidewalk as roads need to reopen on schedule. Marathon Time Limit: 7 Hour finish…
Course
GPS Readings on Certified Courses. If you just ran the Bakersfield Marathon or Half-Marathon and wore a GPS watch (Garmin, Timex, etc.), used a Nike + or a smart-phone mapping program, you probably found it read more than 26.2 or…
Shirt and medal
Every participant earns a medal! Take a look at some of our past designs, and stay tuned to our social media for the exciting reveal of next year's finisher awards. Age Group Awards. Those who finish in the top three in their age group…
Awards
The Bolt Loyalty Award. All participants who register for two or more years in a row, (starting in 2023) will receive a piece of The Bolt (pictured below) representing running on Kern County Energy. Note: This does not make them a Legacy…
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Join us for the 10th Annual Bakersfield Marathon, taking place at the historic Kern County Museum.
All events start and end at the Kern County Museum and travel through Bakersfield’s most scenic and historic neighborhoods. With well-stocked aid stations and a lively post-race festival, this is a race-day experience you won’t want to miss!