Vaccination Required for Runners, Volunteers in 110th Annual Dipsea Race on November 7




The 110th Dipsea Race will be held on November 7, 2021

The Dipsea Race Committee has decided to require that all competitors, as well as volunteers, be fully vaccinated to participate in the 110th Annual Dipsea Race on Sunday morning, November 7.

The committee cited health guidelines established by permitting agencies plus continuing medical concerns and uncertainty about the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 for its decision.

Runners will need to show a photo I.D. and provide proof of vaccination when checking in to receive their official race bib prior to the race. Volunteers also are required to be vaccinated in order to assist in the race.

Children under 12 not eligible for vaccinations will be required to wear face coverings, neck buffs, or masks at the start and finish areas and while on the trail. The Dipsea is encouraging all participants to wear masks, or neck buffs, during the event. Federal guidelines require masks to be worn in Stinson Beach Park so a mask or face covering will be required when finishing.

First contested in 1905, the Dipsea is the oldest trail race in the United States. Due to the pandemic, 2020 was the first year since 1945 that the grueling 7.5 mile trail race from downtown Mill Valley to Stinson Beach was not held. The Dipsea Race was cancelled from 1942-1945 because of World War II and military operations on Mt. Tamalpais.

The 110th race, originally scheduled for June 14, 2020, was postponed last year and rescheduled this year from June 13 to Sunday, November 7, at 8 a.m. because of ongoing public safety health concerns and uncertainties related to COVID-19 restrictions.

“We are committed to having the Dipsea race this year, but we also are committed to making it as safe as possible under the circumstances,” says Dipsea Race Committee Chairman Merv Regan. “We ask that the Dipsea community be patient and understanding that we are still dealing with a lot of unknowns and restrictions and it became clear to us that if we wanted to safely stage a Dipsea race this year the best option would be asking our runners and volunteers to share in the responsibility of being vaccinated for it.”

The last time the Dipsea race was contested in the month of November was November 26, 1939, the latest race date in Dipsea history. The last Dipsea race, on June 9, 2019, attracted competitors from 28 states and five foreign countries.

Registration for the 110th Dipsea ends this Friday, September 10. Any competitors who have registered for this year’s race who now choose to opt out will be given a full refund.

For more information about vaccinations and resources, please visit the Marin County Health and Human Services website: https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine

For more information and updates about the 110th Dipsea Race, please visit the Dipsea website (www.dipsea.org), the Dipsea Facebook page (@dipsearace), or the Dipsea Twitter page (@TheDipsea).