Mount Madonna Challenge

The 50th Annual Mount Madonna Challenge returns to Gilroy, California on August 8th, bringing together runners from across the region for a day of competitive racing and community celebration. This long-standing event began in 1975 when Bill Flodberg organized what would become one of the original trail races that kickstarted the evolution of trail running as we know it today.
On race morning at 8:00 AM, participants will gather on the Sprig Lake Day Use Area for a start time reflecting years of tradition and community support. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation and camaraderie among runners who have come to Gilroy from all corners of California and beyond. With temperatures ranging between 13.6°C and 28.4°C, race day presents clear skies and mild humidity conditions that make for a comfortable running environment despite the expected elevation gains.
The Mount Madonna Challenge has been instrumental in fostering local talent through its scholarship program since 2007 when South Valley Running Club took over management after founder Bill Flodberg's retirement. Over thirteen years, this initiative supported several high school seniors annually by providing scholarships to attend college and participate in running camps such as the Max King Trail Running Camp. In recent years, Jose Cruz has taken up the mantle, aiming to reinvigorate the race with a renewed passion for trail running.
The course itself winds through scenic trails around Mount Madonna, offering varying distances that cater to both seasoned runners and casual participants alike. From the half marathon starting at 8:00 AM sharp, which sees an elevation gain of 2,828 feet over its challenging route, to the more accessible but equally rewarding 10K run with a climb of 1,532 feet beginning just thirty minutes later, runners can choose their preferred distance based on personal fitness and endurance levels. The half marathon offers additional GPX files for those who wish to familiarize themselves with the course in advance.
Runners will experience an average temperature range of around 21°C throughout race day, though some variation is expected between early morning coolness at approximately 13.6°C and midday warmth reaching up to 28.4°C. The trail surface remains hard and dry underfoot with no precipitation forecasted for the event date; winds will average a moderate speed of around 5.6 km/h, adding minimal resistance on this sunlit day.

The race offers three distinct distances: a challenging half marathon (21.1K) starting at 8:00 AM with an elevation gain of over two thousand feet; a robust 10K run beginning shortly after at 8:30 AM and featuring over one thousand five hundred feet in climbs; lastly, the more accessible yet equally enjoyable 5K race also commencing at 8:30 AM. Each distance comes with its own registration fee — $60 for the 5K, $70 for the 10K, and a slightly higher cost of $80 for those tackling the half marathon.