FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find answers to the questions most frequently asked about the Sugar Daddy Half Marathon.
The 2018 Sugar Daddy Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, & Kids Fun Run is set to take place on Saturday, June 16th, 2018, early check-in will be on Friday, June 15th, 2018. See full schedule times below.
The schedule will be as follows:
EARLY CHECK-IN - Friday, June 15th, 2018
- Check-in: 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
RACE DAY - Saturday, June 16th, 2018
- Check-in: 4:30 AM to 6:00 AM
- Kids Fun Run start: 6:00 AM
- Half Marathon start: 6:20 AM
- 10K start: 6:30 AM
- 5K start: 6:40 AM
- Final cut-off: 11:20 AM
- Race wrap-up: 12:00 PM
*Note that final start times may vary on race day.
Registration is open, you can register here or on Active.com.
Entry Includes:
- Run 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, or Kids Fun Run Course
- Official race shirt*
- Collectible finisher medal
- Official finisher certificate
- FREE race photos
- Chip timed results
- Runner’s Handbook
- Volunteer support
- Support on course aid-stations
- Finish line water, food, and ice cream
- Event insurance
- Special award for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place
- An awesome race experience!
*Race shirt not included on Kids Fun Run, but can be purchased during registration.
Check-in to pick up runner bibs will be available on Friday, June 15th from 3:00 to 7:00 PM and on race day, Saturday, June 16th from 5:00 to 6:00 AM at the race staging area off 25311 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
- What: Runner Check-In
- When: Friday, June 15th 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- When: Saturday, June 16th 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM
- Where: Iron Horse Trailhead, 25311 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
The race start and finish line is located at the Iron Horse Trailhead off 25311 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Parking at the Iron Horse Trailhead is very limited, however it is excellent for dropping off runners. On race day there will be 3 desginated parking zones with parking near by including Nancy's Ranch, the business park across the street and on Wayne Mills Place. We highly recommend carpooling with your friends and other runners.
Yes. In order to receive your race bib to participate in the race you will need to have a signed event waiver and show your ID. You may download and print the waiver ahead of time and bring it with you to help expedite your check-in.
Yes. The cutoff times are as follows:
- 5K cutoff is 1-hour
- 10K cutoff is 3-hours
- Half Marathon cutoff is 5-hours
Sugar Daddy Half Marathon is trying to be as green as possible and create minimal waste. Please help us by bringing your own water bottle or hydration pack for the race. You can refill water on the course stations. Below you will find a list of recommended items for running the race.
Recommend Items
- Carry at least 1 liter water bottle or hydration pack
- Minimum 500 calories of emergency food such as gels or energy bars
- Cell phone
- Course map or electronic map downloaded to phone
- Running shoes
- Running hat, visor, sunglasses
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Personal medicine/salt capsules
- Garmin/GPS tracking
- Camera (optional)
- Mind of a champion!
Post Race Items
- Water
- Recovery drink, we highly recommend coconut water!
- Refueling food or snacks
- Towel
- Change of clothes
- Cash
Yes. There is a minimum age requirement to participate depending on the distance.
While the Sugar Daddy Marathon is not an overly challenging race, running a Half Marathon can be quite a challenge and requires you to be in pretty good shape. Younger runners that wish to run the race must be accompanied by an adult and must request approval from the Race Director. Please contact the Race Director for more information.
Minimum Age Requirements
- Half Marathon: 14-years old
- 10k/5K: 8-years old
- Kids Fun Run: 3 to 12-years old*
*Children can be accompanied and supported by a parent or adult for the Kids Fun Run. Children younger than 3 can participate if parent is running with a stroller. Strollers do not qualify for placement trophy.
Yes. Special thanks to sponsor activity.club, there is a cash prize pool for 1st place finishers, male and female, of the Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K races. Plus 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers of all categories will receive a custom trophy!
- $100 - Half Marathon Prize
- $50 - 10K Prize
- $25 - 5K Prize
*Note: Virtual Runner participants do not qualify for cash prize or placement trophy.
Absolutely, we encourage everyone to participate! You can accomplish anything you want as long as you set your mind to do it. The race is planned for participants of all abilities—including walkers. If you are new to running or this is your first race we suggest doing the 5K or 10K distance.
The Sugar Daddy Marathon course takes place on the Santa Clarita pathways and paseos, these are all paved paths and the overall course is relatively flat making it a very easy and fast run.
Yes. The course will be clearly marked using directional signs and banners at key turning points. Please review the course page to better know the course you are running.
Yes. There will be a gear drop available at the start/finish line so you can quickly access your bag after finishing the race. However there is no gear drop on the course. The event is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Yes. There will be several stations with water, gel packs, and salt tablets, with a few key stations providing snacks and basic first aid if needed. At the finish line there will be water, food, and ice cream! We recommend you carry either a water bottle and/or hydration pack. Each aid station will include fresh water to refill your supply. Study the course map to know where station locations are for your distance.
Proper hydration is essential when running any distance, but especially on long races. One of the greatest dangers for runners is completing the race in a dehydrated state. We encourage runners to plan on being hydrated throughout the event.
Yes. There will be portable toilets by the start/finish line area. There will also be a portable toilet by the 1 mile mark by McBean Pkwy. Also there are a few public park bathrooms available off the Half Marathon course by the River Village Park and the Bridgeport Park.
For your safety and the safety of all participants, we do not recommend wearing headphones while running a race. However, if you do, we ask that you keep the volume down at a safe level so you can hear other runners and instructions from event personnel. The important thing is paying attention to everyone’s safety and maintaining basic race etiquette with other runners.
If you love to wear headphones while running then we can recommend using bone conducting headphones that do not cover your ears, these allow you to fully hear your surroundings while also listening to your favorite music or audio. To learn more take a look at Aftershokz Trek Titanium headphones.
No. The event insurance policy does not allow dogs. We love dogs, but there are those who may not be comfortable around them and there are also dogs that are uncomfortable around hundreds of other people. We have no doubt that your dog is well behaved, but we simply have no way to be sure about all the other dogs and thus we have a “no dogs on course” policy.
Starting in 2017 all our races will be chip timed for best accuracy using a MyLaps timing system.
To ensure your chip is tracked and timed correctly:
- Always keep the BibTag visible; do not remove or cover with a jacket
- Do not excessively bend or twist the BibTag
- Do not attach beside or under a zip: metal has a negative impact on the BibTag chip
- Do not wear on your back or side, or around your arm or leg
- Do not cover the BibTag with your hand or arm when crossing the finish line:
runners often do this when checking their watch when crossing the line - Always remember that the mat must 'see' the number when you cross the finish
line - Do not separate the BibTag from the start number
Final results are posted online and includes overall placement, distance category, gender, age, age group, top 3 in age group, and finish time.
Yes. As the course is fully paved it is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. However unauthorized bicycles, skate boards, scooters, roller blades, or motorized vehicles are not permitted on the race course due to safety concerns.
June usually brings some of the best early summer weather to run in Santa Clarita. The average high temperature is 89º with the average low at 59º. Plan for cool sunrise start with temperatures warming up throughout the race. We recommend to check the weather forecast a week before the race so you can dress appropriately.
No. Unless there is sever weather on the days before and on the race day, the Sugar Daddy Marathon will be held whether it’s sunny, raining, snowing or anything in between. The weather only adds to the adventure to make for an awesome race experience!
While the Sugar Daddy Marathon course is on the city pathways and paseos, much of it is along the Santa Clara river and open nature areas, so there is some risk of coming across wildlife including snakes, coyotes and lizards.
What to do if you see a snake?
If you see a snake while running, do not panic! Back away slowly and carefully look for a way around. Also be sure to shout out “snake” and point out the location so other runners are aware and can carefully get around it. Snakes will generally leave you alone if they are not provoked. Simply left alone, snakes will continue on with their life, they do not actively seek out confrontations with any of their natural enemies, humans included. The number one reason people are bitten by venomous snakes throughout this country is because of the attempt to catch, kill, or tease them when we find them.
If you are traveling from out of town there are many options available, the hotels listed below are within walking distance to the start line. Also check this Google search or on Airbnb for additional options.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Clarita
27513 Wayne Mills Pl, Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 284-2101
Best Western Valencia Inn
27413 Wayne Mills Pl, Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 255-0555
Hilton Garden Inn Valencia Six Flags
27710 The Old Rd, Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 254-8800
Hyatt Regency Valencia
24500 Town Center Dr, Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 799-1234
Also check this Google search or on Airbnb for additional options.
Yes. Distance change requests are available, the cut off for all changes is 6/12/2017. Submit change request from the contact page.
No. Entry fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and entries are NON-TRANSFERABLE. Sorry, no exceptions. Once we receive and accept your entry, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate. You may not give or sell your number to anyone else. Submit a cancelation request from the contact page.
No, it is not. While the Santa Clarita pathways are open to the public, and running at the same time as an event is totally fine. Those entering into the start/finish area or intentionally jumping into the race just after the start, using the marked course, racing against other runners, etc. are essentially freeloading off of the race and the other runners, regardless of whether they take aid station supplies, medals or other race supplies.
Permits, insurance and race materials for the event are obtained with set numbers of participants planned and accounted for. Costs for events are also planned, taking into account those numbers and sharing the race costs among all entrants.
When people “hijack” a race they jeopardize the race’s ability to come back, create potential for problems for other runners trying to determine their place in the race and for support personnel to identify participants and (if necessary) provide emergency support. Like shoplifting, being a race bandit does not cost the person taking anything, but the cost ultimately goes to the people who follow the rules and pay to run the race.
The virtual runner registration option is for runners who are physically unable to make it to a race, but still wish to train for and achieve a running goal as part of the race. This includes persons who live far from race location and those with schedules that simply will not allow them to be present.
Runners choose to run one of the race distances, Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K. They run the distance where ever they are, a favorite trail, at the park, on a track, even on a treadmill. Simply run the distance on the same day as the race, track the time with a Garmin or app and send it to us. Runners receive race materials via mail after the race. This can be done alone or with a group of runners.
Running remotely will never be as good as running in person at the actual event, but for those with no other options, it offers a way to stay connected to their running community to help them commit to and celebrate their running achievements.
If a virtual runner is able to make it to the race they can request to upgrade their virtual entry to a regular participant entry.
*Note: Virtual Runners do not qualify for prizes or placement trophy.
Leslie Cohen
Super fun race with a nice trail course, fun vibe and great swag!
PERMITS & INSURANCE
The Sugar Daddy Half Marathon 10K 5K and Kids Fun Run is an insured and permitted event. Thank you to City of Santa Clarita for their support for permits, to the land developers and owners for their support, and to Star Financial via Road Runners Club of America for event insurance coverage.
Alison Eckmann
Everything was very well organized and the ice cream at the end of the race was a really nice perk!
Please note that race information here represents what is planned for the Sugar Daddy Half Marathon. Locations, course variations, and changes may apply depending on conditions, availability, and improvements. We strive to make the best experience for the runners. Thank you for your understanding.
Can't Find The Right Answer?
If your question is not listed above, please contact us with your questions and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Check this page in the future as we will add more questions and answers as we get closer to finalizing the details for the Sugar Daddy Marathon event.
Official Sponsors & Partners
Thank you to all our 2018 sponsors and partners, with their support we created an awesome race experience! Please visit and support them. Learn more about becoming a 2019 race sponsor today.
