Drag-N-Fly Trail Half Marathon

Located on what was once the populated part of Contra Costa County, Black Diamond Mines and Contra Loma Regional Parks offer great trail running, panoramic vistas and a chance to see what much of local area was like in centuries past.Named for the coal mining towns and companies that once mined millions of tons of coal -- hence the name, "black diamond" -- from the earth here along the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta of Contra Costa County, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve today is a public park filled with grasslands, trails and sandstone formations throughout its more than 5,300 acres, along which runners make their way at the Drag-N-Fly Trail Runs.

Each of the races in the event follows an out-and-back course that starts and finishes along the southern end of the Contra Loma Reservoir inside the park.From there, runners head out on the trails that wind westward away from the reservoir, including the park’s Lark Trail, River View Trail, Black Diamond Trail, Coal Canyon Trail and the Nortonville Trail, which is named in honor of one of the five coal mining towns that once populated the area but have long since been abandoned.Runners in the half marathon will cover these single-track trails through the park’s many hills, and will get to see what’s left of the old mining operations here in these hills covered with chaparral and oak savanna.

As with all of our races, aid stations will be fully stocked with water, sports drink, gels, pretzels, candy, etc. Aid stations will be approximately 2-3 miles apart, as trail access allows. Runners who may need more water (and all half marathon runners), should carry their own water bottle or hydration pack.

The Half Marathon has a 4.5 hour time limit. Half runners must reach the 4th aid station (mile 9.88) by 11 am.