THE BERKELEY HALF MARATHON COURSE: MILE 13

Ever wonder what running the The Berkeley Half Marathon course is like? Let the Berkeley Half Marathon staff take you through the experience of running the The Berkeley Half Marathon mile-by-mile. Get a sneak peak, then get registered and get training!

Runners take on the home stretch finishing a last section of Channing Way before a left on Spalding Ave and a right on Allston Way. Shortly after turning on to Allston Way runners can grab a last drink at Water Stop 7 just across from Presentation Park. A small park with a picnic area and BBQ Presentation Park makes a great space to meet friends for a picnic.

From there runners turn right on Jefferson St. to a left on Bancroft before the final blocks towards Martin Luther King Jr. Way. With Berkeley High School on runners right, it’s almost time to celebrate. With the High School now on runner’s right hand side the course passes Berkeley High Stadium as well as the Berkeley Community Media building. Berkeley Community Media is a media production haven for auteur and experienced filmmakers, television producers and students of all forms of life. BCM’s primary goal is to provide residents of Berkeley and beyond a space to learn how to produce media as well as share it with their community. Their television channels are on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week, cablecasting voices from all over the San Francisco Bay Area.

In this final pass runners push through cheering crowds as the energy from other finishers spurs them on. Crossing the finish line, runners enjoy a selection of food and drinks to replenish energy and most importantly receive their medal. From there it’s on to the Finish Line Festival in Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park. With a historic fountain and a Peace Wall inlaid with tiles made by hundreds of community members the open plaza is home to many community events as well as the daily lunch of many Berkeley High students. Today runners can enjoy the celebration of their accomplishments with the over 9,000 runners who earned their medals.