Napa Valley Turkey Trot mascot
Whether you’re heading to the Napa Valley for wine tasting, art viewing, film watching or restaurant dining, there are several ways to get your exercise in during a trip. If you feel like running in Napa Valley there are many options. You can be part of informal group runs in the city of Napa, or sign up for a 5K, 10K, or Half-Marathon depending on what you’re in the mood for and/or what part of the Napa Valley you feel like running through. Keep reading and we’ll tell you about options for yourself, your family and other loved ones.
If you’re just looking for a casual run with some locals, check out Napa Running Company (942 Main Street), a specialty store with a full selection of apparel and accessories. Even if you don’t need to shop, everyone is welcome to meet in front of the store for group runs on Thursday afternoons (at 6 pm) and on Saturday mornings (8:30 am) with Vinerunners, a Napa Valley group dedicated to friendship and the love of athletic pursuit. Meet up, take off, and have fun (and if you’re doing the Thursday run, you should probably bring reflective gear and/or a headlamp). While there is no parking directly in front of the store, there are several public parking lots nearby.
If you’re interested, here are some more structured races coming up for running in Napa Valley between now and the end of the year that are still taking registrations:
November 16, 2013 – Girls on the Run 5K (Napa)
Join the fun with 300 Girls on the Run Napa Valley participants and their coaches at this family friendly event in south Napa with booths, free massages, activities and Zumba. Open to boys, men, and women as well, this race starts and ends at Napa Valley Community College (2277 Napa Vallejo Highway) and runs through Kennedy Park. Registration is $25 in advance, $30 on run day, and the 5K starts at 9 am.
November 17, 2013 – Napa Valley Harvest Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K (Calistoga)
Beginning at 8 am, this road race starts and finishes on the Calistoga High School track in the north end of Napa Valley. The flat and fast course starts in town and turns onto Silverado Trail (a paved roadway which will be closed to car traffic), eventually U-turning back to the start. The entire route has only two minor hills and is surrounded by vineyards and wineries with great vistas of the surrounding mountain ranges. This event is limited to 1000 participants so don’t wait much longer to register. Registration fees range from $90 to $50 for adults, $20 to $10 for youths under 18, depending on the race length selected. Attendees will park at the Calistoga Fairgrounds (1435 North Oak Street, one block from the High School).
November 23, 2013 – Napa Valley Turkey Trot 5K and Family Fun Mile (Napa)
Starting at 8 am on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, this 1950’s-themed event is a fundraiser (in partnership with The Salvation Army) trying to raise enough money to feed 100 families. The 5K starts at 8 am, and the Family Fun Mile begins at 9 am. There’s also a coloring contest for kids age 5-12 with the winner named on the day of the race. Registration for the 5K is $30 for ages 13+, $20 for ages 12 and under, and the Family Fun Mile is $15 per person. Costumes are encouraged and this takes place at Napa Valley Community College(2277 Napa Valley Highway).
November 28, 2013 – Napa Valley Turkey Chase 10K and 5K (Napa)
Napa Valley Turkey Chase
On Thanksgiving morning, this fun Family Run/Walk travels along the Napa River Trail in Kennedy Park (2296 Streblow Drive), beginning and ending at the southern baseball fields. Event proceeds will benefit Community Action of Napa Valley (the Napa Valley Food Bank). The 10K starts at 8 am and the 5K begins 10 minutes later. Registration is $35 for adults or $30 for youths (under 18) if you register in advance (and groups of 4 or more can register for $5 less). On race day, registration increases $5 per person.
December 7, 2013 – Reindeer Run and Rudolph Romp 10K and 5K (American Canyon)
KHOPE International will hold the 3rd Annual Reindeer Run at 8 am on December 7 in the southernmost city in Napa County. This is a 5K/10K Run/Walk or a one lap Rudolph Romp (for students in grades K – 2) which begins and ends at the Wetlands Edge View Area Trail Head (corner of Wetland Edge Road and Eucalyptus Drive). Registration is $27 per person, $22 if completed before December 1st. Proceeds will benefit KHOPE, a local non-profit supporting women and children living in poverty here and abroad.
January 1, 2014 – Napa Valley Resolution Run 10K and 5K (Yountville)
Napa Valley Wine Trail
Start off 2014 with a round-trip at 10 am run through beautiful Yountville starting at the Yountville Community Center. Parking can be found behind the Center (6516 Washington Street) or at the nearby Yountville Elementary School (6554 Yount Street). Registration is currently $30 for adults and $25 for youths (under 18), with the fees going up $5 after December 1, and another $10 more on the actual run day. Groups of 4 or more save $5 per person if you register in advance as well. Proceeds will benefit the Vine Trail, a nonprofit organizatoin committed to building a walking/biking trail system connecting the entire Napa Valley stretching from the Vallejo Ferry to Calistoga.
We hope you find this information helpful, and you can follow the links above to learn more details about each event and/or to register. In between runs, if you’re looking for suggestions on wineries to visit or restaurants to eat at, you can find our recommendations by clicking on “Favorites by Wine Region” in the toolbar above, and then follow the drop-down menus to the area you are looking for.