Back the Blue

Back the Blue is held in Gilroy, California, on November 7, 2026, and stacks four starts into under an hour: the 10K at 8:45 a.m., the 5K and a 5K ruck at 9:00 a.m., and a one-mile fun run at 9:30 a.m. That spread lets a household split across formats and still finish within a few minutes of each other.

The ruck is the interesting option here. Carrying weight over 3.1 miles is a different kind of effort, closer to a loaded hike than a race, and it rewards a few practice outings with the same pack before the day. For the running distances, the 10K is the one that needs a base: eight weeks with a long run reaching seven or eight miles and one weekly tempo run. The mile suits kids and anyone wanting a short, sharp test.