Black Mtn Turkey Burner

Black Mtn Turkey Burner is held in San Diego, California, on November 28, 2026. Three trail distances share the day on Black Mountain: a half marathon (13 miles), a 10K (6.2 miles) and a 5K (3.1 miles). The name tells you what the terrain does — a mountain event rather than a flat park loop — and the three options let very different runners share the same trails.

Climbing is the defining variable here. On a mountain course, walking the steep sections is a tactic and not a failure, and the runners who finish strongest are usually the ones who hiked early rather than late. The 5K is manageable for anyone with a base of a few runs a week; the half is a real trail race that repays two months of hill repeats and long runs with sustained climbing. Bring more water than the distance suggests.