4 walking events in Mendocino County, California

North Coast Striders is pleased to announce that the 41st Annual Boontling Classic 5K footrace will be held on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 at 10:00 am at the Anderson Valley Elementary school in Boonville, California. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome.

Ribbons will be given to the top three placers in each of the ten age divisions, as well as plaques for first man/woman/non-binary. A post-race drawing will be held with prizes generously donated by local Anderson Valley businesses. All proceeds will go to the Anderson Valley Food Bank in Boonville, CA.

Fee:

$15.00 Adults (18+)

$5.00 Youth (6-17)

$30.00 Family

Kids under 6 years of age can race for free.

T-shirts are locally printed by Grindstone Printco in Ukiah and are an additional $15.00/person and are in limited supply.

Online registration will be open until midnight the night before the race (Saturday, May 3, 2025).

In person registration will be available on the day of the race only, starting at 8:30 am.

For more information, contact race director Zane Colfax at [email protected] or via phone or text at 707-472-8217.

The annual Waves & Whales 5K Trail Run‐Walk is held on the Mendocino Coast in Point Arena. Taking full advantage of the location, the run takes place on the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument. The course begins behind City Hall in the conifer forest off Highway 1, makes its way to the coast where it follows the bluffs, and then winds back into the pine and cypress forest.

Proceeds from the Waves & Whales Trail Run support ACORN Partners in Education’s environmental stewardship program, Students Protecting the Coast, which engages youth in hands‐on learning with a focus on conservation and community outreach. Students Protecting the Coast began during the 2012‐13 school year as part of the local and national campaign to include the Point Arena‐Stornetta Lands in the California Coastal National Monument. Students continue to learn about our coastal landscape and are empowered to use their voice by sharing what they’ve learned with the community.

ACORN is committed to hosting a sustainable event that honors the natural landscape and educates the larger community. The Waves & Whales Trail Run promises to be a worthwhile coastal excursion—runners can expect a rejuvenating run surrounded by natural beauty and the knowledge that they are supporting the continued stewardship of this land by, and for, the next generation.

• Hikers welcome.

• Participants receive organic cotton t‐shirt and snacks. (Register early to ensure a t-shirt in your size.)

• Age categories and awards. (Hand-made award medallions from Point Arena Tileworks.)