Heavenly Half Marathon

Not Just a Half, but a Heavenly Half

Get ready to find out why this half marathon is The Heavenly Half. You will enjoy an almost all downhill point to point course in the beautiful foothill town of Auberry. The course offers great views of the valley and is lined with pine trees for an unreal experience. Between the beauty of the course and its downhill route you are sure to enjoy one of the best half marathons yet. And waiting for you at the finish line are your Finisher's Quarter Zip Jacket, custom Heavenly blanket, hot breakfast, and one Heavenly Half Medal. The Heavenly Half awaits you! 

Why should you sign up?

One of the most beautiful courses that offers valley views and is lined with pine trees The course is one of the fastest you will find Custom Beanie (Must register prior to January 15th) Finisher 1/4 Zip Jacket Race Tech Shirt Custom Heavenly Blanket Hot Breakfast Chocolate Milk One Awesome Finisher's Medal FREE Race Photos First Race of the 2018 Soul Half Marathon Series

This course is fast • This course is incredibly scenic

Awards

Top finishers will receive their awards as they cross the Finish Line.

Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Male & Female (Overall).

There will be a special prize at the finish line for the first 100 male and first 100 female finishers.

All timing disputes must be received within 24 hours after the event. Please email any timing issues [email protected].

Course Details

The Course
Prepare to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Sierras and local foothills. The 13.1 mile course is lined with pine trees and offers great views of the valley floor. The course begins in front of Cressman's General Store on Highway 168. You will be taking Auberry Road down and will stay on it until you reach the finish line at Auberry Elementary School. We are sure you will see why this is a hidden gem of a route!

Start Line
The staging area for the start is at Cressman’s General Store. Race-day packet pick-up, bag check, water, and warm up area are held in this area. Please note that no parking is available at this location. Runners may be dropped off only. We highly encourage runners to use the Bus Transportation service.

Aid Stations
Six aid stations will be placed on-course between the start and finish areas. Various non-profits, school teams and other groups host these stations. They are placed on-course at approximately these locations; miles 2.4, 4.5, 6.6, 8.4, 10.1 and 11.7. Water will be offered at each station and Fluid Nutrition Speed electrolyte drink will be provided aid stations (except at mile 2.4). Gels and/or energy bars will not be placed at aid stations due to environmental concerns (litter). Bring your own if you wish and please discard wrappers in trash receptacles at aid stations, or put them in your pocket and not alongside the road.

Restrooms
Will be located at the Start Line, mile 4.5, 6.6, 10.1 and the Finish area.

Please show your appreciation as you pass each aid station and obey the law officers and course monitors who are working hard to keep you safe.

Finish Line

The finish line is located at Auberry Elementary School (33367 N. Auberry Rd., Auberry). Please make sure that you park south of the school for there is no parking north of it. 

 

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dogs allowed on the course?
No. Pets, wagons, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, strollers or bicycles of any kind are NOT allowed on the course for safety concerns.

Will there be race day registration?
We highly anticipate that this event will sell out. Race day will only be available if there are any remaining spots .

Are there any refunds?

We do not offer any refunds. If you have purchased a race entry and cannot run it, you may do a transfer for a $15 fee . Please email [email protected] to have your transfer initiated.

Where can I view maps of the course?
See The Course page for details.

Where do I park at the start?
There is no public parking at the start line Cressman’s General Store. Runners may be dropped off. We highly encourage everyone to use the bus transportation service to the start from Sierra High School.

Where can I learn about transportation to and from the race?
See the Transportation & Parking page for details.

Can someone else pick up my packet?
Yes, you may authorize a friend, teammate or family member to pick up your race packet for you. They must bring a copy of your photo ID to packet pickup.

How do I get a bus ticket from Sierra High School to the start line?
Bus tickets may be purchased for $5 during registration or for $10 (cash only) on race morning.

Can I run with an iPod/headphones?
We recommend not using them at this event. If worn, it is HIGHLY recommended that you keep only one ear bud in to be able to hear directions from race officials or emergency vehicles.

When will the results be posted?
Typically, all race results are posted within a few hours after the race and will be posted on this website.

What happens if I cannot finish the race or keep the minimum required pace?
Due to road closures you must complete the event within 3 1/2 hours (16 minute per mile average). Transportation to the finish area for stranded or slow walkers without medical problems is provided via the SAG vehicle. In the event you cannot finish the race, please make your way to the nearest aid station and ask for SAG assistance. The SAG vehicle will be following the final runner/walker and will pick up as they pass aid stations.

Do you need volunteers?
Races like this are only possible due to the generous support of people like you. Please use the Volunteer button on the left hand navigation to learn more.

Lodging

There are few lodging options in the town of Auberry. Local options include:

Daddy Joe's Lodging

 

Hotels in Clovis (about a 40 minute drive to the shuttle buses)

Fairfield Inn & Suites Fresno-Clovis

50 N Clovis Ave, Clovis, CA 93612

(559) 323-8080

 

Comfort Suites

143 Fresno-Clovis Rail-Trail, Clovis, CA 93612

(559) 299-9992

 

Packet Pickup

Packet Pick-Up
We recommend that you pick up your race packet during Packet Pick-Up. You will receive your race bib, timing chip, event shirt, Spenco sandals and other race information. For a paper registration form, click here.

 
Sole 2 Soul Sports-Bakersfield (The Market Place)
Date: Thursday, March 15th, 2018
Time: 12:00pm to 7:00pm

Sole 2 Soul Sports-Visalia (Packwood Creek)
Date: Friday, March 16th, 2018
Time: 12:00pm to 7:00pm

Sole 2 Soul Sports-Fresno (River Park Shopping Center)
Date: Saturday, March 17th, 2018
Time: 12:00pm to 7:00pm

Race Day Packet Pick-Up
The Race Day Packet Pick-Up service is provided at the will-call table near the start area. Runners using the Race Day Packet Pick-Up service should plan on arriving at the start 45 minutes prior to the race start. Only race bibs will be handed out before the race, the remaining items must picked up from the Information Booth after the race in the finish area.

We do not store any unclaimed race packets after the race. If you do not pick up your packet prior to the race, then it considered forfeited. Normally leftover supplies are donated to the volunteers and local charities.

Race Day Schedule

Race Day Schedule

 6:15am Bus Shuttle to Start Begins
 6:45am Race Day Packet Pick-Up Opens
 7:15am Last Bus Shuttle Service to the Start
 7:45am Race Day Packet Pick-Up Closes
 8:00am Race Starts
10:00am Shuttle from Finish to Sierra H.S Parking Starts
10:30am Race Awards
11:30am Course Closes
12:30pm Last Shuttle from Finish to Sierra H.S. Parking

Soul Half Marathon Series

The Heavenly Half Marathon is the first race of the three races in the Soul Half Marathon Series. For completing all three races in year 2018 you will receive:

Soul Series Medal (Yes it is Mega Huge) Soul Series Custom Gear Bag (Of course it is nice) VIP Treatment at Judgment Day (can we say massages, food perks and more) Name announced as a Series Finisher at Judgment Day

The next two races in the Soul Series are:

Hell of a Half Marathon
Come meet the famous Rocky Hill in Exeter. Yes the course is challenging, the weather is hot, but then again what else would you expect at The Hell of Half Marathon? Oh and don't worry there are a lot of other crazies who will join you during your 13.1 mile battle. This race sells out every year and continues to grow. You know what you are made of, so sign up now before you regret not getting in.

Judgment Day Half Marathon
Are you ready to hit the streets of Bakersfield? The Judgment Day Half Marathon course is one we are sure you will enjoy. You will start above Bakersfield at Lake Ming and run along the bluffs of Bakersfield. The course will continue past Bakersfield College and then hit the flat streets of downtown and end at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Sponsorship Information

We are always looking for business partners who are looking at enhancing this great event with their support. We assure you that as a sponsor you will be 100% satisfied with your partnership with us. If you are interested in being a part of the most lovely half marathon around, then please email [email protected].

Transportation & Parking

Starting Line
The start line will be at Cressman’s General Store. It is located on Highway 168 just east of Auberry Road (36088 Tollhouse Rd.). There will not be any public parking available at the starting area, however runners may be dropped off. We highly encourage runners to utilize the Bus Transportation service. You can purchase a bus pass for $5 during registration or for $10 on race morning (cash only on race morning).

Bus Transportation to Start Line
Runners wishing to use the Bus Transportation service to the Start Line may park at Sierra High School in Auberry. Sierra High is located at 33326 Lodge Road. Buses will start at 6:15am race morning and the last bus will leave at 7:15am.

Finish Line Transportation to Sierra High School
Buses will begin transportation from the Finish Line to Sierra High School starting at 10:00am with the last bus leaving at 12:30pm. There is no charge for this service.

Spectators on the Course
There are numerous areas along the course to view and encourage the runners. Please note that Auberry Road will only have one-way travel permitted on race day. You will need to access Auberry Road from the town of Auberry side since the road is only open to uphill traffic. We ask that you drive carefully due to the runners and support staff along the route. You will be able to proceed up Auberry Road all the way to HW 168.

Bag Check
We will have a Clothing Drop Off area at the race start area. You can use this service to store your warm up clothes or other items in that you would like to have at the finish line. Please make sure mark your drop bag (that you provide) with your race bib number clearly marked on it along your name. Any clothing not picked up at the finish area will be donated to local charities.