About the Nail the Rail Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
The course follows a converted railroad corridor that runs along the Sacramento River and Keswick Lake, starting from the base of Shasta Dam. The old rail bed makes for a smooth, level surface with almost no elevation change, so the focus is entirely on the scenery moving past you rather than anything underfoot.
Packet pickup runs the evening before at a local running store in Redding, with race-morning pickup available at the start area near the dam. Parking and the start line are at the OHV staging area, which you reach by crossing the dam and dropping down to the flat below it.
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Finish-Time Stats
Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.
13.1 Miles · 2026 results
201finishers
1:14:34winner
2:07:36median
3:49:00cutoff
Top 3: Wren Gibbon (1:14:34) · Austin Murch (1:14:56) · Rief Ehlerding (1:17:27)
5K · 2026 results
105finishers
19:26winner
35:43median
1:15:52cutoff
Top 3: Jose Luis Duce (19:26) · Dean Witts (20:06) · Daniel Wood (21:14)
10K · 2026 results
82finishers
38:22winner
1:03:08median
1:32:25cutoff
Top 3: Donald Leedy (38:22) · Brishen Schenk (39:19) · Michael Stackley (40:31)
The Nail the Rail Half Marathon, 10K & 5K has been held every year since at least 2023. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.
Distances & Start Times
13.1 Miles4/24/2027 08:00$69
10K4/24/2027 08:15$39
5K4/24/2027 08:15$29
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Where to Stay
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