The 2020 Dipsea Race has been canceled because of concerns about the coronavirus, organizers announced today.

It will be the first year since 1945 that the race has not been held. The race, covering a 7.4 mile course from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, was cancelled from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II.

“This is Marin’s biggest sporting event,” said Barry Spitz, a Dipsea historian and finish-line announcer who wrote Dipsea: The Greatest Race. “It’s a very beloved race and I’m sure this is very hard on everybody who runs, manages and participates in the race. I’ve been 38 straight years and, personally, it was like a punch to the stomach.”

In 1977, the Dipsea was rescheduled due to fire concerns but runners still showed up on the original race date anyway.

“They ran a ‘Gypsy Dipsea,'” Spitz recalled. “Like 150 people showed up anyhow and did their own thing. I have a hunch there’ll be some of that. I don’t know whether there will be penalties for that or not.”

The Dipsea, first run in 1905, is the oldest trail race in America. It was scheduled for June 14.

A statement from the organizers said:

“The health and safety of our community is of utmost importance to the Dipsea Race Committee. Given the rapid developments and danger involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, we regretfully have chosen to cancel this year’s race.

“Although the (race) is three months away, we reached out to Marin County Health and Human Services Public Health officials and decided it would be best to be proactive in the event of sudden changes that might be required in response to a need for containment.

“Our priority is to assure our competitors, our volunteers, their family and friends and all people along the race route and in the community that the Dipsea race, which consists of runners of all ages, would not pose a health risk faced with growing concerns and uncertainties about COVID-19.”

Organizers said all entry checks that have been received for this year’s race will not be deposited. Questions remain surrounding the canceled Dipsea Foundation Dinner but annual scholarships are still expected to be awarded to five or six local students.

The 110th Dipsea Race will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 13, 2021.