Running Fence Run - Celebrating Christo & Jeanne-Claude's "Running Fence" - a 24.5-mile fabric fence in Sonoma & Marin Counties installed in September 1976

A 2,516-Year Echo: Marathon to Running Fence​
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On September 12, 490 BC, the Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. A messenger—Pheidippides—ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory.​ His route measured approximately 24.5 miles, the distance of the first Athens Olympic Marathon in 1897. The distance was changed to 26.2 miles for the 1908 London Olympics.​
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In 1976, Christo & Jeanne-Claude’s "Running Fence" stretched 24.5 miles across Sonoma and Marin — the same length as Pheidippides’ legendary run. Christo conceived of the "Running Fence" in October 1972, immediately following American Frank Shorter's graceful marathon victory at the Munich Olympics. Runner's World magazine revealed a key connection: Bob Urie, who supplied fabric for Christo's project, was both a marathon runner and an organizer of the 1976New York City Marathon. Despite critical dismissal at the time as being "meaningless", the "Running Fence" embodied themes of running and the democratic freedoms that originated in ancient Athens. Christo, having fled Soviet-bloc oppression, characterized his creation as "a scream of freedom."​ 

2026, on September 12, runners return to the Sonoma County rural landscape of Running Fence to celebrate: ​

•   The 50th anniversary of Christo & Jeanne-Claude’s "Running Fence"  exhibited September 10th to 21st,1976.​
•   The 2,516th anniversary of the battle of Marathon  - September 12, 490 BC.​

A memorial service is planned for September 11th to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. On 9/11/2001, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors held an abbreviated meeting due to the ongoing attacks on New York and Washington D.C. They dedicated the Running Fence - Watson School Sonoma County Regional Park that day in recognition of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's artistic achievement.​

On Saturday, September 12th, 2026 we'll celebrate with a marathon, 5K, and 10K race.

Choose your distance and challenge yourself while supporting great causes.