When Payson Warlick told her students she’d be running a half-marathon across the border this Sunday in the Binational Race San Diego-Tijuana, their excited reactions said it all.
“My students were like, ‘Ah, Miss Payson!’” Warlick said. “I’m going to have my camera, taking all the pictures I can to show them.”
Warlick is one of more than 1,500 runners who will cross the international border mid-race at the San Ysidro-El Chaparral Port of Entry.
The race holds personal significance for the bilingual speech and language pathologist who volunteers in Tijuana and works with predominantly Mexican and Mexican-American students in Chula Vista, many of whom spend considerable time crossing the border themselves.
For co-founder Valeria Rivera, the Binational Race emerged from an idea during long runs amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
“We live the border life,” Rivera said. “We go from the U.S. to Mexico. We go shopping, we go to school, we go to work. Why not unite ourselves and do what we all love? That’s running.”
What started as a bold proposal to U.S. and Mexican government officials quickly gained unexpected support.
“No one said no to the idea,” Rivera said. “That was huge for us because we thought they were going to say, ‘Now you guys are crazy!’”
Runners start at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro, complete a flat 10K on the U.S. side, then cross the border through a specially opened gate.
Rivera said border authorities, including officers who cheered runners on last year, help make the crossing possible.
Once in Mexico, participants face the “King of the Hill” challenge, a mile-long climb with a 7% incline known to local runners as “La Enchilada.” The fastest male and female runners earn trophies, with timing mats tracking their progress through this race-within-a-race.
All runners finish downhill at a beachside park in Playas de Tijuana, where they can enjoy their accomplishment at a post-race festival open to spectators, featuring live music, food vendors, and beer.
Last year’s inaugural event drew participants from across North America and even overseas, including one runner who traveled from London just for the experience.
For many, the race offers a new perspective on a familiar place.
“A lot of runners who were born and raised in San Diego, it was their first time going to Tijuana,” Rivera said.
The unique concept has captivated even seasoned runners. Warlick said her San Diego Track Club teammates were fascinated by the logistics, asking, “So wait, how does it work exactly?”
Organizers have spent considerable time making the experience as easy and safe as possible. Participants crossing the border to enter or re-enter the U.S. need to bring the usual immigration documents.
Cross-border shuttles with fast-pass access ensure runners can return to San Ysidro within an hour.
This year’s race has already more than doubled half-marathon registrations, with 1,500 runners set to cross the border, up from 700 last year.
Another 1,000 are running the 10K in Tijuana, and a virtual option lets participants worldwide earn the same medal.
Part of the appeal is that the race offers an entirely different kind of running experience, something outside the norm, according to Rivera.
“You have this great experience crossing the busiest border in the world and then you’re greeted by a mariachi band in Mexico. It’s unbelievable,” Rivera said, adding that the experience can also be emotional.
“Everyone who runs has their story. Testimonials from runners saying my grandparents went to the U.S., and because of them, I’m able to come and go with no problem,” she said.
For Warlick, a Vermont native who now calls Ocean Beach home, the race represents more than a physical challenge.
“The idea is that just because there’s a divide, there’s a land border, doesn’t really mean that much. We can literally break those fronteras, those borders.
“We are all one. We’re all humans and we’re all working hard to do the same things: to take care of our families, to love each other and grow together,” Warlick said.
The lifelong runner, who has raced in destinations including Europe, Mexico City, and Africa, said she didn’t hesitate to sign up after hearing about the event.
“Tijuana is one of my favorite places,” Warlick said. “Usually, it’s waiting in either the pedestrian or car line to cross the border. I’d rather be running. It’s a great way to get across, and I get to eat the best tacos ever afterward.”
To learn more or register for the race, visit [binationalrace.com](http://binationalrace.com).
https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2025/10/24/1500-runners-cross-border-tijuana-sunday-binational-race/