Celebrate the enduring spirit of Native American distance running by taking on the Toloma 5k at UC Merced. This annual event pays tribute to the remarkable legacy of California’s Indigenous athletes, whose traditions include both competitive and purposeful running. From Sierra Nevada foothill messengers covering long distances to historic races like the grueling 480-mile Redwood Highway Indian Marathon, Native runners have long demonstrated exceptional endurance and grit. Today, some of the country’s toughest ultramarathons, including sections of the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run, traverse trails once travelled by Paiute and Washoe runners. Join fellow athletes to race through a route that highlights these legacies—crossing Scholars Bridge, circling the "Beginnings" sculpture, and passing the Toloma Grove Native acknowledgement and reflection area.