Date
November 8-10, 2024
3 Days, 50 Miles
Location
San Diego, CA
Schedule
Check-in: 7 am
Walk starts at: 8 am
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Pre-Challenge Walk MS
Training Challenges
Training Begins!
Mark your calendars and dust off your sneakers – July 1st kicks off our 18-week training schedule! Check out the week-by-week mileage schedule as well as other tips and tricks on our Training page.
Fundraising and Training T-shirt Incentive
Win a Challenge Walk MS training wicking t-shirt by hitting $1,500 in fundraising by August 11th!
Fundraising Weeks
September 9- September 15, 2024
- Challenge: Person with the most money raised and person with the most number of gifts
- Prize: Win a free night of housing for Thursday night before the event. (1 room for most money raised and 1 room for most number of gifts)
October 7- October 13, 2024
- Individual challenge: The individual with the most number of gifts will win a special gift card or treat for food along the route.
- Team Challenge: Top teams with the most money raised (up to 5 winners) will win reserved seating for Friday and Saturday night programs.
Virtual “Know Before You Go” Meeting
October 2024 – Date and Time TBD
Join us to go over walk weekend details, weekend guide, what to pack and answering any questions that you may have! This Virtual Meeting will be especially helpful to first-time Challenge Walk MS attendees and will be a refresher of info for returning attendees.
The meeting will be recorded and information distributed if you are unable to attend.
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Packet Pick-Up
Thursday Night Packet Pick Up and Welcome Party
Thursday, November 7, 2024 from 4 – 7 pm PT at Hilton San Diego Del Mar
Walker, Crew, and Super Crew Check-in and Packet Pick Up- Packet Pick Up outside the Ballroom at the Hilton San Diego Del Mar, our host hotel for the weekend
- Grab your Challenge Walk MS credentials for the event weekend
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Schedule of Events
Thursday, November 7
4:00 pm: Check-in available at host hotel
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Packet Pick Up available
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Welcome Reception
Note – Some participants check in a day early on Thursday, but this is not required. If checking in early, lodging fees are the responsibility of all participants.
Friday, November 8 | Day 1
Mileage: Walk 21.1 miles from Army Navy Academy to Host Hotel in Del Mar, CA
Early Morning
- Busses leave from the host hotel to the Day 1 Start Line, transportation provided at no cost to Challenge Walk participants
- Last minute participant check in at the Day 1 Start Line
- Opening Ceremony begins; family & friends invited to attend
Throughout The Day
- Route open from Start Line to Del Mar, CA
- Lunch served at a stop along the route. A continual shuttle service to transport walkers back to the hotel will be provided if needed. Contact Net Control for shuttle.
- Yoga and Nurses’ Station open at host hotel
Evening
- Dinner is served at the hotel. Guests are welcome to join but must purchase tickets. $40/adult and $20/child.
- Evening Celebration with recognition of awards and speakers
- Ice Cream Social by the pool
Saturday, November 9 | Day 2
Mileage: 20 miles Host Hotel in Del Mar, CA to Mission Bay Beach
Early Morning
- Nurses’ Station open at the hotel
- Breakfast served at the hotel
- Warm-up & stretching available at Day 2 Start Line in front of hotel. Saturday is a rolling start, and all walkers must be on the route by 8:00am.
Throughout The Day
- Route open from Del Mar, CA to Mission Bay Beach
- Lunch served at a stop along the route. A continual shuttle service to transport walkers back to the hotel will be provided if needed. Contact Net Control for shuttle.
- Yoga and Nurses’ Station open at host hotel
Evening
- Dinner is served at the hotel. Guests are welcome to join but must purchase tickets. $40/adult and $20/child.
- Keynote speakers and candlelight ceremony at the host hotel.
Sunday, November 5 | Day 3
Mileage: 9.1-mile loop starting and finishing at Waterfront Park in Downtown San Diego
Early Morning
- Nurses’ Station open
- Breakfast served at the host hotel
- Shuttle transportation to Start/Finish Line at Waterfront Park, meet outside the hotel lobby for busses
- Rolling start at Waterfront Park
- Pre-finish celebration hosted at a Naval Training Center Park in Liberty Station - *Pre-finish celebration for walkers only
Late Morning/Early Afternoon
- All walkers arrive at pre-finish area
- All walkers leave together for 1 mile walk to finish line
- Finish line Ceremony with lunch served; friends and family are invited to attend at no extra cost
- Shuttle from Finish Line to the hotel will depart (must purchase shuttle ticket)
- Note – Day 3 Start and Finish Line is the same location. Because of this, many participants opt to drive themselves to the Start/Finish Line to depart at their own leisure. Family and friends are invited to Finish Line Festivities, and many participants choose to leave from Finish Line with family and friends as well.
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Route Map
We will share the map and final turn-by-turn directions closer to event weekend - once all routes have been finalized and approved. We aim to make the route as accessible as possible with paved walkways.
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Route Support
Challenge Walk MS is a fully supported event with your safety as our number one priority! Support and Gear (SAG) vehicles patrol the route to show support and ensure your safety. SAGs give rides – be it the finish line or a rest stop – as needed and requested.
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Rest Stops
Rest stops are located every 1.5-3 miles along the route to help you recharge and refuel. Relax, hydrate, grab a bite to eat and connect with other participants. There will also be medical support at most rest stops.
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Meals
Friday, November 8 | Day 1
- Breakfast - Light grab and go breakfast at start line
- Lunch – Sandwiches with GF, vegan, and vegetarian options
- Dinner – Pasta with sauce on the side and protein on the side; Gf, vegan, and vegetarian option
Saturday, November 9 | Day 2
- Breakfast – Served at the hotel from 6:15-8:15am; eggs, bacon, oatmeal, toast, fruit
- Lunch – Dang Brothers pizza with GF, vegan, vegetarian options
- Dinner – Make your own taco night
Sunday, November 10 | Day 3
- Breakfast – Served at the hotel from 6:15-8:15am; eggs, bacon, oatmeal, toast, fruit
- Lunch – Bekker’s Catering – BBQ chicken, veggie burgers, veggie lasagna
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Lodging and Transportation
Lodging
We are excited to announce the Hilton San Diego Del Mar will serve as the 2024 Challenge Walk MS: Southern California host hotel!
Hotel Address: 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
As our way of saying thank you for your support in the fight against MS, all participants who reach their fundraising minimum of $2,500 (or $1,500 for youth Challenge Walk participants) will receive free housing on Friday and Saturday night for the weekend, based on double occupancy rooms!
All reservations will be made through the National MS Society. Participants will be sent a housing survey email approximately three months prior to event weekend. All participants are required to fill out the survey and indicate roommate and room type preferences, dietary restrictions, accessibility needs, and other event-related information.
After receiving your housing survey, the National MS Society staff will reserve a room on your behalf and send you a confirmation email in the month before event weekend.
Participants are responsible for any additional hotel night accommodations, taxes, parking, or paying the difference if they prefer a private room. Nightly rates at $209++/night per room (subject to change) if wanting to stay additional nights. If a participant is paying the difference for a private room for two nights, that is typically charged as an additional night at the hotel of $209++ total (or $104.50++ per night for private accommodations).
We hope you will join us at the Hilton San Diego Del Mar for what is sure to be an amazing weekend!
Transportation
All event related transportation is provided once you make it to the host hotel for the weekend. This includes:
- Shuttle to the start line on day one
- Shuttle back to the hotel from the finish line on day two
- Shuttle to the start line on day three
- SAG (Support and Gear) Vehicles and shuttles available to transport participants to rest stops or back to the hotel from the route or lunch stops
- Note – Day 3 Start and Finish Line is the same location. Because of this, some participants opt to drive themselves to the Start/Finish Line to depart at their own leisure. Family and friends are invited to Finish Line Festivities, and many participants choose to leave from Finish Line with family and friends as well.
- Shuttle is offered at the end of day three/end of Challenge Walk event back to the hotel.
Parking is available at the host hotel, Hilton San Diego Del Mar, throughout event weekend at a discounted rate if you are staying at the hotel under the National MS Society reservation.