I'm supporting National MS Society! (2024)

Training Challenges

June 25-July 25^th

Challenge Walk MS is more fun with a friend, invite others to start training with you. Get a NEW WALKER to register by Tuesday, July 25^th and you’ll both win a fanny pack!

Fundraising and Training T-shirt Incentive
Win a Challenge Walk MS training wicking t-shirt by hitting $1,500 in fundraising by August 5th!

Fundraising Weeks

September 4- September 10, 2023

• 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 2- October 8, 2023

• 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 2023 – 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.

Thursday Night Packet Pick Up and Welcome Party

Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 4 – 7 pm PT at Marriott San Diego

Walker, Crew, and Super Crew Check-in and Packet Pick Up

• Packet Pick Up at the Marriott San Diego, our host hotel for the weekend
• Grab your Challenge Walk MS credentials for the event weekend 

Packet Pick Up is the time when Challenge Walk MS participants will receive all the necessary items needed for the event. This includes picking up your Name Badge which is your entry into all Challenge Walk MS events. Also included in your Packet is a turn-by-turn guide of the route, a weekend guide and schedule of events, “I Walk For” bib to highlight why you participate, and luggage tags for anything you’d like to bring with you on the Challenge Walk route.

Challenge Walk MS participants will have two dates and times available for packet pickup:

Thursday, November 2

• 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
• San Diego Marriott Del Mar: 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130
• Participants may pick up packets for Challenge Walk MS at our host hotel

Friday, November 3

• 7:30 am – 8:00 am
• Last minute Walker check-in at Challenge Walk MS Day One Start Line

Please note these details are subject to change and will be confirmed and finalized in the month before the event.

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 sidewalks and pavement.

Choose Your Challenge this year. Walk portions of the route and choose the days you want to walk. Whether you walk one mile or fifty miles, the choice is yours. Routes may change slightly each year due to permitting, other events that may be taking place and disrupt Challenge Walkers, or construction. While we aim to reach the full 50 miles, please note that is not always possible every year.

• Day 1 | Carlsbad, CA to Del Mar, CA
• Day 2 | Del Mar, CA to Mission Bay area in San Diego, CA
• Day 3 | Loop around Coronado Island
  • 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.

The Challenge Walk MS: Southern California route walks along the Pacific Ocean and through many beach towns such as Oceanside, Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and Coronado Island.

We aim to make the route as accessible as possible with paved sidewalks and pavement. The biggest hill of Challenge Walk MS: Southern California, takes place on Day 2, walking up Torrey Pines Hill (about 400 feet above sea level). For any participants that do not want to walk Torrey Pines Hill, we offer a shuttle to the rest stop at the top of the hill, as well as SAG Vehicles along the entirety of the route.

We are excited to announce the San Diego Marriott Del Mar will serve as the 2023 Challenge Walk MS: Southern California host hotel!

Hotel Address: 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130

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 $199++/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 $199++ total.

We hope you will join us at the host hotel for what is sure to be an amazing weekend!