BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)— Thousands of runners and their loved ones are getting ready for the city's great race. The Bakersfield Marathon starts this Sunday, and it took months to prepare. Aera Way points the way to the finish line, but before you get there, it takes a whole lot of prep to pu t on the Bakersfield Marathon, and it starts with water. "We're unloading about 200 gallons of water which will go out on the course at our various aids stations,” said Gavin McKiernan, Race Director for the Bakersfield Marathon. “We also are unloading thousands of bottles of water for the finish line. In addition to the water, we also have chocolate milk, bananas, oranges, and all sorts of other things at the finish line." It also takes a lot of trucks to bring the chairs, the trash cans, the bathrooms, the stands and the signs. The trucks also serve as protection. "We're going to be using our trucks to block off the roads for the course,” said Brian Marquez, Lead Driver for Hansen’s Moving. “So, it's pretty exciting. We do it every year. So, it's kind of fun. It's one of our little traditions." 2025 Bakersfield Marathon: Road closures on race day Speaking of tradition, there's a new marathon T-shirt for 2025. “This is just a beautiful landscape here of our Bakersfield area,” said Jonny Perez, describing the shirt. Perez has been at the marathon since year one. He said they made 4,000 shirts this year, and he's never been more proud to live in Bakersfield. "Now, we're a family owned business, and I'm doing it for me and my family, and I get to work with these amazing people, and amazing community that gives back so much,” said Perez. Perez even gave us a sneak peek at the medal. "It has this spinning aspect,” said Perez. The course is prepped, but are runners ready for the gain in elevation to River Boulevard? “I'm not sure we call it Hell's Gate, but yeah,” said McKiernan. “The first few miles of the course, it's a little baptism by fire there. You're gonna go uphill for most of the first four miles in the marathon, which is also the first couple miles of the half marathon." Don’t think about cheating in this race, either. “There’s always a way to cheat at most things, but without getting caught, no,” said McKiernan. ...read more read less