Santa Clarita Marathon (1998-2019)
Santa Clarita, CA
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Santa Clarita Marathon starts between the Hyatt Valencia and Westfield Valencia Town Center, with a looped course that follows 26.2 miles of roadways, paved City trails, and paseos to its finish line at Westfield Valencia Town Center. The Santa Clarita Marathon is a Boston qualifier and is USATF certified. … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Feb 12):
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| H (°F) | 81 | 63 | 65 | 62 | 60 |
| L (°F) | 54 | 48 | 40 | 37 | 46 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Minimalist run
GOOD: Easy to find preferred pace due to wide street at start and few people (about 1,000 half and full marathoners). Lots of turns but course is well demarcated. Bridges … MORE
GOOD: Easy to find preferred pace due to wide street at start and few people (about 1,000 half and full marathoners). Lots of turns but course is well demarcated. Bridges and shallow but long uphill challenges spread out across race, last one was tough but set up for a smooth downhill and flat finish that felt fast. Nice natural scenery, not too much time on roads.
BAD: The drink stations were unpredictable and seemed patchy at the end (one was literally someone saying there’s a drinking fountain to use, and this after a big long climb with no shade near the end). Swag was limited to an unattractive purple shirt and a medal, even though there were a bunch of sponsors. I didn’t see any pacers for times longer than 4 hours. A lot of alone time which is tough if you like crowds to rev you up.
OVERALL: Pretty basic marathon, got hot today (in the 80s) which made anticipating drink station spacing frustrating.
Best LA-area Race I've Found Yet
Organization: 5/5. First off, this race is a fantastic value: $60 for a HM is practically unheard of, especially for a professionally-managed race. I was in and out of packet … MORE
Organization: 5/5. First off, this race is a fantastic value: $60 for a HM is practically unheard of, especially for a professionally-managed race. I was in and out of packet pickup on Saturday morning in about five minutes. Also…ample, free parking(!) in close proximity to the start line. Kudos to race organizers for NOT handing out the junk mail-esque advertisements for random races/race products that you sometimes get–just your bib and your shirt, they way it should be. Also, I loved how the City of Santa Clarita government really embraces this race. They had giant start/finish banners hanging from a pedestrian bridge and also posted placards along the whole course with encouragement and Santa Clarita trivia (might not seem like much, but something to keep the mind engaged and shows local support). No problems for start line organization, and the race started on time.
Course: The nice wide streets at the start meant you could quickly find your stride and weren’t constantly weaving around walkers for the first mile. The majority of the course is on the city’s extensive bike/jogging trail network, which were well-maintained and spacious, if not the most scenic, as you pretty much just have people’s backyards on one side. My biggest complaint would be the last half mile, which comprises two bridge climbs and a hairpin turn, all of which were real pace-killers while trying to finish strong. Biggest positive were water/Powerade stations every mile (or more).
Course support: You’re running through an LA bedroom community at 7AM, so pretty minimal. A few small groups (10-15) near major roads, but most looking for individuals rather than cheering on runners in general.
Medal: A new favorite. Detailed and well-designed. I definitely appreciate having a unique medal for each event rather than a catch-all. (See photo)
Shirt: Not the best, but certainly not the worst: Gildan brand polyester wicking material. While I like the graphic, they need to rethink the size and thick material…that gets pretty uncomfortable and sweat-logged before long. As for the color, I’ve learned race organizers usually use red for the half, purple for the full, and green for the 10K, and orange for the 5K. Fortunately, I like red workout shirts.
Final note: This race punches above its weight. It has big-time organization with a small-town feel. You won’t find a better value in LA.
Great race
This race has become one of those races that you do every year because there's something about the course, the people, the city and how well organized it is... and … MORE
This race has become one of those races that you do every year because there’s something about the course, the people, the city and how well organized it is… and I will do it next year once again, 4th year in a row😊😊
If there's one race to do, this is it!
I guess I need to post a disclaimer first: I live in Santa Clarita and am a City of SCV Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commissioner. Now that I've covered … MORE
I guess I need to post a disclaimer first: I live in Santa Clarita and am a City of SCV Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commissioner. Now that I’ve covered that, the race is great! I made a classic rookie mistake (although I’m not really a rookie) by deciding to run the half-marathon the day before the event, at 4:30pm on Saturday no less, with little to no recent training. Such is life.
The race start was great, with perfect weather, enthusiastic supporters and a full, but not crowded starting line. I ran into a friend at the start and we ran the whole race together, sharing stories along the way, until mile 13 where my body gave in and he took off to the finish line.
I’m not a fan of race t-shirts, as they’re usually chock full of all sorts of logos, but this one is a keeper! Gray with all the logos in white on the back and a cool California graphic on the front makes this one to hang on to.
The race support was really great! Lots of enthusiastic folks at every SAG stop as well as community supporters on the paseos throughout the course. Did I mention the paseos? Yeah, Santa Clarita has 38 miles of Class 1 bike paths plus 50 miles of multi-use trails connecting the entire valley. That’s 88 miles of off-street running heaven. The course is one I knew well with a mostly flat profile punctuated by a few small kickers where the path goes under an over-crossing.
The City folks put on a really well organized event, as they’ve done for many years, and are really dedicated to make this Boston qualifier one of the best races in the nation.
If you’re looking for a convenient race (with lots of hotel rooms virtually overlooking the start line and town center) that enjoys great weather and tremendous support, then this is it!
Well organized, mostly flat.
13.14 miles, about 350' of gain. Very well organized race that started right on time. Weather was very nice at the start (57 degrees). I was the 1:30 pacer for … MORE
13.14 miles, about 350′ of gain. Very well organized race that started right on time. Weather was very nice at the start (57 degrees). I was the 1:30 pacer for this race and it seemed like it could be a nice course to run a fast time. A lot of expectators along the course. Plenty aid stations, nice medal and awards to top 3 in different age groups. Will come back next year for sure to wither pace or race.
Marathon Debut Rocked!
A highly recommended course for first timers - like me. Awesome organization, beautiful course, energetic volunteers, and amazing finish to the race. The race was organized very well ... aid … MORE
A highly recommended course for first timers – like me. Awesome organization, beautiful course, energetic volunteers, and amazing finish to the race.
The race was organized very well … aid stations … cheering volunteers … awesome finish party. The bib pick up can be improved to include same day pick up for free.
Beautiful Out and Back
Really nice race. I had an issue going in with my registration and the people handing out bibs were super helpful and took care of everything on race morning. This … MORE
Really nice race. I had an issue going in with my registration and the people handing out bibs were super helpful and took care of everything on race morning.
This race offers race morning pick up of bib and tshirt for an extra fee. Well put together and flat fast course. Will do again in 2018.
Amazing race, amazing community!
Do this race! I signed up last minute, and had never been to Santa Clarita before! Wow! What an incredible community! They really embrace this race...the support was incredible just … MORE
Do this race! I signed up last minute, and had never been to Santa Clarita before! Wow! What an incredible community! They really embrace this race…the support was incredible just the coolest thing! I have done races a lot of places from Boston to Portland to Idaho and Washington and Santa Clarita is one of the best! Thanks to this race!!!
Great race!
This was my 5th half-marathon, and by far the most organized. The race expo was a breeze (in & out in 5 minutes!), easy access to parking on race day, … MORE
This was my 5th half-marathon, and by far the most organized. The race expo was a breeze (in & out in 5 minutes!), easy access to parking on race day, the race started exactly on time, and the small-ish field never made me feel crowded. Great route for the half. Can’t wait for next year!
Nice race on flat course
Easy, flat course to run and overall well-organized. Doesn't feel like a city marathon though, because most of it along the river and not in the city of Santa Clarita. MORE
Easy, flat course to run and overall well-organized. Doesn’t feel like a city marathon though, because most of it along the river and not in the city of Santa Clarita.
My first full!
Overall I would recommend this race. It is small so you are never crowded. Water stations are almost every mile!!! The only negative was a lack of direction in some … MORE
Overall I would recommend this race. It is small so you are never crowded. Water stations are almost every mile!!! The only negative was a lack of direction in some areas. They had fliers on poles/trees telling you which way to go but it made you think twice before making a turn. Also, at the finish line there was no bottle of water, just little cups like on the course. Nice shirt and medal was just OK. I would run this race again.
Top pick for a fall run
Enjoyable course, super friendly runners and volunteers, perfect weather, convenient and easy parking, wonderful location. What more can I say? Will definitely be running this race again. MORE
Enjoyable course, super friendly runners and volunteers, perfect weather, convenient and easy parking, wonderful location. What more can I say? Will definitely be running this race again.
Fun Race. Made us feel like champs!
The race was very well organized. Though the course has many turns, i liked the course. I liked the fact that they gave awards 1-3 for all age groups, not … MORE
The race was very well organized. Though the course has many turns, i liked the course. I liked the fact that they gave awards 1-3 for all age groups, not just the top 3 overall runners. The plaques were great as were the tshirts. The medals could be a little better but they were still nice. Not many crowds but finish line was nice. Sunny crom the start; wish it could start an hour earlier, but we lucked out and it only got to the 70’s in the second half of the race. The first half was awesome with plenty of shade. They made us feel like pros at the finish. Of the 63 marathons ive ran, this one became one of my favorites instantly.
My kids absolutely love it.
It is a well prepared and a beautiful city and race to run in. Lovely trails and beautiful scenery. The medals are amazing.They are so heavy and well done. The … MORE
It is a well prepared and a beautiful city and race to run in. Lovely trails and beautiful scenery. The medals are amazing.They are so heavy and well done. The atmosphere is excellent.
nice flat course
I loved the run; it was a simple course, almost all the runners seemed happy as we ran 13 miles. Beautiful community and an amazing welcome ceremony. I reached my … MORE
I loved the run; it was a simple course, almost all the runners seemed happy as we ran 13 miles. Beautiful community and an amazing welcome ceremony. I reached my PR here after recovering from an automobile accident.
Easy Breezey Smooth First Time
I read up on all of those first time horror stories and I can certainly say that this course was the best way to introduce myself to long distance running. … MORE
I read up on all of those first time horror stories and I can certainly say that this course was the best way to introduce myself to long distance running. The course wasn’t too hilly or too flat. The beautiful mountains of Santa Clarita Valley were there to cheer you on, along with the amazing community of people ready to encourage you on. Aid stations with water and electrolytes at every mile, and to my surprise porto-potties! I would recommend this marathon to anyone, and specially new comers!
I really like this race
My first half was 5 years ago at the Santa Clarita Half. This year there were many more water stations- a good thing!! I liked the course a lot. They … MORE
My first half was 5 years ago at the Santa Clarita Half. This year there were many more water stations- a good thing!! I liked the course a lot. They use the city’s wonderful trail system and this keeps the runners on a more level surface. This was a very poor performance for me (my fault, not theirs!) but I think I’ll be back!
Great Race! Well Run and Great People!
This was my first time doing the Santa Clarita Marathon 5k and I can say that I will absolutely be back next year! The race was well run, the expo … MORE
This was my first time doing the Santa Clarita Marathon 5k and I can say that I will absolutely be back next year! The race was well run, the expo the night before was fun and the bibs were easy to pick up. I wish the medals were a little more interesting, but I love that they were color coded by which race you did. I beat my personal best time by over a minute and a half during this race and I am so proud! There were a few hills, but it was paved and not terribly hard. I’ll totally be back next year! Hopefully for the Half Marathon!
Very well coordinated and supported.
If you are looking for a great 1st time marathon this one would be it. Easy registration, Plenty of surrounding hotels. Very nice Expo set-up and Pick up area. Support … MORE
If you are looking for a great 1st time marathon this one would be it. Easy registration, Plenty of surrounding hotels. Very nice Expo set-up and Pick up area. Support staff very friendly and the Volunteers are fabulous. Very well organized event and will do again for sure.
Volunteers help you perform your PB.
Santa Clarita Marathon 5k has excellent water stations which offer enthusiastic support to the runner, or the walker. Their are excellent cheer squads on course and at the finish line … MORE
Santa Clarita Marathon 5k has excellent water stations which offer enthusiastic support to the runner, or the walker. Their are excellent cheer squads on course and at the finish line in addition to the spectator’s cheers. Support groups help you achieve your personal best. Everything in Santa Clarita Marathon reflects good quality.