Surf City 10
Huntington Beach, CA
- 10 Miler, 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
THE PERFECT CALIFORNIA RUNNING EXPERIENCE. For everyone. This fall, Huntington Beach is once again home to one of the most beautiful running races in California – start and finish from Huntington Beach’s Pier Plaza. Run along the PCH and take in sandy beaches, palm tree-studded hills, wave surfing dolphins and … MORE
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Fast, flat, coastal race!
If you’re looking for a fast, flat, fun run with views of the beach, the Surf City 10 is just what you need! Expo / pickup: -This year’s race expo … MORE
If you’re looking for a fast, flat, fun run with views of the beach, the Surf City 10 is just what you need!
Expo / pickup:
-This year’s race expo and packet pickup was staged outdoor at the corner of Main St and Pacific Coast Highway. Along the northwest side of the expo, individual tents were set up for bib pickup, shirt pickup, and merch sales. Surf City has had some stylish race shirts the last few years, and you could pick up previous designs at a discount. They make for nice gifts! Sponsors and exhibitors had booths where you could sample products from Ghost Energy, Costa Coffee, Lifeway Kefir, and Rivalz. Or spin a wheel to win some small prizes from Raising Caine’s! Handel’s Ice Cream was conspicuously missing this year, and I really missed the coupons they used to hand out for small cones. Even the store was closed on Saturday morning!
Parking/Pre-race:
-In addition to the expo, the corner of PCH and Main Street is also the start line for the Surf City 10. If you’re driving, the best parking spots are the garages on Main Street, public lots along PCH, or the garage for the Pacific City shops (the most expensive option). The start-line and expo area had multiple rows of pot-a-potties, and the beach/pier’s own facilities were also open before the start. Gear-check was offered in the expo tent area, but make sure you use the clear plastic bags provided at the expo. Side entrances to the start corral closed about 20 minutes before start time, so arrive early! Once they close, you’ll have to enter the corral from the far back, then push through the packed crowd. Pacers with signs in the corral were helpful in splitting up pace groups.
Course:
-If you’ve run the Surf City Half Marathon before, then the Surf City 10 course should be very familiar. It’s a simple out-and-back course, shooting north up the Pacific Coast Highway, then returning along the same road. The first 2 miles go by hotels, shops, and houses on your right, and Huntington Beach, including the Pier, on your left. Crowd support will be loudest in this early stretch. At Mile 3 you begin a comfortable stretch with Bolsa Chica State Beach on your left, and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve on your right. The turnaround point kicks in just past Mile 5, right before Warner Ave. You can’t miss it because it’s shortly after the biggest water/aid station, and there’s a DJ booth at the turnaround. The beach views around the Bolsa Chica area were dampened by parking lots full of RV trailers and their flags. With no clear sightlines of water here, you’ll just have to settle for the sea breeze! There’s a slight elevation gain before Mile 8, but the course quickly flattens to make it a speedy dash through cheering crowds all the way to the finish line!
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-The Surf City 10 serves up generous beach views for over half of the course. Even on a cool, overcast day like this year’s race—temperatures hovered around 67 F—you can’t beat the lovely California ocean breeze and palm trees. The best views are closer to the start and finish, near the Huntington Beach pier. The volunteers were fantastic, and hydration stations were plentiful at around Miles 2, 4, 6, 8, and one more at Mile 9 too. Chargel athletic gel was supposedly offered at the Mile 6 station, but I either missed them or they ran out? While this year’s race was cloudy, keep in mind that this coastal route has little to no tree cover, so on hotter days the sunlight can feel rough. Prepare accordingly!
Post-race:
-Goodies at the finish line included a finisher medal, a banana, Aquafina water, Rivalz Stuffed Snacks (Late Night Pizza, Spicy Street Taco, or Extra Cheddar Mac), and Jam bars (Chocolate Cha Cha or Musical Mango). Fun tip: stop by the expo area too for samples from Ghost Energy drink and other vendors. If you need extra hydration, there are several water dispenser tanks in the expo area, and the Michelob Ultra beer garden is open to runners over 21. The post-race festival is perfect for pictures by the beachside photos. Take time to walk the pier with your medal, and hear it clanging in rhythm to the waves crashing below.
Swag:
– Every Surf City race is another chance to score an iconic surf board medal! This year’s 10 Miler medal features a large sea foam green-on-white numeral 10, with 3 white, yellow, and green surfboards poking out above. White “10 Miler” text sits above that, while “Surf City 10” in black-on-yellow text separates the big “10” and the surfboards. The very top of the medal functions as a bottle opener, and the medal is looped in a green and white ribbon. It’s easily the largest Surf City 10 medal I’ve seen in years! The official race shirt was a yellow tech shirt, with a stylized green wave outline pattern throughout the shirt—it almost looks like Aquaman’s scales. The Surf City 10 logo sits in green at the center, across the chest, with the race date right below it, and green horizontal bars on both sides. The back of the shirt features the same green wave pattern, and a green silhouette of the Huntington Beach pier and “Huntington Beach, CA” across the upper back. This year’s shirt was a fantastic upgrade over last year’s dark grey design. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the tote bag! At packet pickup, our shirts were delivered in a nice green/yellow tote. Handy for all the samples and goodies throughout the race weekend.
Bottom-line:
-Who doesn’t love a run by the beach? The Surf City 10 is fast, it’s flat, and it’s fun. Check it out if you’re looking for a great race to fill your September schedule!
Beautiful run, okay event
I liked this run a lot... but the organization was a little chaotic for me. The shorter distances turn around and right into the longer distance runners who are fast … MORE
I liked this run a lot… but the organization was a little chaotic for me. The shorter distances turn around and right into the longer distance runners who are fast fast but pretty fast. In fact, the 10k and 5k runners were merging and turning around right into the path of the 10 mile runners. Kind of lame.
The post-race party was decent. They had good beer too… not just light beer.
Shirt was horrible. I donated mine within a day.
I also stopped to help someone who had fallen and was thought to be really injured. She was just mostly embarrassed though… and then, when the marshals and medics finally showed up 20 mins later, I was out of wack with my run and did not even get a thank you from the race organizers. Lame again.
Cool, breezy run down Highway 1
The Surf City 10 is a fast, flat, fun run with views of Huntington Beach! Expo / pickup: -Packet pickup took place outdoor near the corner of Pacific Coast Highway … MORE
The Surf City 10 is a fast, flat, fun run with views of Huntington Beach!
Expo / pickup:
-Packet pickup took place outdoor near the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main St. Individual tents were set up for bib pickup, shirt pickup, and merch sales. You could pick up some of last year’s stylish race shirts for a discount! Sponsors and exhibitors each had their own booths where you could sample some sports drinks, supplements, sunglasses, and health goods. Or spin a wheel to win some small prizes. I won some free ice cream from local favorite Handel’s!
Parking/Pre-race:
-The corner of PCH and Main Street also serves as the Surf City 10 start line. The best parking options are garages on Main Street, public lots along PCH, or the garage for the Pacific City shops (slightly more expensive). The start-line and expo area had multiple rows of pot-a-potties, and the beach/pier’s own facilities were also open before the race. Gear-check was offered in the expo tent area. The side entrances to the start corral were closed about 20 minutes before start time. Get there early, otherwise you’ll have to enter the corral all the way from the back then push through crowds of runners! Pacers with very visible signs in the corral were helpful in dividing up pace groups.
Course:
-The Surf City 10 is a basic out-and-back course, heading north up the Pacific Coast Highway, then returning along the same route. The first 2.5 miles go past hotels, shops, and houses on your right, and Huntington Beach, including the Pier, on your left. You’ll feel the most crowd support in this early stretch. At Mile 2.5 you begin a comfortable stretch with Bolsa Chica State Beach on your left, and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve on your right. The turnaround point kicks in just past Mile 5, right before Warner Ave, and right after the biggest water/aid station. I believe this station is where I picked up some Gu gummies that gave me a nice pick-up. The beach views around the Bolsa Chica area were slightly muted because parking lots full of RV trailers block the sightlines of actual water. You’ll just have to settle for the sea breeze around this area! There’s a slight gain in elevation from Miles 7 to 8, but the course flattens shortly after to make it a fun sprint through cheering crowds to the finish line.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-The race is called the Surf City 10, and the course serves beach views for over half of the course, with lovely California ocean breeze and palm trees. The best views are near the start and finish, near the Huntington Beach pier. The volunteers were great, and hydration stations were plentiful at around Miles 2, 4, 6, 8, and thankfully at Mile 9 too. Gu Gummies were offered at the Mile 6 station—for some reason I was expecting regular Gu packets, but Gummies are pretty nice too. Race day was cloudy and overcast, with temperatures starting in the low-60s and ending in the mid-70s. There’s little to no tree cover, so on hotter days the sunlight can feel harsh. Dress accordingly.
Post-race:
-Goodies at the finish line included a finisher medal, banana, pH water, Rivalz Stuffed Snacks (Late Night Pizza, or Street Taco flavors), and Kodiak Bear Bites protein graham crackers (Honey or Chocolate). On a sunny day, the post-race festival is perfect for pictures by the beach. Alas, we had to settle for a cloudy background and palm trees this year. It’s also fun to walk the pier with your medal and hear it clanging in rhythm to the waves crashing below. If you need further hydration, the Michelob Ultra beer garden is a great spot for runners over 21.
Swag:
– Like with every Surf City race, the medal featured an iconic surf board! The 10 Miler medal is a vertical surf board in sea foam green, white, and yellow, and looped in white/green ribbon. The top half of the surf board featured translucent green/white sun rays, while the bottom half featured silhouettes of palm trees and seagulls. The very top of the medal functions as a bottle opener too! The official race shirt was a short-sleeve tech shirt in (very) dark grey, with the Surf City 10 logo centered in yellow, and the outline of some waves going across horizontally in green. It’s fine, but not as eye-catching as last year’s dual-tone green design which I absolutely loved (and bought another at the expo this year).
Bottom-line:
-The Surf City 10 is a fast, fun, flat race on Highway One, right along the beach. It’s not as eventful as its Marathon/Half big sibling in the spring, but I still enjoyed it a great deal! Check it out if you’re looking for a great fall race!
Fist und fun!
I really like to run in Huntington beach! Easy parking at Pacific plaza, everything is close. The expo was a lot of fun. The course was flat and fast. Another … MORE
I really like to run in Huntington beach! Easy parking at Pacific plaza, everything is close. The expo was a lot of fun. The course was flat and fast. Another star is for medal! It is designed very contemporary. And my favorite park was the beer garden!
Breezy beach run down Highway 1
The Surf City 10 (formerly known as the Surf City Sundown) is a bright and sunny fun run. Enjoy pleasant views of Huntington Beach along a fast, flat course. Expo … MORE
The Surf City 10 (formerly known as the Surf City Sundown) is a bright and sunny fun run. Enjoy pleasant views of Huntington Beach along a fast, flat course.
Expo / pickup:
-Packet pickup was staged in an outdoor setup along Pacific Coast Highway. There were individual tents for bib pickup, shirt pickup, and merch sales. Sponsors and exhibitors each had their own booths where you could sample all sorts of supplements, sports drinks, sunglasses, and health goods. Two big green Surf City backdrops were also available for photo ops.
Parking/Pre-race:
-The corner of PCH and Main Street serves as the Surf City 10 start line. Your best parking options are garages up Main Street, public lots along PCH, or the garage for the Pacific City shops. The start-line and expo area had plentiful rows of pot-a-potties closer to the beach, in addition to the pier’s own facilities. A gear-check tent was available near the expo area as well, but I didn’t use it. Pacers in the start corral were helpful in dividing up pace groups.
Course:
-The Surf City 10 course is a real out-and-back, a straight shot that goes north up the Pacific Coast Highway, then returns along the same route. The first 2.5 miles go past hotels, shops, and houses on your right, and Huntington Beach, including the Pier, on your left. You’ll encounter the most crowd support in this stretch—not as much as the bigger Surf City Marathon/Half in the spring, but it’s still encouraging. At Mile 2.5 you begin a comfortable and flat stretch with Bolsa Chica State Beach on your left, and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve on your right. You hit the turnaround at Mile 5 right before Warner Ave and begin your return. The beach views around the Bolsa Chica area were quite muted because parking lots full of RV trailers formed a low wall between you and the actual water. You’ll just have to settle for sunny weather, blue skies, and the sea breeze instead to power you through—it’s a real bummer, oh the horror! Miles 7 to 8 deliver the slightest bit of elevation gain, then flatten out as you race to the crowds at the finish line.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-The race is called the Surf City 10, and the course serves you beach views for over half of the course, with plenty of that California ocean breeze and palm trees. The best views are near the start and finish, near the Huntington Beach pier. Volunteers were great, and hydration stations were plentiful at Miles 2, 4, 6, 8, and thankfully at Mile 9 too! Gu was also available at around Mile 6 I think. Race day was clear and sunny, with temperatures starting in the upper-60s and ending in the low-70s. There was little to no cloud or tree cover, so the sunlight felt harsher in the second half. A hat or sunglasses would be helpful.
Post-race:
-Goodies at the finish line include a finisher medal, banana, pH Alkaline water, an organic Jam Bar, and a Bob’s Red Mill bar. The post-race festival by the beach is perfect for pictures, especially at the two big green Surf City photo backdrops. It’s also fun to walk along the pier with your medal(s) and hear the clanging in rhythm to the waves crashing below. If you need further hydration, the Michelob Ultra beer garden is a great spot to celebrate.
Swag:
– If you thought a Surf City race would feature surf board medals, you would be right! The 10 Miler medal is a vertical surf board in sea foam green and white, with silhouettes of waves and the Huntington Beach pier, looped in a green ribbon. The surf board medal folds in half to (1) make it more display-friendly on a flat surface, and (2) serve as a bottle opener! Very cool. The race shirt was a short-sleeve shirt in sea foam green, with the Surf City 10 logo centered in yellow, and wrap-around side panels in a lighter shade of green that connect into a wave graphic on the back. It’s a very neat design. The shirt material isn’t the typical tech poly of most race shirts, but a poly/rayon blend. It’s softer and comfier at the cost of slightly less moisture-wicking.
Bottom-line:
-The Surf City 10 is a fast and fun race along the beach. It’s not as big or rowdy as its Marathon/Half sibling in the spring, but I actually enjoyed this one just as much! While I miss the unique sunset vibes of the Surf City Sundown variation, I can understand the planning/lighting/logistical difficulties of organizing that. Surf City 10 feels like a great little race with a charm of its own.
A Excellent Race by the Coast
The aid stations were awesome. The race could be improved with more nutrition on the course. The most unique aspect of the race was the scenery by the beaches. MORE
The aid stations were awesome. The race could be improved with more nutrition on the course. The most unique aspect of the race was the scenery by the beaches.
Beautiful sunset, lots of darkness
I normally train at night because I am not a morning person so I actually love nighttime races. I signed up for this as a training run for the Long … MORE
I normally train at night because I am not a morning person so I actually love nighttime races. I signed up for this as a training run for the Long Beach marathon and choose the 10 miler. I arrived early afternoon and checked out the expo and hung at the beach. The expo was small but had a few booths and vendors to check out. The race is just 5 miles out and 5 miles back on the PCH so it is very easy and flat. All 3 distances (5K, 10K, and 10 miler) start at the same time. I wish they would have staggered the races so the 10 milers had a head start. It is designed so all the runners run through sunset. As a result the first 3 miles of the sun setting on the beach were absolutely gorgeous. The last seven were very dark. It would be nice to have an earlier start so less of the race was dark. There was plenty of nutrition and water stations. The smoke from the bonfires was a little annoying but it didn’t bother me too much. I took the race pretty easy and enjoyed it. Finisher medal was a nice glow in the dark surfboard but it was a little small and not specific to the race distance. I thought it was a great training race for the Long Beach marathon but it looks like next year the Long Beach marathon is scheduled before this race so that is too bad.
Nice Course, A Little Late
This was my first 10 mile race. Overall, the course was simple and I enjoyed running next to the pacers. I think the race would be better if it was … MORE
This was my first 10 mile race. Overall, the course was simple and I enjoyed running next to the pacers. I think the race would be better if it was a bit earlier in the day. The first half of the race was awesome, the sunset along PCH is a great view.
However, about halfway through, the sun had set and the course was pitch black. There was light up glow sticks throughout the course, so it was fine, but it really kills the scenery. As others have mentioned, there was some bonfire smoke, but that part didn’t bother me too much.
The race swag was decent. I enjoyed the glow in the dark shirt and the bottle opener surfboard medal. The race expo was also pretty okay. This is a good training ride for the LB marathon / half marathon and I will probably run it again next year.
Beautiful sunset, smokey run by bonfires
There is a lot to like about this run. However the biggest negative I think outweighs the rest. The biggest issue with the change of timing from a morning run … MORE
There is a lot to like about this run. However the biggest negative I think outweighs the rest. The biggest issue with the change of timing from a morning run to an evening run is that many miles of the course parallel the Bolsa Chica state beach and bonfires. This means that for several miles of a race you are breathing in smoke from whatever wood people decided to bring and burn. I’m sure that’s not good for your lungs. For this reason alone I won’t be doing it next year.
Aside from the smoke, it was a beautiful sunset and it was nice to not have to wake up at butt-early-o’clock to be at the starting line. The crowds were nice near the start and finish and the fact that they gave you glow sticks (of sorts) made it more entertaining.
Several things to improve upon aside from the smoke: The starting crowds were terrible and not broken up. It was pretty tough to get through because it seemed like everyone started wherever the heck they wanted. Walkers doing the 5k? Sure, start ahead of those wanting a 7:30pace doing the 10miler! They also asked people to stay to the right especially after the turn around, but the slower 10k and 5k folks really clogged up the roads on the return for the 10 mile runners. Only at the very end was there a sign to remind walkers to stay to the side. This was made worse by the fact that there were lights only about every half mile along the course, so there were stretches with very low lighting. I didn’t realize I would need to provide my own lights for the run. They said that the course would be “lit” (their words). So if you do this next year, make sure you bring lights to help you see the road once the sun is completely down.
Again, I liked the idea but there are lots of areas for improvement. Unfortunately the biggest issue is out of the race director’s control (the smoke being a health issue). So I’ll probably skip this in the future.
Fast course, a little smoke
Evening run was a nice change of pace. Fast course - up & back on PCH (only one turn). Unfortunately, the wind blew smoke from the beach fire pits and … MORE
Evening run was a nice change of pace. Fast course – up & back on PCH (only one turn). Unfortunately, the wind blew smoke from the beach fire pits and barbeques onto the course, there was some smoke inhalation on the first half. The 10-mile, 10K, and 5K races started at same time and location, So, I had to weave through the walkers and slower runners from the other races for the last few miles. Other than that, the race was well organized.
SO DISAPPOINTED
Although I have run Surf City Perfect 10 in the past, I put myself as a first timer as the race has been rebranded and I have never run at … MORE
Although I have run Surf City Perfect 10 in the past, I put myself as a first timer as the race has been rebranded and I have never run at night. This race had SO many negatives from previous years.
The movie from Beach Blvd to Main street made parking for packet pick up more difficult. There is so much street parking near beach Blvd. The protesters at the pier were not a welcome sight (although I can’t blame the race organizers for that).
I did not like the one for all start. Too crowded. and the 10 mile leaders had to fight traffic when they hit the 10K turn around and again at the 5K turn around.
Black shirts for a night run. Who’s bright idea was that? I would guesstimate 50% of the participants wear the race shirt. Black at night is just dumb.
Running next to the camping was disconcerting. Every time a car used the surface road at the campground, the headlights would blind you.
The “festival” did not stay open until 9. I finished the race around 8:30 and a vast majority of the vendors had already disappeared or were dismantling.
And the biggest disappointment was the medal. The signature medal-where did it go? The design is nice. But the size is about 1/3 of what it has been in past years. I’ve raced at smaller events and received bigger medals.
If this were my first Surf City race, I probably would not run another one. As it is, I may not either way. Go back to the old format and bigger medals.
Great beach run
Great race for beginner runner, flat, easy, awesome Medal. I recommend this race to everyone interested in running! Can't wait till next year. MORE
Great race for beginner runner, flat, easy, awesome Medal. I recommend this race to everyone interested in running! Can’t wait till next year.
Do it!
Awesome race, fun and vibrant atmosphere. It was a great day at the beach and my brother and I will be doing the one in February. So cool to run … MORE
Awesome race, fun and vibrant atmosphere. It was a great day at the beach and my brother and I will be doing the one in February. So cool to run down PCH listening to the waves crash.
Nice Out & Back
Very flat run, easy out and back so you know when you are halfway done. Parking is $15 but great if you plan to stay and play on the beach … MORE
Very flat run, easy out and back so you know when you are halfway done.
Parking is $15 but great if you plan to stay and play on the beach after
No food offered so plan to go somewhere after or bring your own
10 miler was actually only 9.8 on my Garmin, and other distances loop in and join the 10 milers which gets crowded and tends to bunch up near the end.
A Fine Race
The aid stations were excellent. The medal was fine. The race could be improved with more course nutrition. The recommendation would be to have more aid stations. MORE
The aid stations were excellent. The medal was fine. The race could be improved with more course nutrition. The recommendation would be to have more aid stations.
Out and Back run on PCH with great views
The Surf City 10s are a long established series of races that take place every year on PCH in Huntington Beach. There is the choice of the 10 Mile (most … MORE
The Surf City 10s are a long established series of races that take place every year on PCH in Huntington Beach. There is the choice of the 10 Mile (most popular) or the 10k or 5k options. All are out and back courses. Great views of the Pacific Ocean. the race production is outstanding–every race got off on time and no problems with overcrowding on the way in when all three races are finishing together. plenty of food and goodies at the finish. good expo for a non-marathon event. Only concern is having to pay for parking to pick up the bib on Saturday and on race day. recommend parking on the streets or at the Pacific City mall across the street if you don’t want to pay the $15 for parking in the city or state lots.
I ran this race at 24 weeks pregnant!
I was supposed to run the 10 miler before I knew I was pregnant and changed to the 5k. As a first timer this was a great race with beautiful … MORE
I was supposed to run the 10 miler before I knew I was pregnant and changed to the 5k. As a first timer this was a great race with beautiful scenery and amazing weather. I plan to run again next year with babies in the stroller.
Fast 5k in Surf City
This is my second review of a run I seem to do yearly now. It's beautiful, flat run up and down PCH which a great medal and party with swag … MORE
This is my second review of a run I seem to do yearly now. It’s beautiful, flat run up and down PCH which a great medal and party with swag to follow.
The run is now in the middle of October but costumes are encouraged. Registration for 2018 was already available on site.
I took advantage of the bag check (the website said you needed to supply you own bag but they were available on site).
As I noted in my last review the 10 mile, 10 k and 5k are started at staggered times with the 5k starting at 8:15am. A plus is the runners for each of the distances are keep separate. I will definitely be doing this next year.
Great Morning for a 10 mile Run
I enjoyed the location. Walked right out of the hotel to the start line. The weather was good and the race finished before it got too warm. The course was … MORE
I enjoyed the location. Walked right out of the hotel to the start line. The weather was good and the race finished before it got too warm. The course was an up – back on a flat surface. I purchased the VIP and enjoyed all the extra goodies. The massage and stretching that was offered was a definite perk. I’ll run this race again.
Loved the smell of the ocean.
The out and back course is nice. Disappointed that there weren't more bands. One water station the volunteers crowded the street making it difficult for runners to pass. The smaller … MORE
The out and back course is nice. Disappointed that there weren’t more bands. One water station the volunteers crowded the street making it difficult for runners to pass. The smaller number of runners made for a less crowded course. Only water and banana for after race nourishment. Expo had too many vendors that weren’t running/nutrition related-like Truffoire. Don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to pay $300 for face cream.