Overall Rating
Overall Rating (492 Reviews)
4.4
(492 Ratings)  (492 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
2.5
SCENERY
4.3
PRODUCTION
4.4
SWAG
4.1
Surf, sun, run! Mild winter weather accompanied by miles of wide, sandy California beaches, as far as the eyes can see. 10 miles, to be exact – the longest stretch of uninterrupted beachfront anywhere on the West Coast – and home of the ideal winter marathon. HB’s long stretch of … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Feb 02):
  2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
 
H (°F)  62  68  67  69  66
L (°F)  49  42  45  52  50
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Recent reviews

    RickSawThat REPEAT RUNNER '24

    Do the half - with the full you repeat much of the same course multiple times. Super beach town race with surfer vibes - amazing coastline and great swag. The … MORE

    Do the half – with the full you repeat much of the same course multiple times. Super beach town race with surfer vibes – amazing coastline and great swag. The half is better than the full in my opinion do to the repeated out and back. Fast flat course

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    samie_stewart REPEAT RUNNER '24

    Well organized and love the scenic course. Surf City always has the best medals and shirts. Expo always has plenty of goodies to choose from. MORE

    Well organized and love the scenic course. Surf City always has the best medals and shirts. Expo always has plenty of goodies to choose from.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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    MilesOStridin REPEAT RUNNER '24

    If you’re looking for a great race with nice beach views, this is it! Expo / pickup: -Packet pickup, this year sponsored by the Snail’s Pace running shop, was set … MORE

    If you’re looking for a great race with nice beach views, this is it!

    Expo / pickup:
    -Packet pickup, this year sponsored by the Snail’s Pace running shop, was set the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street. You could pick up your race bib, official race shirt, tote bag, and gear check bag from the first few tents, followed by merch sales—last year’s shirt at a discount, plus new Surf City-branded shirts, hats, jackets, etc. If you’re a Longboard Legacy Runner, don’t forget to get your commemorative shirt right before entering the merch tent. In the last few tents, you’ll find all the event sponsors like Shokz, Oofos, Rivalz, and Rivian, along with mini-stores from A Snail’s Pace and 361 Degrees.
    Exiting the expo, you can pose with photo ops including Surf City’s classic surfboard/wave display. In prior years, there were rows of VW surf vans on display, but they were sorely missed this year (at least on Friday, when I was there, maybe in anticipation of rain?).

    Parking/Pre-race:
    -The start line and corral begins at the southern corner of Huntington St and PCH, so the nearest parking options are public beach lots along PCH, or private parking garages, including at the Pacific City Mall or the Huntington Beach Pier. You can also park farther away for free at the Civic Center and Edison High School, and take the official race shuttles for no fee—a really great option! Port-a-potties were plentiful in the expo area, and you could always opt for the beach’s public restrooms.
    The start corral was divided by pace groups, with elite and sub-2:00 runners towards the front. However, the front corral gates closed quite early, forcing late arrivers to either navigate from the back or squeeze through the middle of the metal partitions. Another thing to consider: the Marathon starts over an hour before the Half, and the 5k starts 45 minutes before the Half. There were many returning 5k participants outside the corral, so it added to the crowded energy.

    Course:
    -The Surf City Half Marathon course is an out-and-back, with the Pacific Coast Highway taking up most of the miles. For Miles 1-3, you’ll go north along PCH, with hotels, restaurants, shops, and houses on your right, while the beach and Huntington Beach Pier are on your left. Crowd support is strongest in this section— there were some great signs and costumed supporters, including some inflatable unicorns! Just before Mile 3, you turn right onto Seapoint Street to head inland through residential neighborhoods. Here, you’ll climb the highest inclines of the course (my Strava noted a ~6% incline up one portion of Garfield Avenue). This was also the narrowest portion of the race because you go from an open highway onto smaller streets, all while sharing the route with the full-marathoners. You begin to loop back near Overlook Park and the Bluffs residential area. With Wieder Park on your right, you barrel downhill on Seapoint Street, and return to PCH a little before Mile 6. Miles 6-8 are a relatively flat stretch with Bolsa Chica State Beach on your left, and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve on your right. There are some mini hills here and there, but it’s soothing to run with different bodies of water on each side of you.
    The aid stations at Mile 8 signal the course’s turnaround point, and you begin your long journey back. Miles 8-10 are still flat and unremarkable, just re-tracing your steps but now with the added sight of other runners still trudging through the first half of the course that you already completed! The second steepest “hill” kicks in at Mile 10.5, and it feels worse than it looks because your tired legs know you’re so close, and the headwinds this year were brutal. But conquer that hill, and you’re down the home stretch! The familiar sights of the pier and the return of the crowds’ cheers are the perfect boost at the perfect time. Ride that high, and lock into a flat, straight sprint to the finish line!

    Scenery/Support/Weather:
    -Southern California is spoiled with wonderful beaches, and the Surf City Half serves you beach views galore, on a mostly flat course. The drawback of minimal elevation change is that your POV of the beach doesn’t change much either: for many miles, it’s the same beach scenery from the same angle. It’s a small nitpick, but those miles add up! Aid stations serving water and Gatorade were spaced out at around 1.5-mile intervals, which was perfectly adequate, and Gu gels were offered at Mile 8. The volunteers were awesome, so shout-out to them! A couple bands provided music along the course, and a DJ hyped up everyone at the Mile 8 turnaround, but I would have liked a few more entertainment offerings because it got quiet at so many points. Early in the week, the weather forecast called for some rain on race day morning, but we luckily dodged any downpour. It was still chilly, with temperatures in low-50s at the start line, and ending around the mid-50s, but the bigger factor was wind! Heavy headwinds in the last few miles made it a tough effort and discouraged me from sticking around too long after the race.

    Post-race:
    -Cross the finish line, and your goodies will include a finisher medal, a banana, Aquafina water, Rivalz Extra Cheddar n Mac stuffed snacks, Dave’s Killer Bread Cocoa Brownie Blitz, That’s It Apples + Mango Mini Fruit Bar, in addition to True Moo chocolate milk just outside the exit corral. The post-race beer garden was sponsored by Michelob Ultra, and you could order some additional food from the various food trucks along the beach.

    Swag:
    -The Surf City Half Marathon’s theming, colors, and energy really showcase Huntington Beach’s surf history and culture. This year’s finisher medal graphic features 4 blue/orange surf boards propped up on sand in front of a yellow VW-style surf van and green palm trees, all overlayed on a horizontal blue/orange wooden surf board. A yellow ribbon loops through the back of the medal, and the medal’s base is screwed onto a small metallic stand, perfect for displaying! The official race shirt echoed last year’s two-tone design. The center of the aqua-blue long-sleeve shirt displays an orange surf van, with an orange/yellow surf board in front, towering yellow palm trees behind the van, and the Surf City logo at the top. The left sleeve really pops in a bright yellow color, and the sleeve spells out “Huntington Beach” in aqua blue text. If you’re part of the Longboard Legacy club, the back of your bright yellow shirt will show a navy blue surf van and palm trees along with blue/orange palm trees. Unfortunately, the front of the shirt is just plain blue text across the chest announcing, “Longboard Legacy”. Would love a graphic in the front too!

    Bottom-line:
    -The Surf City Half Marathon is a quality running event! It’s well-produced, fast, and full of sweet beach views.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4

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    ljd13 FIRST-TIMER '24

    Mainly flat. Plenty of room to run. Excellent crowd support. Love the T shirt and medal. Well run production with over 8,000 in the half. Generous cut off. MORE

    Mainly flat. Plenty of room to run. Excellent crowd support. Love the T shirt and medal. Well run production with over 8,000 in the half. Generous cut off.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4

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    cedoyle REPEAT RUNNER '24

    Flat course. Had strong headwinds on final 5 miles so I did not get a PR. Well organized as usual. This was my 8th time running. Colorful LS tech shirts … MORE

    Flat course. Had strong headwinds on final 5 miles so I did not get a PR. Well organized as usual. This was my 8th time running. Colorful LS tech shirts and classic medals.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    beachbum67 FIRST-TIMER '24

    I was really looking forward to this marathon but I ended up struggling in the second half of the race. My preparation was probably off a bit but the aid … MORE

    I was really looking forward to this marathon but I ended up struggling in the second half of the race. My preparation was probably off a bit but the aid stations on this course were lacking any nutrition that might’ve helped. That being said the production was fine but this was a predominantly half marathon race with most of the runners running that distance.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3

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    RickSawThat REPEAT RUNNER '23

    I've run both the full and half marathons at Surf City. The full has huge out and backs that proved to be very tough for me. The half marathon is … MORE

    I’ve run both the full and half marathons at Surf City. The full has huge out and backs that proved to be very tough for me. The half marathon is a great course, mostly flat with great production and views. I’ll be back for the half vs the full next year.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    MilesOStridin REPEAT RUNNER '23

    The Surf City Half is a good time by the beach! It’s flat, fast, and features nice (though somewhat repetitive) views of the beach. Expo / pickup: -The race expo … MORE

    The Surf City Half is a good time by the beach! It’s flat, fast, and features nice (though somewhat repetitive) views of the beach.

    Expo / pickup:

    -The race expo and packet pick-up was set up outdoors at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington St. There were large, individual tents for bib pickup, shirt pickup, and merch sales. If you fancy the shirts from last year’s race, those are on sale at a discounted price. Smaller tents housed the sponsors and exhibitors. If you’re a Longboard Legacy Runner, the Legacy tent is located among the sponsor tents, not with the regular shirt pickup tent—it’s easy to miss. As you exit the expo, you’ll be greeted with photo ops including a surfboard/wave display, as well as rows of VW surf vans on display!

    Parking/Pre-race:

    -The start line is near the southern corner of Huntington St and PCH, so your closest parking options are public beach lots up and down PCH, or private parking garages at higher rates, including the Pacific City Mall or the Huntington Beach Pier. This year, the race also organized free shuttles from the Civic Center and Edison High School. The start-line and expo area had plenty of port-a-potties, and the local beach restrooms were also available (though less clean, I’ve heard!). The start corral was clearly divided by pace groups, but the front corral gates seemed to close pretty quickly, forcing late arrivers to start navigating from the back. One thing to keep in mind: the Marathon runners start over an hour before the Half, and the 5k runners start 45 minutes before the Half. There were many returning 5k participants crowding the area outside the corral, so it added to a slightly chaotic energy to proceedings.

    Course:

    -The Surf City Half Marathon is an out-and-back course, with the majority on the Pacific Coast Highway. Miles 1-3 go north on PCH, with hotels, restaurants, shops, and houses on your right, and Huntington Beach, including the Pier, on your left. Crowd support is strong in this stretch! Before Mile 3, you turn right onto Seapoint Street to head inland through residential neighborhoods, up the highest inclines of the course (my Strava noted a ~4% incline for about tenth of a mile). This portion was also the narrowest of the race since you’re going from a wide-open highway to smaller streets, and at the same time sharing the route with the full-marathoners. You make a loop near Overlook Park and the Bluffs residential area, head back down Seapoint Street, and return to PCH just ahead of Mile 6. Miles 6-8 are a flat stretch with Bolsa Chica State Beach on your left, and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve on your right. It’s a neat experience to run with 2 different bodies of water on either side of you. The water stations and turnaround at Mile 8 are the start of your long trek back. Miles 8-11 can be the toughest because the sun is starting to emerge, but this year’s cloud cover provided some great relief. The second steepest “hill” kicks in at Mile 10.5, right when your legs are getting heavy. Miles 11-13 are the home stretch—familiar beach sights and the return of the crowd’s cheers give you a boost right when you need it. It’s a flat, straight shot all the way to the finish line, a great ending to the race!

    Scenery/Weather/Support:

    -The Surf City Half’s greatest strength is the views of the beach. On the other hand, the particular view of the beach doesn’t vary much. It’s the same type of beach, from basically the same elevation, with only the intensity of the sun increasing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very pretty view of the beach, but the monotony adds a grind to the second half of the race. And when you can’t look at the beach it’s because you’re staring at parking lots filled trucks and RVs blocking your view of the beach. Hydration stations serving water and electrolytes were adequate, the Chargel gels at Mile 8 were refreshing, and the volunteers were awesome. Crowd support and bands/DJs in the 1-2 miles near the start/finish line was great, but it is relatively quiet for the rest of the race, especially when coming back. Temperatures at the start line began in the mid-50s. It was a cloudy day, perfect for running, and temperatures were just about to hit 60 degrees when I finished.

    Post-race:

    -Finish-line goodies included your finisher medal, Aquafina water, Snyder’s Mini Pretzels, a Dole Fruit cup, an Over Easy Oatmeal Raisin breakfast bar, a banana, and TruMoo chocolate milk. The post-race festival by the beach is ideal for pictures, drinking, and celebrating, in whatever order you prefer. The beer garden was sponsored by Michelob Ultra.

    Swag:

    -Running at Surf City is a celebration of Huntington Beach’s surf culture. The finisher medal features graphics of a VW surf van, palm trees, the pier, and the Surf City logo on a horizontal orange surf board. The surf board medal is looped in an orange ribbon, but the best part is that the medal is mounted on a small stand, so you can hang the medal or display it upright anywhere! I liked this year’s official race shirt as well—a navy blue, long-sleeve tech shirt with a surf van, surf board, and palm trees at the center, and the left sleeve colored in a bright orange. Very nice! I wasn’t as thrilled with the Longboard Legacy shirt. The shirt design on the website looks great—a light blue, long-sleeve shirt, with a yellow sunset behind blue/orange surfboards and palm trees. Unfortunately, that’s the BACK of the shirt. The front just has the simplest white text across the chest, with no colors or interesting graphics. Wish there was a little more color or energy in the front!

    Bottom-line:

    -The Surf City Half Marathon is fun and well-organized. You get a fast and flat course, and the beach views are always a good time.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    4

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    milyeex2 REPEAT RUNNER '23

    After 5 years of no formal racing activity, I decided this was going to be the year. Been racing in orange county at community walks, park hiking, run activities on … MORE

    After 5 years of no formal racing activity, I decided this was going to be the year. Been racing in orange county at community walks, park hiking, run activities on my own but felt I needed to do a challenge to my mind and body. This was an amazing race to do this with a beautiful scenery, great sense of community, event producers, great running spirit and while I was disappointed of not meeting my personal record from 5 years ago it infuse my desire to prepare myself more and be ready for the next one. I’ll definitely will work very hard to not let another 5 years passed by. Love the swag, the post race events and having fun. I’ll definitely be repeating this race for next year. Thank you Surf City committee.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    lmtw REPEAT RUNNER '23

    I love this course and race venue. Of the last 12 years, I only missed 2 years. I loved that they have the Legacy participants the best early bird registration … MORE

    I love this course and race venue. Of the last 12 years, I only missed 2 years. I loved that they have the Legacy participants the best early bird registration prices. This year they switched companies and the overall registration with processing fees come out about $20 more. Therefore I hesitate to register for next year. I wish they would honor Legacy runners by giving them a locked in rate for their loyalty to the race venue.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    vanessahc REPEAT RUNNER '23

    There is so much to see and enjoy before and after the race. The vibe is so chill. The course is pretty flat. There is one hill but it's not … MORE

    There is so much to see and enjoy before and after the race. The vibe is so chill. The course is pretty flat. There is one hill but it’s not bad. The scenery is lovely the weather Is usually great. We had overcast all morning which made for a cool run. There is music, bands and DJs along the course and plenty of spectators. In my opinion there is plenty of porta potties and water stations.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    kareeberry FIRST-TIMER '23

    This course was absolutely breathtaking- running through the beaches on the perfect cloudy day then the last hour or so the sun coming through as you finish your race- amazing! … MORE

    This course was absolutely breathtaking- running through the beaches on the perfect cloudy day then the last hour or so the sun coming through as you finish your race- amazing! The course was never too difficult and I had such a great first marathon! The course is mostly flat with one bigger hill before mile 10 and I found a pacer group to run with. I had the best time and you can tell by my big smile in the picture below

    I a want to sign up for the same one 😎

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4
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    cedoyle REPEAT RUNNER '23

    This was my sixth time running the half-marathon. It is a well-run race over a flat course with very few turns. The shirt and medals have always been nice. There's … MORE

    This was my sixth time running the half-marathon. It is a well-run race over a flat course with very few turns. The shirt and medals have always been nice. There’s beer and music at the finish festival (although this year there was a DJ instead of a live band as in previous years).

    DIFFICULTY
    1
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    samie_stewart REPEAT RUNNER '23

    This is an easy fast course with some incredible view of the ocean. There are plenty of water stations along the course with great volunteers cheering you along. Oh and … MORE

    This is an easy fast course with some incredible view of the ocean. There are plenty of water stations along the course with great volunteers cheering you along. Oh and let talk about the swag, best medals and shirts. Never a disappointment.

    DIFFICULTY
    1
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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    jwpatkowski FIRST-TIMER '23

    This was my first race 4 weeks postpartum and it was so much fun. Logistically, postpartum running is tricky, with a short window in between breastfeeding and taking care of … MORE

    This was my first race 4 weeks postpartum and it was so much fun. Logistically, postpartum running is tricky, with a short window in between breastfeeding and taking care of an infant, I appreciated the ease of parking, the on time start, gorgeous course, and kind community that made this event exactly what my new runner mama heart needed. I was able to pump in the car, make it to the start line, and enjoy the gorgeous course running with such a supportive crowd along the way. This is my new favorite race and I look forward to coming back!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    3
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    runchagi FIRST-TIMER '23

    I had the privilege of calling Huntington Beach home for 3 years. Now, after 3 years of having moved, I am glad to have participated in the Half Marathon. It … MORE

    I had the privilege of calling Huntington Beach home for 3 years. Now, after 3 years of having moved, I am glad to have participated in the Half Marathon. It was very well organized with plenty of aid stations and bathrooms along the way. Everything from the registration to the beer garden was excellent. The course itself was mostly a straight line which allowed for a fast time but did get monotonous at times. The only complaint I have is that the beach bathrooms were very dirty. This had nothing to do with the marathon as they are city bathrooms but just wanted to make other runners aware that they are better off using the portable toilets.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    maryitzabel REPEAT RUNNER '23

    Beautiful scenery, beautiful weather and a well organized event Never fails!!! The shuttle bus pick up service they offer is amazing! They do everything on time the medal is beautiful, … MORE

    Beautiful scenery, beautiful weather and a well organized event
    Never fails!!! The shuttle bus pick up service they offer is amazing! They do everything on time the medal is beautiful,
    Excellent way to spend the first weekend of February

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    GidgetGurlie REPEAT RUNNER '23

    If you’re into SUNSHINE, meaning vibes, people, and epic views, THIS is a MUST DO! 🙌🏼☀️🤘🏼The start was unbelievable, due to the sea of runners! Seeing our flag up ahead … MORE

    If you’re into SUNSHINE, meaning vibes, people, and epic views, THIS is a MUST DO! 🙌🏼☀️🤘🏼The start was unbelievable, due to the sea of runners! Seeing our flag up ahead at the starting line always gets me, and finishing up with the breathtaking surf along side is just amazing. Thank you, once again, for a GREAT RACE! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! ☀️

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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    katerussellreed FIRST-TIMER '23

    First off, I’ve only done one race before, which was the Gorge Half Marathon, and I am a very slow runner. After running Surf City, I realize that they spoiled … MORE

    First off, I’ve only done one race before, which was the Gorge Half Marathon, and I am a very slow runner. After running Surf City, I realize that they spoiled me at the Gorge, and ruined other races for me forever.

    The good news about Surf City is that the track is fairly flat and the last section (around mile 16-26ish) is on the beach. They also seem to have a good relationship with the city; it was clean and seemed organized. Other highlights included a pretty medal. If you are average or fast, and you don’t care about snacks, you will probably enjoy this race and get a great PR.

    That said, I would not run it a second time as a slow runner or a first timer:
    – the plodding up the PCH is excruciating. The scenery in that stretch is about as interesting as a fingernail.
    – Whoever decided it would be a great idea to stick the hordes of half marathoners with fresh legs with the slower half of the marathoners has a sick, twisted sense of humor. I felt like simba in a stampede of wildebeests and was really thrown off and surprised. I went from having a nice quiet experience with people at a similar pace to me to being run down by a bunch of people with fresh legs, all while going down the most boring stretch.
    – where were the snacks?!? Is it normal to have no water or snacks available for runners the morning of, or at the aid stations? Did the Gorge spoil me or is this the deal at most marathons? Not even a water bottle until you finish running 26.2 miles? The only tents that had it were clubs, which felt very exclusive. I asked a staff member and he pointed me to a third party food truck. I flew out here to do this race, it was my first race, and it felt weird that it was less supportive than the Columbia Gorge, a much smaller race.

    If you are an average runner, none of this would probably bother you, but for a slow newbie it detracted a bit from the experience.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    3

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    RyanSundlie FIRST-TIMER '23

    Beautiful run down PCH. Super impressed by everything this race had to offer for my first Half Marathon. From online registration, to pre-info emails, to port-a-potties at the event, to … MORE

    Beautiful run down PCH. Super impressed by everything this race had to offer for my first Half Marathon. From online registration, to pre-info emails, to port-a-potties at the event, to refreshments during the run, snacks after, medical tents available, etc. It was a great experience for my first of hopefully many more to come. I’m hooked!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    3

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  1. Races
  2. Surf City Marathon & Half Marathon