Run Santa Cruz Marathon

Run Santa Cruz Marathon is held in Santa Cruz, California, on October 25, 2026, and offers three distances: the marathon over 26.2 miles, the half marathon over 13.1 miles, and a 5K covering 3.1 miles. Start times are not listed.

The marathon is the serious commitment of the three and asks for roughly a 16-week build, with a weekly long run climbing toward 18 to 20 miles, a couple of runs at goal pace, and a genuine three-week taper. The half is the better target if you have four to five months of steady running rather than a full block behind you, and it is the usual stepping stone before a first marathon. The 5K exists for everyone else in the household, or for a runner using the weekend as a fast, low-cost effort. Whichever you pick, coastal October weather usually means dressing lighter than the early morning suggests.