OC Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K

Sunday, May 5, 2024 • Newport Beach, CA • Course Map

A gorgeous, scenic course that unfolds through the Southern California coastal communities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa awaits at the OC Marathon, Half Marathon and Wahoo 5K & Kids Run, which sees more than 10,000 runners, walkers, wheelchair and hand crank competitors cross the finish line each year. This race, yet again, makes our list for one of the Best Half Marathons in the World.

Just down the shore from Huntington Beach and Long Beach here in the greater Los Angeles area, the race begins next to Newport Beach’s Fashion Island shopping center. From there, runners in the half follow the same route as the full marathon for most of the half marathon route, starting first with the first mile southward along the Pacific Coast Highway to the Corona del Mar neighborhood.

Runners next follow Narcissus Avenue and then Ocean Boulevard westward along Corona del Mar State Beach, where they can look out in the distance toward the waves of the Pacific Ocean making their way onshore.

The course then winds its way in a roughly northwest direction along the waters of Beacon Bay, taking runners along Bayside Drive and then back onto the Pacific Coast Highway for a brief out-and-back stretch over the bridge that crosses over the bay into the Bay Shores area, and then wind their way northward for the next stretch of the course, which takes runners north toward Upper Newport Bay.

Runners stay on Galaxy Drive for the next few miles, winding their way along the road with the Upper Newport Bay over their shoulders. After passing the mile 11 marker at the top end of Upper Newport Bay, runners then cross over onto University Drive/Del Mar Avenue and then Santa Ana Avenue, and then again back onto Mesa Drive.

The final mile of the half marathon then winds through residential neighborhoods along both Santa Ana Avenue and Mesa Drive, passing by the Santa Ana Country Club and its golf course as they hit the home stretch toward the finish line at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

The course time limit for the half marathon is 3 1/2 hours – and it’s open to walkers, organizers point out, adding “as long as you can walk a 15-minute mile, you can walk the half marathon.”

 All photos courtesy of the OC Marathon.

Race Weather & Climate

Nestled near Southern California’s Newport Bay, Newport Beach tends to see mild to moderately warm conditions in the late spring, with plenty of sunshine and little to no rain.

• May 5 average low temp: 58ºF
• May 5 average high temp: 68ºF

OC Marathon Past Results

• 2023 Results
• 2022 Half Marathon Results
• 2020 Half Marathon Results (Virtual)
• 2019 Half Marathon Results
• 2018 Half Marathon Results

OC Marathon Course Map

See the race route map for the OC Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

• 5:30 AM – full marathon
• 6:15 AM – half marathon

Course Time Limit

• 3 1/2 hours – half marathon
• 7 hours – full marathon

Fees

• $120 and up – half marathon
• $120 and up – full marathon
• $35 and up – 5K

OC Marathon Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2024 running of Newport Beach’s OC Marathon, Half Marathon or Wahoo’s OC 5K race, register online at RunSignup.

OC Marathon Official Race Website

www.ocmarathon.com

Comments

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