Sunday, November 12, 2023 • Monterey, CA
For sheer natural beauty and dramatic coastal scenery, it’s pretty much impossible to top the Big Sur Marathon series of races, which hosts the annual Big Sur International Marathon in the spring and this race in the fall, formerly known as the Big Sur Half Marathon at Monterey Bay.
The deep blues and greens of the Pacific Ocean crashing the rocky coastline, the kelp beds swaying back and forth with the waves, the sea gulls floating along the breeze and sometimes even seals and sea lions out on the large rocks in the water.
You’re likely to see all of it along the course at the November 13.1-mile race, which despite its name doesn’t actually run through Big Sur like its springtime counterpart, but still offers a gorgeous course with some challenging hills.
(MORE: 15 Stunning Photos of California’s Monterey Bay Half Marathon)
Runners start the half marathon in downtown Monterey along Del Monte Avenue, and from there follow the course first through the more touristy parts of the city, especially along Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which overlooks the ocean right on the edge of downtown.
Once runners make it through the early miles in this section — right after they’ve made their way through the Custom House Tunnel along Lighthouse Avenue — the course then heads into Pacific Grove and Point Pinos, where it really shows off this city’s scenic beauty.
The course hugs the coastline for the next several miles of the race all the way around to the turnaround point in Asilomar State Beach, giving runners a view of the waters of Monterey Bay the entire way.
They’ll pass by the Point Pinos Lighthouse and the Pacific Grove golf course through this section twice, on the way out and on the way back, and then turn off Ocean View Boulevard and onto the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail just after passing the mile 11 marker.
They’ll follow it all the way back to Cannery Row, which they’ll rejoin for a stretch before heading back onto the trail, which will carry them all the way to the finish line at Custom House Plaza.
All photos courtesy Monterey Bay Half Marathon. See more photos here.
Race Weather & Climate
Nestled along the Northern California coastline near the southern end of Monterey Bay, about 110 miles south of San Francisco, Monterey typically sees November temperatures that average between 47°F and 64°F, while rainfall totals average just over 2.4 inches for the month.
On the day of the race (Nov. 12), the average low is 47°F and the average high is 65°F.
Monterey Bay Half Marathon Past Results
- 2022 Monterey Bay Half Marathon Results
- 2019 Monterey Bay Half Marathon Results
- 2017 Monterey Bay Half Marathon Results
- 2016 Big Sur Half Marathon Results
- 2015 Big Sur Half Marathon Results
- 2014 Big Sur Half Marathon Results
- 2013 Big Sur Half Marathon Results
- 2012 Big Sur Half Marathon Results
- 2011 Big Sur Half Marathon Results
Monterey Bay Half Marathon Course Map
See the race route map for the Monterey Bay Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
6:50 AM
Monterey Bay Half Marathon Course Time Limit
3.5 hours — you’ll need to keep a pace of 16 minutes per mile or faster.
Race Fees
See race website
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of the Monterey Bay Half Marathon, visit the event website below.
