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Carlsbad Marathon Half Marathon & 5k

January 14, 2024
Carlsbad
Road
Distances
Marathon, Half-Marathon, 5k
Starting Time

6:15 AM

Fees

$99+

Perfect For

Ready to sign up?

1000-10000
Fast & Flat
Oceanfront
High: 65°
/ Low: 49°

The views of the coastline at the Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon are a welcome sight for any runner who’s not from the local area, as this wintertime road race offers a respite from the cold winter conditions in much of the rest of the country this time of the year.

One of three half marathon events that make up Southern California’s Half Marathon Triple Crown (including April’s La Jolla Half Marathon and the America’s Finest City Half Marathon in August), the Carlsbad races provide a course whose signature is its sun and surf, with waves crashing alongside the shore for runners for much of the race course.

Featuring an out-and-back course that starts and finishes at the Plaza Camino Real shopping center between Carlsbad and Oceanside, the race is considered both the fastest of its kind in the San Diego area and one of the fastest half marathon running events anywhere in the country.

The race’s first couple of miles take runners through Carlsbad’s city streets, on the way to Highway 101 (Carlsbad Boulevard), which begins the long straightaway that takes runners along the Pacific shoreline. There are no major hills along the course, just gently rolling hills and an elevation change that never rises above about 75 feet above sea level. The stretch along Highway 101 takes runners all the way down to the intersection with Breakwater Road, where runners then hit the turnaround point and begin heading back up the course toward the finish line. Just over 7,500 runners, walkers and wheelchair competitors crossed the finish line in both races combined in 2016, including more than 5,800 finishers in the half marathon alone.
Overview
The views of the coastline at the Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon are a welcome sight for any runner who’s not from the local area, as this wintertime road race offers a respite from the cold winter conditions in much of the rest of the country this time of the year. One of three half marathon events that make up Southern California’s Half Marathon Triple Crown (including April’s La Jolla Half Marathon and the America’s Finest City Half Marathon in August), the Carlsbad races provide a course whose signature is its sun and surf, with waves crashing alongside the shore for runners for much of the race course. Featuring an out-and-back course that starts and finishes at the Plaza Camino Real shopping center between Carlsbad and Oceanside, the race is considered both the fastest of its kind in the San Diego area and one of the fastest half marathon running events anywhere in the country.
The race’s first couple of miles take runners through Carlsbad’s city streets, on the way to Highway 101 (Carlsbad Boulevard), which begins the long straightaway that takes runners along the Pacific shoreline. There are no major hills along the course, just gently rolling hills and an elevation change that never rises above about 75 feet above sea level. The stretch along Highway 101 takes runners all the way down to the intersection with Breakwater Road, where runners then hit the turnaround point and begin heading back up the course toward the finish line. Just over 7,500 runners, walkers and wheelchair competitors crossed the finish line in both races combined in 2016, including more than 5,800 finishers in the half marathon alone.

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Carlsbad Marathon Half Marathon & 5k Course Map

Distances
Marathon, Half Marathon, 5k
Starting Time

6:15 AM

Fees

$99+

Perfect For

Ready to sign up?

Train with Runna

Use code HALF for 2 weeks FREE

Ready to sign up?

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