Date

February 28, 2026

Starting Time

7:30 AM

Course

Road

Fees

Donation

Location

Long Beach

Participants

1-100

Terrain

Fast & Flat

Environment

Oceanfront, Urban, Park Run

Temperature

High: 70°

/ Low: 50°

Perfect For:

Fun Run

Beginner Friendly

Well Organized

Family Friendly

Walker Friendly

Charity Race

The Read Across America Day Run (produced by High Tides Runs) is a themed waterfront event staged at Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, California. The race offers a half marathon, 10-mile, 10K, and 5K, utilizing a flat beach path course with looped out-and-back configurations.

On-Course Support & Cutoff

There is one fully stocked water station positioned along the course, plus a finish-line aid station offering water, electrolytes, gels, and fruit snacks. The half marathon and 10-mile have a 3-hour 20-minute cutoff (approximately 15:15/mile pace). Early starts (6:30am) may be pre-arranged but are not award eligible.

Atmosphere & Suitability

This is a low-pressure, community-oriented race. The tone is casual and supportive rather than competitive. All finishers receive medals, and overall male and female winners earn 1st-place medals in each distance.

From a pure course standpoint, the flat profile makes this PR-capable. However, because the course is open, multi-lap, and not advertised as USATF-certified, competitive runners seeking official qualifying times should verify certification status.

The race is best suited for beginner half marathoners, walkers within the cutoff, and runners looking for a relaxed oceanfront event with a themed atmosphere.

INDEPENDENT RUNNER INSIGHTS

Publicly indexed third-party commentary specific to the Read Across America Day Run is limited.

However, reviews of other High Tides Runs Long Beach events consistently note:

What Runners Consistently Praise

Friendly, welcoming race crew

Smooth bib pickup and efficient check-in

Free race photos and quick results turnaround

“Low-pressure, high vibes” atmosphere (recurring theme across participant posts)

Common Critiques or Challenges

Open beach path means sharing space with cyclists and walkers

Repetitive out-and-back loops can feel mentally monotonous

Minimal on-course spectator support

Overall independent sentiment for similar High Tides Runs events characterizes them as well organized, casual, and community-focused, rather than large-scale competitive productions.

Course Description

Elevation & Terrain

The course is fully flat and run at sea level along the Long Beach beach bike path. There are no sustained climbs and negligible elevation change. Any grade variation is limited to minor transitions along the path. This qualifies as a fast and flat course from a terrain perspective.

Course Layout

All distances are structured using two base routes:

5K Route: One lap for the 5K, two laps for the 10K

5-Mile Route: Two laps for the 10 Mile

Half Marathon: Two laps of the 5-mile route plus one lap of the 5K route

The layout is entirely out-and-back, allowing runners to see fellow participants frequently. Because the beach path is an open course, runners share space with cyclists and pedestrians. Participants are instructed to stay on the right side of the path.

Mile-by-Mile Character

Miles 1–3: Immediate access to long, straight waterfront stretches makes pacing simple.

Mid-Race (Half Marathon): Repeated laps create rhythm but can feel mentally repetitive.

Final Miles: The flat terrain allows runners to maintain steady effort through the finish without terrain-induced fatigue.