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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Dec 12, 20268:00 AM | $70$75 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| The Grinch 10K (6.65 miles) | Other | Dec 12, 20268:30 AM | $55$60 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| 5K | 5K | Dec 12, 20269:00 AM | $40$45 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Fun Run (0.88 miles) | Kids | Dec 12, 20269:45 AM | $22$24 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Half Marathon fee goes up to $75 on Oct 1, 2026.
Online registration closes Dec 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.
At $70, entry is about 40 percent above a typical half marathon in California, which costs $50 right now.
A typical finisher at a half marathon in California runs 2:19:26, about 10:38 a mile, based on 156 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:28:13 and men in 2:09:53.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:55 AM, and the Half Marathon starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 80 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
5986 Sandspit Road, Goleta, CA 93101
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Aggregated from official results for Holiday Half Marathon, 10K (6.65 miles), 5K, Fun Run (1 mile). Individual finisher names are not stored here.
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 24:30 or better, the top quarter in 29:17, and half the field in 34:54; the last tenth came in after 47:13.
At the 2025 The Grinch 10K (6.65 miles), the fastest tenth finished in 50:36 or better, the top quarter in 58:56, and half the field in 1:11:11; the last tenth came in after 1:40:21.
At the 2025 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:29:03 or better, the top quarter in 1:42:32, and half the field in 1:55:31; the last tenth came in after 2:15:42.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 30:29 | 22:59 |
| 20-29 | 30:44 | 28:26 |
| 30-39 | 25:27 | 20:47 |
| 40-49 | 26:27 | 34:18 |
| 50-59 | 34:45 | n/a |
| 60-69 | 35:16 | n/a |
| 70+ | 33:39 | 36:54 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Up 81 percent since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 56 to 139 finishers, and the median time rose from 33:32 to 34:54.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 139 (+148%) | 34:54 | under 24:30 | 17:55 |
| 2024 | 56 | 33:32 | under 22:17 | 16:36 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
Faster than most California 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 29:17, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here run 5 percent faster.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Around December 12 the day usually runs from 39°F at dawn to 61°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 11% of days. Cold snaps dip to 31°F and hot years reach 72°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
What the organizers of Holiday Half Marathon, 10K (6.65 miles), 5K, Fun Run (1 mile) cover on their registration page, in brief.
Course
TRAIL SECTION (YELLOW) - Both the Half & 10K will use the offroad path when heading out to the Puente Turnaround. PAVED SECTION (RED LINE) - Both the Half & 10K will use the paved path when heading back to the Beach. If a runner fails to…
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Race venue is located at the beautiful Goleta Beach Park located in Santa Barbara County. Run course is on a dedicated asphalt course. Events include Half Marathon (13.1 miles), the Grinch 10K (6.65 miles), 5K (3.1 miles), and Fun Run (0.88 actual miles).
Sign up early, as there will be NO RACE DAY SIGNUPS ALLOWED!
Award's Ceremony - 10:30 AM (Top 3 in every age group, Raffle for Gift Cards, Course Records Awards: Half, Grinch 10k, and 5k)