Course
Half Marathon Course
Half Marathon Course.
Half MarathonOther
Run by the Sea 2026
- Date
- Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (Los Angeles)
- Location
- Santa Cruz, California
- Entry fee
- From $60
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run by the Sea Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 4, 20268:00 AM | $110$125 after Sep 28, 2026 | – |
| Run by the Sea 12k | Other | Oct 4, 20268:15 AM | $70$75 after Sep 28, 2026 | – |
| Run by the Sea 4k | Other | Oct 4, 20268:30 AM | $60$65 after Sep 28, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Run by the Sea Half Marathon: $125 until Oct 2.
- Run by the Sea 12k: $75 until Oct 3.
- Run by the Sea 4k: $65 until Oct 3.
Online registration closes Oct 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $110, entry is about 120 percent above a typical half marathon in California, which costs $50 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
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.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:04 AM, and the Run by the Sea Half Marathon starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 970 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (4 years)Run by the Sea Half Marathon
127
finishers
2:10:31
median (9:57 /mi)
1:24:28
winning time
51% / 49%
women / men
Run by the Sea 12k
98
finishers
1:13:52
median (9:54 /mi)
43:03
winning time
65% / 35%
women / men
Run by the Sea 4k
83
finishers
26:19
median (10:35 /mi)
15:45
winning time
59% / 41%
women / men
Aggregated from official results (Mark McConnell) for Run by the Sea. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Run by the Sea?
At the 2025 Run by the Sea Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:43:34 or better, the top quarter in 1:56:49, and half the field in 2:10:31; the last tenth came in after 2:48:12.
At the 2025 Run by the Sea 12k, the fastest tenth finished in 56:29 or better, the top quarter in 1:06:55, and half the field in 1:13:52; the last tenth came in after 1:52:09.
At the 2025 Run by the Sea 4k, the fastest tenth finished in 17:17 or better, the top quarter in 21:35, and half the field in 26:19; the last tenth came in after 48:41.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 1:58:36 | 1:45:21 |
| 30-39 | 1:56:40 | 1:26:47 |
| 40-49 | 2:11:59 | 2:08:38 |
| 50-59 | 2:14:47 | 1:50:20 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 70 percent since 2022.
181
2022
180
2023
233
2024
308
2025
All events combined, from official results.
Run by the Sea Half Marathon year by year
From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 27 to 127 finishers, and the median time rose from 2:01:50 to 2:10:31.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 127 (+176%) | 2:10:31 | under 1:43:34 | 1:24:28 |
| 2024 | 46 (+70%) | 2:12:56 | under 1:44:22 | 1:23:42 |
| 2023 | 27 | 2:01:50 | under 1:38:49 | 1:28:48 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for California half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:56:49, against 1:57:04 in a typical California half marathon, so times here are about average.
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.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 4 the day usually runs from 54°F at dawn to 71°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 4% of days. Cold snaps dip to 52°F and hot years reach 91°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.
From the race's page
What the organizers of Run by the Sea cover on their registration page, in brief.
Race details
- Where
- Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA 95060Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 970 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- Half Marathon, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 4, 2026), 2025 (Oct 5, 2025), 2024 (Oct 13, 2024), 2023 (Oct 15, 2023), 2022 (Oct 23, 2022)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Run by the Sea?
- Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $60 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for California?
- At $110, entry is about 120 percent above a typical half marathon in California, which costs $50 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- Half Marathon, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 127 runners finished the Run by the Sea Half Marathon; the median finish was 2:10:31 and the winner ran 1:24:28.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:56:49, against 1:57:04 in a typical California half marathon, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
From the organizers
Run by the Sea returns to lovely Wilder Ranch State Park on Sunday, October 4th! This unique Half Marathon, 12K run, and 4K run/walk meanders along the gorgeous coastal bluffs of California's Central Coast in Santa Cruz and consists mostly of flat, packed dirt trails. Participants will enjoy scenic coastal views while passing along the bluffs and Wilder Ranch park trails. Get ready to take in the natural beauty of the Monterey Bay, the serene flats of Wilder Ranch's meadows, and maybe even catch a glimpse of some dolphins - no other race is quite like it!