San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K 2026
- Date
- Saturday, December 19, 2026
- Start time
- 7:30 AM start (Los Angeles)
- Location
- San Diego, California
- Entry fee
- From $59 · goes up to $63 on Oct 2, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5K | 5K | Dec 19, 20267:30 AM | $59$63 after Oct 2, 2026 | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Dec 19, 20267:30 AM | $149$159 after Oct 2, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $63 on Oct 2, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K: $59 until Oct 2, then $63 until Nov 2, then $69 until Dec 2, then $79 until Dec 19.
- Half Marathon: $149 until Oct 2, then $159 until Nov 2, then $169 until Dec 1, then $179 until Dec 19.
Online registration closes Dec 19, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $149, entry is about 198 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 6:46 AM, and the 5K starts at 7:30 AM. The start sits about 570 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
14455 Penasquitos Rd, San Diego, CA 92129
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2022 results
All results (2 years)Aggregated from official results for San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K?
In 2022, the fastest tenth finished in 6:07 or better, the top quarter in 15:46, and half the field in 32:53; the last tenth came in after 54:32.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2022.
Finishers by year
Up 21 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K Half Marathon year by year
From 2021 to 2022, the field went from 1,805 to 2,193 finishers, and the median time dropped from 2:03:35 to 32:53.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,193 (+21%) | 32:53 | under 6:07 | n/a |
| 2021 | 1,805 | 2:03:35 | under 1:35:40 | 1:03:22 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most California half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2021 half marathon field finished under 1:47:43, against 1:57:04 in a typical California half marathon, so times here run 8 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.
Typical race-day weather
Around December 19 the day usually runs from 48°F at dawn to 63°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 19% of days. Cold snaps dip to 42°F and hot years reach 69°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.
Race details
- Where
- 14455 Penasquitos Rd, San Diego, CA 92129Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 570 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Half Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 19, 2026), 2025 (Dec 20, 2025), 2024 (Dec 14, 2024), 2023 (Dec 16, 2023), 2022 (Dec 17, 2022), 2021 (Dec 18, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K?
- Saturday, December 19, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $59 before processing fees, and rises to $63 on Oct 2, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 19, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for California?
- At $149, entry is about 198 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?
- 5K, Half Marathon.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2022, 2,193 runners finished the Half Marathon; the median finish was 32:53 and the winner ran 0:00.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2021 half marathon field finished under 1:47:43, against 1:57:04 in a typical California half marathon, so times here run 8 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 14455 Penasquitos Rd, San Diego, CA 92129.
From the organizers
The San Diego Holiday Half Marathon is a fast 13.1-mile course that starts on Penasquitos Drive in front of the Hotel Karlan (formerly, the Doubletree Golf Resort) then travels SW along Carmel Mountain Rd (your only ‘real’ hill at mile 1.5), along the 56 bike path and finishes at the beautiful Torrey Pines State Beach (pictured above!). The race includes a 711-foot net elevation drop along the “rolling” downhill bike path, which also makes it a personal best candidate. This popular winter half has been a sell-out event every year. Get your end-of-the-year PR!!!