Entry through the organiser
Entry details on the organiser’s site →
The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.
Running Huntington Beach? Do your long runs with the gel you will race on. Get them on Amazon Amazon partner link
Back to your race planner
Surf City Marathon
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2027 race
- Start
- 06:306:30 AM
- Distance
- 42.2 km26.2 mi
- Marathon · Half marathon · 5K · miles, from the race name, not from a published programme
- Entry fee
- US$165
- For the 2027 race
- Time limit
- 6 h 30 min
- Finish closes 13:151:15 PM
The course
The course runs north on Pacific Coast Highway past the pier, cuts inland to Huntington Beach Central Park, then goes north past the Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve before a U-turn.
- Pier, Central Park, Bolsa Chica and backNorth past the pier, a loop through Central Park, Bolsa Chica, then back south.
- Eight miles on the beachfront pathRoughly eight miles on a public beach path, narrow in places.
- A 6.5 hour limit and three cut-off points6.5 hours, 14:53 per mile, with cut-offs at 4.4, 9.9 and 16.5 miles.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
km 0 to 42.2GeometryPier, Central Park, Bolsa Chica and backNorth past the pier, a loop through Central Park, Bolsa Chica, then back south.
The organiser describes the marathon in order. It starts at Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street and heads north on Pacific Coast Highway toward the pier. It cuts east to Huntington Beach Central Park, returns toward the ocean and goes north again past the Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve, where the runners turn and head south toward the pier.
Sourced
km 0 to 42.2GeometryEight miles on the beachfront pathRoughly eight miles on a public beach path, narrow in places.
After the second pass of the pier the course leaves Pacific Coast Highway for the beachfront running path, heads north, makes a U-turn and comes back to the pier, then rejoins the highway with less than a mile to go. The organiser notes that the path is not part of the closed course: walkers and cyclists may be on it, and it is only eight feet wide for a few stretches.
Sourced
km 0 to 42.2GeometryA 6.5 hour limit and three cut-off points6.5 hours, 14:53 per mile, with cut-offs at 4.4, 9.9 and 16.5 miles.
The finish line closes at 1:15 pm for a 6:30 am start. Runners who fall behind the cut-off clock at Edwards Street and Overlook Drive (7:45 am), Seapoint Street (9:07 am) or the 14th Street path (10:45 am) are turned onto a shorter route toward the finish or asked to join the sweep vehicle.
Sourced
Race weekend
Bib pickup at Huntington Beach Parking Lots, 21291 Pacific Coast HighwayFriday 5 February Bib pickup
-
12:0012:00 PM–18:006:00 PM
Race expo and packet pick-up Huntington Beach Parking Lots, 21291 Pacific Coast Highway. Marathon, half marathon and 5K runners collect their bib here. Beer garden open 12:00 to 17:00.
Saturday 6 February Last bib day
-
10:0010:00 AM–16:004:00 PM
Race expo and packet pick-up Huntington Beach Parking Lots, 21291 Pacific Coast Highway. Second pick-up day for marathon, half marathon and 5K bibs. -
11:0011:00 AM
Beach Mile Soft sand near Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street
Bib in hand?A number belt holds it without pins through your race top. Clip it on tonight.
Number belt on AmazonAmazon partner link
Sunday 7 February Race day
-
05:455:45 AM
Gear check opens Huntington Beach Parking Lots, under the big tent. Bags must be picked up by 13:00. -
06:306:30 AM
Marathon start Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street -
13:151:15 PM
Marathon time limit 6.5 hours at 14:53 per mile. The finish line closes at 13:15; the organiser lists three cut-off points on the course. 6:30 limit: 9:14/km for 42.195 km6:30 limit: 14:52/mi for 26.2 mi
Other races (2)
-
07:157:15 AM
Half marathon start Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street -
11:0011:00 AM
5K start Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street
Times as published by the organiser, in Huntington Beach time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Sunday
Race morning, on the record
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Huntington Beach time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
5 gels for Huntington Beach, plus 1 spare
Finish
One every 40 minutes, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Questions about the Surf City Marathon
- When is the Surf City Marathon 2027?
- Sunday 7 February 2027. The start is at 6:30 AM.
- How do I enter the Surf City Marathon?
- Entry is through the organiser. Entry fee: US$165 (for the 2027 race). Entry details on the organiser’s site
- What is the time limit at the Surf City Marathon?
- Runners have 6 h 30 min to finish. The finish closes at 1:15 PM.
- Where does the Surf City Marathon start?
- Start: Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Surf City Marathon.
