When in May are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend in California is May 8 and May 9, with 12 of them, 9 of those on Saturday, May 8. Another 2 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
Race calendar · May 2027 · California
5K Races in California in May 2027
Every 5K in California in May 2027, all 44 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.
What the field actually runs
May 5K Races, By the Numbers
37:07Median finish time
17:58Median winning time
326Median field size
16May 5K races with published results
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Nov 12, 2026.
When in May
The May Race Weekends
5K races are not spread evenly across May. Here is how the calendar actually falls, weekend by weekend, which is the part worth knowing before you book a trip or plan a taper around one.
By the numbers
The Biggest and Longest-Running
The May 5K races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
California 5K Races by City in May
All 5K Runs in California in May
44 total Sat, May 1, 2027Kerman Almond Festival Scholarship Fun Run/Walk Kerman, CARegistration opens Jan 8, 2027From $25Details Sat, May 1, 2027SoCal's Cinco De Miles 5K and 5 MILE Huntington Beach, CAFrom $38Details Sat, May 1, 20272027 Abrazo 5K Walk & 10K Run San Ysidro, CAFrom $50Details Sat, May 1, 2027The Hoag OC Marathon Running Festival Costa Mesa, CAFrom $45Details Sat, May 1, 2027Run, Fiesta, Repeat - Cinco de Mayo 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $25Details Sat, May 1, 2027Run With All Your Heart 5k- Los Angeles Los Angeles, CARegistration opens Jan 15, 2027From $35Details Sun, May 2, 2027May the 4th be with You- The Empire Strides Back 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $49Details Sat, May 8, 2027Sasquatch Trail Run Woodlake, CAFrom $45Details Sat, May 8, 2027Lynwood 5K/10K Run Lynwood, CAFrom $25Details Sat, May 8, 2027Beer City Half™ Sacramento Sacramento, CAFrom $45Details Sat, May 8, 2027City Impact's 17th Annual BEACHFRONT RUN Ventura, CAFrom $45Details Sat, May 8, 2027Race to Cure Sarcoma San Francisco San Francisco, CAFrom $10Details Sat, May 8, 2027Run for Chocolate 5k/10k/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $30Register Sat, May 8, 2027Run for Chocolate 5k/10k/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $30Register Sat, May 8, 2027Run for Chocolate 5k/10k/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $30Register Sat, May 8, 2027Run for Chocolate 5k/10k/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, CAFrom $30Register Sun, May 9, 2027Bakersfield Mother’s Day Run Bakersfield, CAFrom $40Details Sun, May 9, 202743rd Annual Mother's Day Run & Walk Watsonville, CAFrom $30Details Sun, May 9, 2027Long Beach Mother's Day Bloom & Zoom 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $39Details Sat, May 15, 2027Wildcat El Sobrante, CARegistration opens Dec 1From $63Details Sat, May 15, 2027NURSES ROCK Run/Walk San Dimas, CAFrom $45Details Sat, May 15, 2027La Jolla Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K La Jolla, CAFrom $64Details Sat, May 15, 2027KID-FIT Family Fun Run 5K & 1K - All Ages South El Monte, CAFrom $42Details Sat, May 15, 2027Wild Rose Half Marathon & 5K Folsom, CAFrom $45Details Sat, May 15, 2027Villa Park 5K Villa Park, CAFrom $35Details Sat, May 15, 2027Jed & Ted’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Race 5K & 10K Canoga Park, CAFrom $35Details Sun, May 16, 2027Foster5K + Kids Dash San Jose, CARegistration opens Apr 13, 2027From $45Details Sun, May 16, 2027Whittier Narrows Spring Running Festival South El Monte, CAFrom $34Details Sun, May 16, 2027La Noche de La Llorona Run SummerWeen Series 5K 10K Half Long Beach, CAFrom $47Details Sat, May 22, 2027SoCal's Pirate's 5k/10k Run/Walk Huntington Beach, CAFrom $40Details Sat, May 22, 2027TSCL 5th Annual Mental Health 5K Run & Walk Claremont, CARegistration opens Jan 4, 2027From $30Details Sun, May 23, 2027The Great Donut Run Irvine, CAFrom $40Details Sun, May 23, 2027Memorial 5K Run Big Bear Lake, CAFrom $40Details Sun, May 23, 2027The Great Benicia Run: Strait to the Finish Benicia, CARegistration opens Nov 23From $30Details Sat, May 29, 2027MODESTO MEMORIAL CLASSIC Modesto, CAFrom $45Details Sat, May 29, 2027Beer City Half™ San Jose San Jose, CAFrom $45Details Sat, May 29, 2027SuperHeroes Run LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $30Register Sat, May 29, 2027SuperHeroes Run LAS VEGAS Las Vegas, CAFrom $30Register Sat, May 29, 2027SuperHeroes Run SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $30Register Sat, May 29, 2027SuperHeroes Run SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $30Register Sat, May 29, 2027SuperHeroes Run SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, CAFrom $30Register Sun, May 30, 202744th Annual Providence Saint John's Health Center Brentwood Run Los Angeles, CAFrom $40Details Mon, May 31, 2027Memorial Day 5K, 10K & Kids 1 Mile Run/Walk Hemet, CAFrom $40Details Mon, May 31, 2027Thummer's Memorial Day 5K Pomona, CAFrom $55Details
Common Questions About Running a May 5K in California
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 16 of these May 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 37:07, and the median winning time was 17:58. So anything under 37:07 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
How big is a typical May 5K field?
The median one finished 326 runners, across the 16 of these May 5K races with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 1:29:43.