Every upcoming 5K around San Francisco, with start times, entry fees, finish-time stats from past editions, start-line maps, and the local run clubs to train with.
33 upcoming 5K races found · 3 with finish-time stats
San Francisco running is built around striking contrasts: the flat, fast bayfront miles of the Embarcadero and Crissy Field on one side, and the steep neighborhood climbs and staircases that can turn a short loop into a genuine workout on the other. Kezar Stadium's public track in Golden Gate Park anchors a lot of training here, and the mild climate means the usual seasonal excuses just do not apply.
Race day in the city tends to feel like an extension of the daily running life rather than a break from it - familiar waterfronts, park paths, and neighborhood streets that regulars have logged hundreds of miles on already. If you have run the Embarcadero at dawn or done laps in Golden Gate Park, you already know what these courses feel like underfoot.
By the numbers
The Biggest and Longest-Running
The San Francisco races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
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 Oct 25, 2026.
Common Questions About Running a 5K in San Francisco
I am a first-timer. Will I be the slowest person out there, and will anyone care?
Only 2 of the 26 races here have published finish-time results, so there is not enough local data to give you a meaningful picture of what the field looks like. What does help: several races here also offer a 1 Mile option alongside the 5K, so if you want to ease in even shorter, that choice exists at many of these events.
Am I going to get a shirt?
23 of the 26 races say they give a shirt. The other 3 have not published any giveaway details - which means they have not said no, just nothing at all.
When are most of these races? I need one that fits my training block.
Fall, from September through November, is the busiest stretch with 10 races. Winter, from December through February, brings 8. Summer, June through August, has 7. Spring is the quietest window - only 1 race runs from March through May, and the quietest single month is March with just 1 race.
Do these races also offer longer distances if I want to step up from the 5K?
Most do. Of the 26 races here, 24 also offer a 10K and 23 include a Half Marathon - so if you use a 5K as a starting point and want to go longer at a future edition of the same event, most of these races have that option waiting for you.
Are there trail 5K races near San Francisco?
Yes, one race around San Francisco gets you off the pavement: 1 mixes road and trail.
