California · Race calendar
Upcoming running races in and near San Diego, California - 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and more, with dates, pricing, finish-time stats, start-line maps, and local run clubs to train with.
57 upcoming races · 8 with finish-time stats
San Diego running spills naturally between two different worlds: the flat, breezy waterfront paths around Mission Bay and the Pacific Beach boardwalk, where post-run coffee is always a block away, and the rugged dirt trails climbing through Mission Trails Regional Park, Los Peñasquitos Canyon, and Torrey Pines. Most regulars here mix both in the same week without thinking twice about it.
The marine layer keeps coastal mornings cool and genuinely pleasant to race in, but go inland and the sun and heat arrive on their own schedule. Group runs tend to anchor around Pacific Beach, North Park, and the Embarcadero waterfront, and clubs like November Project San Diego, Pacific Beach Run Club, and Milestone Run Club - North Park make it easy to find people to train with before you ever toe a start line.
By the numbers
The San Diego races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
Train for it
The easiest way to a start line is a standing group run. These San Diego clubs welcome runners of all paces.
Browse all San Diego run clubs →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 Jul 27, 2026.
Across the 8 RunSignup 5K editions with published results on RunSesh - walkers and charity entrants included - the median finish time is 36:31. The median winning time across those same editions is 18:24, and the median last finisher came in at 1:23:30. That spread shows a wide, welcoming field: if you can run steadily, you will have plenty of company in the middle.
33 races here offer a half marathon distance, which gives you a real range of dates and styles to pick from. Several of those are multi-distance events - the same race morning offers a 5K, 10K, and half marathon - so you can step up incrementally to the 13.1 when you feel ready, without switching to a different event entirely.
Entry fees run from $5 on the low end to $80 at the top, with a typical fee of $30. Two races are free to enter. If you spot something you like, know that 13 races already have a price increase scheduled - registering early is the straightforward way to avoid paying more for the same bib.
Fall is by far the busiest stretch, with 29 races running September through November, and September alone carries 12. If you want uninterrupted training time with fewer race-weekend distractions, March is the quietest month on the calendar, with just 1 race scheduled.
San Diego has a strong club scene. San Diego Track Club, Pacific Beach Run Club, November Project San Diego, Santa Mujeres Run Club, Tuesday's Waterfront Run, Seek Beer Run Club, La Jolla Track Club, and Milestone Run Club - North Park all operate in the city. Most cluster around the coast and North Park, so you can usually find a group that matches both your pace and your neighborhood.
