Race calendar · December 2026 · California
Every Half Marathon in California in December 2026, all 38 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.
38 Half Marathon races in December 2026
What the field actually runs
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 Sep 22, 2026.
When in December
Half Marathon races do not spread evenly across December. The busiest weekend is December 12 and December 13, with 15 of them. Another 3 fall on a weekday.
By the numbers
The December Half Marathon races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
The busiest weekend in California is December 12 and December 13, with 15 Half Marathon races on those two days, and the single busiest day is Saturday, December 12 with 12. Another 3 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
As early as you can. 17 of these December Half Marathon races already have a price increase on the calendar, and 36 are open for entry right now. Another 1 have published an opening date and have not opened yet.
The typical entry is $30, with paid entries running from $15 up to $69.99. Entry fees climb as race day gets closer, so the same race is usually cheapest the week it opens.
Across the 11 of these December Half Marathon races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 2:14:56, and the median winning time was 1:35:14. So anything under 2:14:56 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.
The median one finished 30 runners, across the 11 of these December Half Marathon 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 3:20:00.
Yes, one race around California gets you off the pavement: 1 mixes road and trail. Surfaces are not always published, so it is worth checking a specific race before you register.
November and January sit either side of December, which is where most people look next when a date does not fit.
