When in December are most half marathons held?
The busiest weekend in California is December 12 and December 13, with 16 of them, 12 of those on Saturday, December 12. Another 3 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
Race calendar · December 2026 · California
Half Marathons in California in December 2026
Every Half Marathon in California in December 2026, all 39 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.
What the field actually runs
December Half Marathons, By the Numbers
2:14:56Median finish time
1:35:14Median winning time
30Median field size
11December half marathons 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 December
The December Race Weekends
Half marathons are not spread evenly across December. 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 December half marathons that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
California Half Marathons by City in December
All Half Marathons in California in December
39 total Sat, Dec 5, 2026Peacock Gap Trail Run San Rafael, CARegistration closedPricing TBADetails Sun, Dec 6, 202637th Annual Lopers Club Holiday Classic Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K Loma Linda, CAFrom $90Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Jingle Bell Jog - 5K, 10K, 10-Miler, Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $39Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $65Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Jingle Bell Dash Kids Dash, 5K, 10K and Half Marathon & Santa Paws Doggie Run Huntington Beach, CAFrom $66Details Fri, Dec 11, 2026The Blackhorse Marathon in Honor of MG(R) Sunell Fort Irwin, CAFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Summit Rock Saratoga, CAFrom $110Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Holiday Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Fun Run Goleta, CAFrom $80Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Pulp Fiction: Royale with Speed 5K, 10K & 13.1 Canoga Park, CAFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $50Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $60Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $50Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, CARegistration closedFrom $65View race Sat, Dec 12, 2026The Improve Every Day Half Marathon San Diego, CAFrom $55Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $50Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $60Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $50Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, CARegistration closedFrom $65View race Sun, Dec 13, 2026Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K Oxnard, CAFrom $140Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Santa Hustle Roseville Roseville, CAFrom $110Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Santa's Toy Trot - 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Santa Monica, CAFrom $39Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Winter Runderland 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon. Kids Dash Long Beach, CAFrom $59Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K San Diego, CAFrom $169Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Winter Whirl - 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Fountain Valley, CAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Feliz Navidad Run 5K 10K Half Marathon by Califlow Runs Long Beach, CAFrom $67Details Sun, Dec 20, 2026Chasing Santa - 5K, 10K, 10-Miler, Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $39Details Sun, Dec 20, 20263rd Annual Santa's Reindeer Run - 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon Huntington Beach, CAFrom $60Details Fri, Dec 25, 2026Jingle All the Way - Christmas Day 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Kids Dash Long Beach, CAFrom $53Details Sat, Dec 26, 2026Ring Out the Old - 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Encino, CAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $45Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $50Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $50Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Mateo, CAFrom $60Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $45Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $50Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $50Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Mateo, CAFrom $60Register Sun, Dec 27, 2026Countdown to the Finish - 5K, 10K, 10-Miler, Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $39Details Thu, Dec 31, 2026Last Dash Before Midnight 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $49Details
Common Questions About Running a December Half Marathon in California
What is a good Half Marathon time?
Across the 11 of these December half marathons 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.
How big is a typical December Half Marathon field?
The median one finished 30 runners, across the 11 of these December half marathons 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.
Are there trail half marathons in California in December?
Yes, one race around California gets you off the pavement: 1 mixes road and trail.