Sun, Dec 6, 2026

Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon

Long Beach, CA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024
5K10KHalf Marathon

Entry is $42.99 now and rises to $48.99 after Nov 2, 2026, so registering before then saves $6.

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About the Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon

The course runs along Ocean Boulevard on the coast of Long Beach, flat and fast underfoot on road. Costumes are encouraged, and most people show up in something festive. There is a photo station along the route and more at the finish. A DJ keeps holiday music going through the morning, and hot cocoa and holiday treats are set out at the finish area.

Bib pickup opens early morning at the Race Ready Athletics tent on site, so there is no need to pick up the night before. The race supports the Long Beach Animal Shelter, and there is a donation wish list posted at check-in if you want to bring something for the animals. Parking is available in the beach lot nearby, with street parking as an alternative.

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Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon 2024 Results

Going by the 2024 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K Results · 2024

98finishers
19:52winner
38:11median
1:30:32cutoff

Top 3: Michael Ekema (19:52) · Talita Lopes (21:04) · Michael Chavez (21:11)

10K Results · 2024

46finishers
39:59winner
1:12:32median
2:03:44cutoff

Top 3: Verena Haberle (39:59) · Marcelo Caliani (42:15) · Kaylin Espinoza (52:19)

Half Marathon Results · 2024

41finishers
2:23winner
2:17:34median
3:30:00cutoff

Top 3: George Acosta (1:27:22) · Nicolas Losee (1:28:25) · Ashlyn Moore (1:42:16)

The Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon has been held every year since at least 2024. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

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.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles12/6/2026 08:00$43
6.2 Miles12/6/2026 08:00$47
13.1 Miles12/6/2026 07:00$59

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon

Will I finish last at the Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 38:11, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:30:32, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (98 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 19:52 while the median finisher took 38:11. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon?

Join a local run club. Long Beach Run Club, Long Beach Running Club, Long Beach Frontrunners and others in Long Beach welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.

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