Sun, Oct 4, 2026

Run by the Sea

Santa Cruz, CA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

4K12K

Entry is $55 now and rises to $60 after Aug 14, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Run by the Sea

The course runs along the coastal bluffs at Wilder Ranch State Park, mostly on packed dirt that stays flat as it winds through open meadows and along the cliff edge above the water. On a clear morning you can see well out into the bay, and dolphins are a genuine possibility. Several distance options make it a reasonable choice across a range of goals.

The race is organized by the local track club, and proceeds go to youth running and trail stewardship programs in the area. Parking is at the park itself, which also serves as race headquarters.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Santa Cruz on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

· 2025 results

127finishers

1:24:28winner

2:10:31median

3:17:43cutoff

Top 3: REBECCA PATEN (1:24:28) · JULES FOURNIER (1:24:43) · BRIAN GNERRE (1:25:48)

12K · 2025 results

98finishers

43:03winner

1:13:52median

2:54:09cutoff

Top 3: SIDDHARTH IYER (43:03) · NATHAN LORILLA (44:34) · HEATHER HEEN (48:59)

4K · 2025 results

83finishers

15:45winner

26:19median

57:15cutoff

Top 3: SHAUN RUDOLPH (15:45) · WESLEY KOONTZ (15:45) · TILLIE RUDOLPH (15:53)

The Run by the Sea has been held every year since at least 2022. 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 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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

4K10/4/2026 08:30$55

12K10/4/2026 08:15$65

Run by the Sea Half Marathon10/4/2026 08:00$95

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.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Santa Cruz — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Run by the Sea

Will I finish last at the Run by the Sea?

Almost certainly not. Half the race field finished slower than 2:10:31, and the last recorded finisher came in around 3:17:43, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Run by the Sea a good first race?

It is a small race (127 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 race, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Run by the Sea?

The race winner ran 1:24:28 while the median finisher took 2:10:31. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.