Run by the Sea
Run by the Sea is a running race on October 4, 2026 in Santa Cruz, CA, with entry fees from $55 to $95.
- Date
- October 4, 2026 (73 days to go)
- Price
- $55–$95
- Sport
- Running
From the Organizer
Run by the Sea returns to lovely Wilder Ranch State Park on Sunday, October 4th! This unique Half Marathon, 12K run, and 4K run/walk meanders along the gorgeous coastal bluffs of California's Central Coast in Santa Cruz and consists mostly of flat, packed dirt trails. Participants will enjoy scenic coastal views while passing along the bluffs and Wilder Ranch park trails. Get ready to take in the natural beauty of the Monterey Bay, the serene flats of Wilder Ranch's meadows, and maybe even catch a glimpse of some dolphins - no other race is quite like it!
Now in its 10th year, Run by the Sea is organized by the Santa Cruz Track Club and benefits the track club's youth program, Bike Santa Cruz County, and Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewards.
Race Headquarters and Parking
4K Route
12K Route Half Marathon RouteEvents
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
86°
Typical Low
46°
Chance of Rain
8%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Ben Lomond #4, 4 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Santa Cruz, CA
City Elevation
36 ft
Nearest Airport
SJC
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 26 mi
Time Zone
Pacific Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Run by the Sea, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
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From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More Running races near Santa Cruz, CA
Tri Santa Cruz
Sprint · Olympic · 500m · 1500m · From $95 · 119 Center Street
7 miles away
Race Thru the Redwoods
1 Mile · 10K · From $25 · 5401 Graham Hill Road
3 miles away
Santa Cruz Trail Run
10K · Half Marathon · 101 North Big Trees Park Road
3 miles away
Santa Cruz Turkey Trot
1K · 5K · 10K · From $5 · 2300 Delaware Ave
6 miles away
Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Santa Cruz than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to Santa CruzFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Run by the Sea
Oct 4, 2026