California · Half Marathon · 5K
San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K
San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K is a half marathon and 5K event held in San Diego, California. Its next confirmed date is Saturday, December 19, 2026. About 2,832 runners take part across all distances.
- Race day
- December 19, 2026
- Location
- San Diego, CA
- Field size
- ~2,832 runners
Race details
- Date
- Saturday, December 19, 2026
- Location
- San Diego, California
- Distances
- Half Marathon, 5K
- Field size
- About 2,832 runners
- Course
- Point-to-point course with a net elevation drop of roughly 710 ft (Half Marathon); one notable climb at mile 1.5 on Carmel Mountain Rd, then mostly downhill along the SR-56 bike path.
- Registration
- runsignup.com
- Official website
- sandiegoholidayhalf.com
Registration, course & weather
- Registration status
- Open
- Entry fee
- Listed fee for the longest distance, $139 (from runsignup.com, checked September 26, 2026)
- Start time
- 7:30 AM PST
- Course profile — Half Marathon
- Point-to-point course; Road surface; USATF certified
- Course profile — 5K
- Point-to-point course; Road surface
- Typical race-day weather
- about 53°F at the start, 96% humidity, 2 mph wind (based on the 2025 race day, measured near the city center rather than the exact start line; Open-Meteo, checked September 26, 2026)
About the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K
The San Diego Holiday Half Marathon is a fast 13.1-mile course that starts on Penasquitos Drive in front of the Hotel Karlan (formerly, the Doubletree Golf Resort) then travels SW along Carmel Mountain Rd (your only ‘real’ hill at mile 1.5), along the 56 bike path and finishes at the beautiful Torrey Pines State Beach (pictured above!). The race includes a 711-foot net elevation drop along the “rolling” downhill bike path, which also makes it a personal best candidate. This popular winter half …
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Guides from the RaceRove blog
- 8 min read How to Choose the Best Half Marathon for a PR, Racecation or 50-State Challenge The best half marathon depends on what you want from it. How to choose a course for a personal record, a race worth travelling for, or an efficient stop on a 50-state challenge.
- 7 min read How to Find a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon Near You A practical way to find running races near you: pick a distance, decide how far you'll travel, read the listing properly and confirm the details before you register.
- 9 min read How to Run a Race in All 50 States How to plan a 50-state running challenge: set your own rules, group states into trips, build a calendar around the seasons, budget for it and keep track of every finish.
- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K: common questions
- When is the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K?
- The next confirmed date is Saturday, December 19, 2026.
- Where is the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K held?
- In San Diego, California.
- What distances does the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K offer?
- Half Marathon and 5K.
- How many people run the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K?
- About 2,832 runners across all of its distances. That figure is an estimate of the field size, not an entry cap.
- How do I register for the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K?
- Registration is handled by the organiser at runsignup.com. Entry fees, caps and deadlines are set there.
- Is registration open for the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K?
- Yes — registration is open. Listed fee for the longest distance, $139 (from runsignup.com, checked September 26, 2026).
- What time does the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K start?
- 7:30 AM PST.
- What is race-day weather usually like at the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K?
- about 53°F at the start, 96% humidity, 2 mph wind (based on the 2025 race day, measured near the city center rather than the exact start line; Open-Meteo, checked September 26, 2026).
Plan this race in RaceRove
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