SUMMARY. Picture this..."a start wreathed in light fog, led out by a covey of restored classic woody sedans and lifeguard vehicles," complete with surfboards on top! Marathon & Beyond Magazine calls it a "perfect start/finish." All races begin to the Beach Boys' soundtrack Surfin' USA and the cheers of local surfers from Huntington Beach's own surfing clubs. This exclusive oceanfront course is a classic California Dream! Run by the famous Huntington Beach pier and through scenic Huntington Central Park. Observe native surfers in their natural habitat from the beachfront running path that winds through the famed surfing beaches of Southern California. Retro surf bands entertain along the way and the Finish Line Festival includes a beach side beer garden and BBQ in the California sun. Finishers receive bodacious surfboard medals. Surf City, Here We Run!

The Surf City Marathon is well-regarded for its organization, scenic route, and community support, making it a must-do event for runners of all levels, is a celebration of California's beach culture, offering runners a scenic course along the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. Starting near the southern corner of Huntington Street and PCH, the race provides stunning ocean views, making it a memorable experience for all participants. The marathon's flat and fast course is perfect for setting personal records, with just a few gentle inclines to keep things interesting.

The course takes runners north along PCH, offering strong crowd support in the initial miles. The route then heads inland through residential neighborhoods, providing a brief change of scenery before returning to the coastal highway. With Bolsa Chica State Beach and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve on either side, the midsection of the race offers a unique experience of running between two bodies of water.

The event is known for its excellent aid stations, spaced at regular intervals and staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. The finish line rewards runners with a unique surf-themed medal and a variety of refreshments, including bananas, Dole fruit cups, and chocolate milk. The post-race festival by the beach is perfect for celebrating the achievement, complete with a beer garden sponsored by Michelob Ultra.

Surf City Marathon (prev. Pacific Shoreline Marathon)

Post-Race Review/ Results

Antoine Puglisi won the 2025 Surf City Marathon in 2:31:22 while Stefanie Cullingford won the women's race in 2:58:27.

Frenchman, Temecula Woman Win Surf City Marathon

A gallery of photos taken during the 2024 Surf City Marathon on Sunday, February 2.

Surf City Marathon brings runners to the coast

The 2024 Surf City Marathon was successfully held this weekend.

Surf City Marathon: A Celebration of Community and Competition

Pre-Race Review/ Lineup

Here are upcoming running events in the area, including Surf City Marathon and OC Marathon.

Orange County: Upcoming Health and Wellness Events

Volunteers are crazy good!  Love the coursre!

AWESOME EVENT AND LITTLE WAIT TIME FOR EVERYTHING

OUTSTANDING! Great course, great people, Great Rac

Nice location, good organization, course only ok

Outstanding views and Outstanding Volunteers

Staff at water stations tend to harass runners

An Excellent Course with dangerous ending

Beautiful course, but dangerous on bike path-2012

Good race overall; not fun running with halfers

A great race that gets better every year!

Too much out-and-back, run with another event

Like the previous post... good vibrations!

Our 1st Surf City, but not our last. Great race!

Don't let the pretty picture fool you....

Full of Surprises; Great Course, Great Support

Small Full + Big Half = A Run Worth Doing

Scenic, great PR course with wonderful volunteers

2009 Surf City Marathon was the best yet!

Improvements were made for an awesome race

Worst marathon that my son and I have run

Surf City Marathon (prev. Pacific Shoreline Marathon)

Marathon Results