America's Finest City Half Marathon
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
2026 America's Finest City Half Marathon & 5K
The 49th annual America's Finest City Half Marathon & 5K takes place in San Diego, California. The event features multiple distance options for participants, including:
- Half Marathon
- 5K Run/Walk
- Virtual Half Marathon
- Virtual 5K
The Half Marathon is a point-to-point race that begins at the historic Cabrillo National Monument. The course leads runners through Historic Fort Rosecrans, Point Loma, and along the San Diego Bay and Harbor Island. The route continues through downtown San Diego and concludes at Balboa Park. Participants in the half marathon must maintain a pace of 14:53 minutes per mile or faster to meet the 3.25-hour time limit.
The 5K offers a fast and flat course located within Balboa Park. This distance has a 1-hour time limit, requiring a minimum pace of 19:21 minutes per mile.
Registered participants receive several amenities, including a technical fabric short-sleeve shirt, a custom finisher's medal, and a reusable souvenir grocery bag. The finish line area in Balboa Park includes a post-race celebration with live music, a DJ, and a beer garden providing complimentary beer. Additional support includes a pre-race expo, support stations along the route, chip timing, and live tracking. This event serves as the final race in the 2026 SoCal Triple Crown.
Teams of 25 or more members qualify for a dedicated booth at the Finish Line Festival. Team scoring is available for the half marathon distance for groups with at least ten members, including at least two participants of each gender. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
