Carlsbad Marathon
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Event overview
The Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K is scheduled for Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Carlsbad, California. The event is organized by In Motion Events and starts and finishes at The Shoppes at Carlsbad, 2525 El Camino Real. Virtual race options are available for all distances. The event is part of the SoCal Triple Crown weekend and includes related weekend activities such as the Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND.
Distances and course
- 26.2 Miles - full marathon
- 13.1 Miles - half marathon
- 3.1 Miles - 5K
- 16.2 Miles - Double Down Challenge (5K + half marathon)
The 5K is an out-and-back route toward the village of Carlsbad along Buena Vista Lagoon. The full and half marathon courses run largely out-and-back along Highway 101 / Carlsbad Boulevard with Pacific Ocean views for the majority of the route. Courses are sanctioned and certified; the marathon is a Boston qualifying event.
Entry, limits and included items
The event offers a Double Down Challenge option and virtual entries. Time limits apply: a six-hour limit for the marathon, a four-hour limit for the half marathon, and a one-hour limit for the 5K. Registration includes a long-sleeve technical shirt, a premium 1/4-zip pullover, a reusable souvenir bag, a finisher medal, a one-day pass to the Carlsbad Columbia Sportswear employee store, on-course support stations, and post-race refreshments and festival amenities.
Teams and scoring
Teams of 25 or more registered by December 31, 2025 receive a 10 x 10 meet-up space in the Finish Line Festival. Half marathon team scoring is available for teams with at least ten members and at least two of each gender; team scores are the average of each team’s top ten chip times. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
