Race Day May 18, 2024

Your Ticket to Inspiration

La Jolla Half Marathon

The La Jolla Half Marathon is a scenic coastal course that offers runners a rare opportunity to run along San Diego’s coastline and experience it like never before.

With miles of sun-drenched coastline, perfect weather, and the sound of the ocean lapping the shore to help you keep pace, beating your half marathon PR should be easy.

Get ready to soak up breathtaking views of waves crashing on the shoreline, surfers in the water, and thousands of inspired runners on the road. If you are looking for the best half marathon in California, registration is your ticket to inspiration.

La Jolla Half Marathon

Half Marathon

$119
  • Price increases to $129.00 after December 31, 2023 at 11:59pm PST
  • You’ll receive a 10% discount referral link to share with your friends after registration.
Sign Up

Virtual Half

$119
  • Price increases to $129.00 after December 31, 2023 at 11:59pm PST
  • You’ll receive a 10% discount referral link to share with your friends after registration.
Sign Up

REFER YOUR FRIENDS

Run Free for Your Referrals

You’ll receive a 10% discount referral link to share with your friends after registration.

How It Works: Refer 1 friend to sign up using your link, and you will receive a $10 refund. If 12 friends sign up, then your registration is free!

Please note: all runners must sign up for the live half marathon for the offer to be valid.

COURSE MAP & DETAILS

The Half Marathon starts at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and follows a scenic coastal route before reaching the challenging climb to the summit of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The course then rolls atop Torrey Pines Mesa, continues down through residential La Jolla Shores, and finishes at La Jolla Cove.

Due to the nature of the course (what goes up also goes down), the total elevation gain is 440 feet, which makes it perfect for anyone looking to attempt a personal record, or just looking for a gorgeous, well-organized event.

Date: May 18, 2024
Take Your Place At The Start Line By: 6:00 am
Half Marathon Start Time: 6:30 am
Start Line: 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA 92014
Finish Line: 1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Time Limit: 3.5 hours

Course Support

There will be 10 stations along the course:

  • Water Stations will be located approximately at miles 2, 3, 4, 5.5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.5, and 12.

  • Gatorade will be located at approximately miles 2, 4, 5.5, 8, 10 and 12.

  • Restrooms are located at every aid station at miles 2, 3, 4, 5.5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.5, and 12.

  • First AID if you experience a medical issue on the course, go to the nearest water station where a medical representative will be called to assist you.

  • Gear Drop Off will be available at the start line only.

  • Post Event Massage sports massage specialist will be offering post-event massages during the Finish Line Festival.

​Medical

If you are unable to finish the race, shuttle transportation back to the finish can also be called from every water station. Race Guards trained in CPR and first aid will also be out on the course. There will be a medical tent in the secure, fenced-in finish chute, just beyond the finish line as well as a self serve ice tent in the finish line festival area.

​Safety

Note: Please note that we are not permitted to have a support station inside Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, however, there will be one before and one after exiting the park. Most of the race is run on streets that will also be carrying normal vehicular traffic. The streets are divided with cones and FOR YOUR SAFETY, YOU MUST STAY WITHIN THE CONED LANE AT ALL TIMES.

Discarded Clothing

If you must discard any clothing during the event, we ask that you do so only at water stations. Note: Clothing discarded at water stations will be donated to local shelters.

Please Note: if you run slower than a 15-minute mile for the first 3 miles of the Half course, you may have to wait for a few seconds for an Amtrak train to pass across the course at mile 2.9, just north of the 3-mile marker.

Packet Pick-up

Date: Friday, May 17, 2024

Time: 11:00am – 7:00pm

Location: 1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

Race Shuttle

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024

Time: 4:30am – 5:15am

Location: 1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

Half Marathon

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024

Time: 6:30am

Location: Parking lot, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014

RACE & EVENT INFO

Saturday, May 18, 2024:
6:00 am – Take your place on the start line
6:30 am – Half Marathon

The start line is located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds main parking lot, 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA 92014.

The finish line is located at Ellen Browning Scripps Park, 1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

After crossing the finish line, runners receive a medal, bottled water, banana, protein bar, chocolate milk and an optional food bag. Keep moving through the finish line until you have completely exited the fenced-in area. The fenced-in finish line area is completely closed off to family and friends for the safety of everyone.

All participants must be able to complete the course in 3.5 hours. This means you must maintain a 16-minute mile pace or faster throughout the event.

You must attend the expo to pick-up your bib number and shirt. If you’re unable to attend the expo, you may authorize someone to pick up your items for you. This person must come with a photocopy or electronic copy of your photo ID. We have listed the Expo date, time and location below along with other important information.

Expo Date: Friday, MAY 17, 2024
Time: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Location: 1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

NOTE: There is a $25 convenience fee to pick up your bib number on race day at the Del Mar Racetrack near the race start line. Anyone attempting to pick up their bib number on Saturday who hasn’t paid the $25 fee will be required to pay onsite by cash or credit card. Race day bib pick-up will open at 5:15 am and close at 6:30 am. Race shirts will be available for pick-up at the finish line.

Gear drop-off will be available at the start line only. All collected gear is transported to the finish line for pickup immediately after your race. There is no gear pick-up at the start line. The cinch bag you receive when you pick up your bib doubles as your gear drop-off bag and will be numbered to match your bib number.

You may not check backpacks or duffel bags. Bags deemed too large to fit into an event-supplied bag will not be allowed on the shuttles. Don’t pack valuables. The event is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Items left at the start line, on the course or not claimed on race day from the Gear Pickup tent will be donated. Unattended bags will be removed by security.

The race starts at 6:30am. with a series of quick waves. On race day, look for signs directing you to your wave corral based on expected pace. You must be at the race start line no later than 6:30 am.

Pace groups will be offered for the following target finish times: 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 2:45. Look for your pace group leader holding up a sign with your target pace sign in your corral.

Pre-Event Shuttle: Complimentary bus service will transport runners from the finish area at La Jolla Cove to the Half Marathon start area at the Del Mar Racetrack before the race from 4:30 to 5:15 am. You must be in line to board the bus by 5:00 am. A food truck will be onsite selling coffee and other breakfast items in the park.

Post-Event Shuttle: Complimentary buses will transport runners from the finish area back to the Half Marathon start line at the Del Mar Racetrack. There are NO shuttles from the finish to the start of the 5k POST EVENT. Shuttles will run from 8:30am to 11:00 am.

PARKING: The most likely places to find street parking are on Draper, Eads, Fay, Girard, Herschel, and Ivanhoe Streets. Park only in marked spaces and watch for No Parking signs. Vehicles blocking emergency access, double-parked or parked in No Parking areas will be towed.

EXPO PARKING: There are a number of free on street parking spaces primarily south of Prospect Street. Parking near the Pacific Ocean is always very limited. There are several underground garages paid parking spaces on and near Prospect Street.

RACE PARKING: Follow the direction of parking personnel to the designated race parking located in the dirt lot across from the main Fairground’s entrance.

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT RACE PARKING: While there is plenty of free parking at the Del Mar Racetrack, it will be VERY BUSY! Delays getting in are guaranteed. Be sure to give yourself an extra forty-five minutes to 1-hour travel time and plan to arrive to the start line no later than 6:00 am. THERE WILL BE NO ACCESS TO RACE PARKING BETWEEN 6:16 AND 7:00 am. If someone will be dropping you off at the start, they must do so inside the main participant parking area. Follow the direction of parking personnel to the unpaved lot and proceed to the passenger drop-off area located at the entrance to the pedestrian tunnel. Do not ask your driver to drop you off on Jimmie Durante Boulevard (they will get a ticket).

Looking for more information or directions? See directions and parking.

Your bib number will have a timing chip affixed to the back of the number which will capture your start and finish as well as split times. Please wear your number visibly on the front of your body. Do not crumple, fold or block your chip (such as arm blocking bib over the start/finish/split mats while stopping your watch) to ensure your time is tracked. Results at www.CompetitiveTiming.com.

Results will be posted online at www.CompetitiveTiming.com during the race, within the Competitive Timing App (iPhone/Android), and in the Finish Line Festival where participants will be able to print off their results.

Tracking App:
We have a live tracking app so your family and friends can track you during your race. We also provide text/email progress notifications.

  1. Download the Competitive Timing App for iPhone or for Android.

  2. Search for and click on the event you’ll be following or participating in (La Jolla Half).

Participants will initially move on the map based on their estimated finish time. Participants on the map will not move past the next timing station until we’ve recorded an actual time for them at that point. Each time a participant crosses a timing mat, we will update their expected averages for future timing points.

Spectators can track any number of participants and view live progress on a map.

Text/Email Notifications:

You may sign up for text message notifications that provide updates from the runner you are following every-time they cross a timing mat. Updates tentatively provided at 5k, 10k, 10 mile, and the finish for the Half Marathon. For the 5k there will only be final time notifications as there are no splits for the 5k. Sign up here: Sign up for text/email progress notifications. Search for a runner, then click the “result notification” button.

Participants over the age of 21 and displaying their bib number and proper ID can visit the Ballast Point beer garden in the Finish Line Festival to receive a complimentary post-race beer (limit: one per person while supplies last). While in the beer garden, relax and enjoy the DJ.

All runners can view and download race photos at no charge. Photographers will be on the course to take your picture. You will be able to view your picture(s) by logging on to the race website after the race. The La Jolla Half Marathon does not guarantee that our photographers will take pictures of each and every participant.

Awards will be presented from the main stage at 9:45 am to the top three overall male and female finishers and top three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 17 & under, 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, and 85+.

Cash Prizes:

  • 1st Place – $100

  • 2nd Place – $50

  • 3rd Place – $25

Race Purse: the following prize money distribution is for the top 3 overall male and female finishers:

  • 1st Place – $1,000

  • 2nd Place – $500

  • 3rd Place – $250

No cyclists, skaters, unofficial pacers, dogs or pets of any kind can be on the course. Additionally, no strollers, racing chairs and hand cycles can be on the course due to the steep downhills on the half marathon course. And, for safety reasons, we discourage the use of headphones.

When planning your stay in San Diego for the La Jolla Half Marathon & Shores 5K we recommend using Stay 22 to check the best rates and availability for Airbnbs as well as local Hotels (see travel & lodging for details and to use the interactive map).

Please note that we do not provide a shuttle service from hotels to the start or finish line.

Use our FAQ page to find more answers to common questions. Or, email race support at bart@skymd.com.

No refunds.

Coastal Views

The course runs along the coast; starting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and ending in La Jolla Shores.

Great Swag

All runners get a collectible dry tech race shirt, a finisher medal, and a goodie bag with tons of running gear.

Big Celebration

After the race, join family and friends for a celebratory beer in the beer garden while soaking in the sunshine.

Your Ticket To Inspiration

Your Ticket To Inspiration

La Jolla Half Marathon

Prepare to take a scenic journey on this 13.1 mile course where you’ll enjoy breath taking views of waves crashing on the shoreline, surfers in the water, and thousands of inspired runners on the road. If you are looking for the best half marathon in California, registration is your ticket to inspiration.