The Mountains 2 Beach Marathon and Half begins with a straightforward concept: run from inland Ventura County to the Pacific Ocean. The full marathon starts in Ojai, at just over 700 feet above sea level, while the half marathon begins in Oak View, nearer to the coast. The race weekend also offers a 10K, Beachfront 5K, Kids 1K Fun Run, and Combo Challenge for participants aiming to run a 5K on Saturday followed by a longer distance on Sunday. Both the marathon and half are point-to-point road races, with a USATF-certified course that qualifies runners for the Boston Marathon.
The marathon descends gradually toward sea level over approximately 22 miles, tracing the Ventura River Valley before concluding near the Ventura Pier and Historic Downtown Ventura. The half marathon merges from the full course's midpoint, continuing downhill to the same beachfront finish. The 10K commences near mile 20 of the marathon route, then proceeds into Downtown Ventura and along the beach. The 5K follows the bike path and promenade adjacent to San Buenaventura State Beach Park. The finish line festivities are situated near the surf, dining, and shopping areas, and the event consistently sells out months in advance. Charity partners concentrate on children's health and wellness, with volunteers staffing aid stations, road crossings, course setup, and finish-line assistance.