5K races near Altadena

The Mean Girls 5K, 10K and Half Marathon transforms the LA River Path into North Shore High for a comedy-themed running event in Canoga Park. This race is part of Jed and Ted's Excellent Races, a San Fernando Valley series focused on '80s and '90s movie and TV themes, offering a relaxed, low-stress atmosphere rather than a large-city marathon feel. Participants can select a 5K, 10K, or half marathon, with the themed setup accommodating casual runners, local regulars, and those seeking a longer distance. The primary course begins in Canoga Park, following the paved LA River path. The 10K is an out-and-back covering approximately three miles of continuous path without any traffic crossings. 5K participants utilize a portion of this route, while half marathoners complete the course twice with an additional section. Refreshments are available at the start line and the 5K turnaround. The decorations are understated but align with the theme, the medals are unique to each race, and the finish area is relaxed, allowing runners to converse with race directors and begin recognizing other participants over time.

Spooky Dash is a Halloween-themed race series in Long Beach offering four distances: 5k, 10k, 15k, and half marathon. It accommodates a broad range of participants, from families and novices to those seeking a longer beach run. The course is straightforward: runners use a public path, sharing it with pedestrians and cyclists, and follow marked out-and-back loops. The 5k is a single out-and-back, the 10k is two laps, and the 15k is three laps. The half marathon consists of three 4.36-mile loops, making the structure clear before race day. Aid stations are located at turnarounds and the start/finish, providing water, Gatorade, and Gu. Registration includes a custom finisher medal, a drawstring bag, complimentary race photos, snacks, samples, and online results available soon after the event.

Before sunrise, runners begin on Shoreline Drive for the 2XU Long Beach Marathon, a 26-mile, 385-yard road race in Long Beach, California. The race weekend also features a half marathon, which can attract a larger field than the full marathon. The event originated in the early 1980s, paused during the 1990s due to financial difficulties, and then resumed under new leadership. Recent marathons have seen thousands of participants, a full half marathon field, and runners representing dozens of countries. The course covers much of Long Beach in a single loop. It directs runners through The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, onto a 710 Freeway on-ramp, over Queensway Bridge toward the Queen Mary, around the Rainbow Harbor lighthouse, and returns through the start area before heading toward the ocean. The middle section runs alongside the Pacific, through Belmont Shore, past Marine Stadium, around Colorado Lagoon, and by Long Beach Recreation Golf Course. Miles 16 to 20 involve a loop through Cal State Long Beach, after which Ocean Boulevard leads runners back to the Shoreline Drive finish. Local runner Kenny Williams completed every edition for the race's first forty years, and multiple other individuals had not missed a race weekend.

The Long Beach Race for Rare is a 5K run and walk held at Granada Launch Ramp on East Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, California. The morning features a timed 5K run, a 5K walk, a virtual 5K option, and a picnic-only entry for those wishing to support the cause without participating in the course. Local hosts Lynn and Scott Hopkins coordinate the event with the National MPS Society, with proceeds benefiting that group’s efforts for families affected by MPS and ML conditions. The event begins with onsite registration, packet pickup, and pre-race entertainment prior to the 5K. It then proceeds to awards, a raffle, and a beachside picnic with lunch included in registration. The cause is the primary motivation for attendance: rare diseases impact approximately 10% of Americans, fewer than 5% have an FDA-approved treatment, and many children with rare conditions pass away at a young age. This is a community race, not an elite competition, centered on families, local supporters, walkers, runners, and individuals raising awareness for rare disease care and research.

The RunThrough USA Long Beach Race Weekend offers a 5K, 10K, and half marathon, starting at Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach, California. Participants can select from 3.1 miles, 6.2 miles, or 13.1 miles along the coast of the Los Angeles area. The course is designed for fast times, with the Long Beach coastline serving as the primary scenery. RunThrough organizes the event, providing marshals to direct runners and encourage them at the finish. Post-race, the event village will offer food and beverages, including hot coffee and complimentary partner items.

The Montebello Heritage 5K/10K is an annual October running event in Montebello, California, offering both 5K and 10K distances. Both races begin at 1301 W. Whittier Boulevard, with the 5K starting at Montebello City Park. The event commences in the morning and is part of the Montebello Heritage Festival. The course follows historic Whittier Boulevard, connecting the race to a central Montebello street. This is a community-focused race, not exclusively for elite runners. The entry fee is the same for both distances, and all participants receive a shirt and medal.

The Boyle Heights 5K Run/Walk is a community race in Los Angeles, starting and finishing at Mariachi Plaza. Participants cover 3.1 miles in the 5K event, which takes place in October with a morning start and late-morning finish. The day includes more than just the main 5K. A Munchkin Run is available for younger children, and a Classic Car Show is part of the gathering, contributing to a neighborhood feel rather than a standard road race. The Mariachi Plaza start and finish locate the race in one of Boyle Heights’ most recognizable public spaces.

Spooky Dam is a Halloween-season running series at Hansen Dam in Los Angeles, offering 5k, 10k, 15k, and half marathon distances. Races begin in the morning and are organized by A Better World Running. Costumes are encouraged, making it a more casual and playful event than a standard road race. The start and finish are located on the path opposite Hansen Dam Skate Park, with free parking available in a nearby lot. The course is an open out-and-back route where runners share the path with pedestrians, other runners, and cyclists. It's straightforward to navigate, featuring a single small hill around 0.6 miles from the start. An aid station on each loop provides water, Gatorade, and Gu gels. The 5k completes one loop, the 10k two, the 15k three, and the half marathon consists of three 4.36-mile loops. Participants receive custom medals, goodie bags, complimentary photos and videos, snacks, and results posted online within 12 to 24 hours.

The Back to the Future: 88 MPH Dash is a themed running event in Canoga Park, California, starting at 7:00 a.m. PST with three in-person distances: a 5K, 10K, and half marathon. Jed & Ted’s Excellent Races presents the series. Runners unable to attend in person may select a virtual option, the Multiverse Flux Capacitor Challenge. The race embraces Back to the Future and 1980s pop culture. The 5K is the 88 MPH Sprint, the 10K is the Twin Pines 10K, honoring the mall from the films, and the half marathon is the Enchantment Under the Run Half Marathon. The event acknowledges Back to the Future Day, plays 80s music, provides themed photo areas with futuristic props, and encourages period or character costumes.

The Monster Dash is a Halloween-season beach-path race series offering four distances that begin simultaneously at 7:30 AM: 5k, 10k, 15k, and half marathon. It is designed for runners seeking a straightforward, uncomplicated morning race, featuring bib pickup prior to the start, custom finisher medals, drawstring goodie bags, complimentary participant photos, snacks and samples, and results published online within 12 to 24 hours. The course consists of marked out-and-back loops on an open beach path, meaning runners will share the route with other pedestrians, runners, and cyclists. The 5k comprises a single out-and-back, the 10k involves completing that loop twice, the 15k requires three repetitions of the loop, and the half marathon utilizes three longer loops, each measuring 4.36 miles. The turnaround aid station is equipped with water cups, water bottles, Gatorade, and Gu gels. Groups of five or more runners are eligible for a discount, and volunteering provides a free race entry, even if a friend or family member volunteers while the runner participates.

Costumes are integral to Trick or Trot, a Halloween-themed run held by the sea in Long Beach, California. CaliFlow Runs hosts the event at 5400 E Ocean Blvd, offering a 5K, 10K, a USATF-certified half marathon, and a Kids 200 Yard Dash. The half marathon begins in the morning, followed by the 5K and 10K. All distances employ a group wave start. The race route follows a paved coastal out-and-back path, shared with walkers, strollers, and beachgoers. This creates a public beach morning atmosphere with added race timing, rather than a closed-road city event. The 5K consists of one loop, the 10K of two loops, and the half marathon of three loops, totaling a certified 13.1 miles. Half marathoners may request an early start via email; however, early starters are ineligible for awards. Water stations and restrooms are available along the course. The top three male and female finishers in each distance receive medals, and runners also receive evening results and complimentary race-day photos.