10K races near Boulder Creek

Prepare for a high-energy racing weekend in the heart of Speed City, USA. This event is a Rock 'n' Roll San Jose experience, where the streets become a concert venue and race course. It's a weekend to run, rock, and celebrate, with race-day energy from start to finish. Lace up for an ultra-fast course, known for being flat and built for speed, perfect for chasing personal bests. As you run through the streets, live music plays, turning every mile into a performance. It's a blend of athleticism and entertainment, ensuring a memorable race-day.

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run sends runners onto the Coastal Trail with a pumpkin waiting for them at the end. It is a race weekend event in Half Moon Bay, California, tied to the Annual Art & Pumpkin Festival, with a Kid's Fun Run, 5K, 10K, and half marathon based around Hatch Elementary School and the Pacific-side trail. Senior Coastsiders hosts it, and the proceeds support programs for local older adults. The route follows coastal paths overlooking the ocean, with rolling but generally fast, flat terrain that works for beginners, fun runners, and people chasing a personal best. The half marathon starts early and has a 3.5-hour cutoff, while the 5K and longer races include chip timing and finisher medals unless runners opt out. The festival side adds the Great Pumpkin Parade, live music, pie-eating contests, costume contests, giant pumpkin displays, and free admission on historic Main Street in the self-styled World Pumpkin Capital.

The San Mateo Rotary hosts a Halloween-themed 5K and 10K run on flat paved paths in Seal Point Park, San Mateo. Both distances utilize the park setting near 1901 J Hart Clinton Drive. The event includes kid-focused activities alongside the main runs, such as a 50-yard dash where children receive medals. Runners also receive a goody bag, and the event features raffle prizes, giving it the feel of a local community run rather than a competitive road race.

The Diwali Fun Run + Festival is an evening event at the Community Center on Old Canyon Road in Fremont, California. It offers timed 5K and 10K races, plus a Festival Only option. The event is designed for families, runners, and walkers, with registration open to a wide age range, from young children to older adults. The races are straightforward: select the 5K or 10K, complete it by running or walking, and receive a medal upon finishing. The festival includes catered food, arts and crafts, a selfie station, music for dancing, light-up bracelets, and complimentary henna tattoos for attendees. Those not racing can still enjoy the food and activities. The event also supports Purrific Rescue through fundraising.

The Santa Cruz Turkey Trot starts and finishes on Delaware Street by the back entrance to Natural Bridges State Park. Race headquarters are at Natural Bridges Drive and Delaware Avenue. The event features a 10K, 5K, and kids 1K, all on flat, fast out-and-back courses near the coast. The route goes through Natural Bridges State Park and heads toward West Cliff, offering runners ocean views on a straightforward course. The Santa Cruz Track Club provides signature finisher socks to all 5K and 10K finishers, and the top three overall runners receive prizes. Bib pickup is available at Santa Cruz Running Company before race day, with race-morning pickup and registration also offered.

The Zoom Turkey Trot begins Thanksgiving morning at Hellyer County Park in San Jose. Runners will use the Coyote Creek Trail, with the Buena Vista Pavilion serving as the race hub. The event offers a 5K, 10K, and a USATF-certified half marathon. A free 50-yard Kids Run is available for children aged 6 and under. Starts are staggered throughout the morning, beginning with the Kids Run, followed by the half marathon, 10K, and 5K. Separate 5K and 10K registration categories exist for younger runners, making the event suitable for families and adults seeking a longer holiday run. The course is largely flat, fully marked, and almost entirely paved. The 5K and 10K routes remain on pavement, while the half marathon includes a short single-track section. Aid stations are positioned every 2 to 4 miles, offering fruit, salty snacks, candy, water, and electrolyte drink. The race is cupless; runners must carry their own bottle or cup. Course rules include passing on the left with a callout, keeping headphones off on single track, road crossings, aid stations, and the finish line, and leaving dogs off the course. Participants receive a custom medal, pre-registered runners get shirts, and age-group awards are given to the top three finishers in each category. The top three male and female runners in each distance receive awards and race credits. A literal Thanksgiving prize is also awarded: runners can win a turkey.

Summit Rock is an early-winter trail race in Sanborn County Park, just outside Saratoga in Northern California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. The series offers a half marathon, 10K, and 5K on forested terrain, with pines, redwoods, oak trees, and miles of single-track trail inside a park of more than 3,600 acres. It is a timed race with electronic chip timing, but walkers and hikers are welcome too, so the field is not limited to runners chasing a fast finish. The half marathon and 10K climb toward peaks, while every distance uses narrow trail under the tree canopy. The terrain is challenging, with enough climbing and descending that new trail runners are encouraged to walk the hills and save energy for flatter or downhill sections. More experienced runners get a tougher mountain-route outing close to Silicon Valley, San Jose, and San Francisco, and all finishers receive custom medals. The race takes its name from Summit Rock, the park peak tied to the event.

The Kiwanis Resolution races are 5K and 10K run/walk events held at Mountain View Shoreline Park in Mountain View, California. They take place near the start of the new year, scheduled for a Saturday to accommodate holiday travelers. Both the 5K and 10K utilize digital chip timing, and a 1K run/walk for children ages 1 to 10 is also part of the event. The races are based within Shoreline Park at 2955 N Shoreline Blvd. The courses are on paved roads, with free parking available. Dogs and pets are not permitted in the park. The 10K begins first in the morning, with the 5K starting shortly after. Following the races, participants receive snacks and awards. Early registrants are given a specially designed race shirt, and every child participating in the 1K receives a race T-shirt.

Coyote Hills is a trail race at Coyote Hills Park in Fremont, California, offering half marathon, 10K, and 5K distances. While the park has "hills" in its name, the courses limit climbing, focusing on steady running and varied terrain rather than significant elevation gain. Walkers are welcome, contributing to a broader participant base than a runner-exclusive event. The routes follow the eastern San Francisco Bay shoreline, crossing dirt paths, paved sections, and wooden boardwalks through marshland. Runners will encounter rolling terrain and open bay vistas, with the low Coyote Hills serving as a landmark on the western edge of southern Alameda County. The park holds significant human history; Native peoples have inhabited this region for at least 12,900 to 13,500 years. The Tuibun Ohlone village site, over 2,000 years old, is accessible via naturalist-led programs. Participants also receive complimentary race photos, and sponsors help reduce entry fees.

The Morgan Hill AAUW Wildflower Run begins and ends at Live Oak High School. It features a 10K USATF-certified run, a 5K run/walk/stroller option, and 2K events on the school track. The 5K and 10K are flat, fast road races on local back roads. The 10K follows the same route as the 5K, adding a second loop. This annual, all-volunteer fundraiser for AAUW Morgan Hill can accommodate up to about 1,500 participants, an increase from the previous cap of 1,200. The race route was adjusted due to increased runner and vehicle traffic causing conflicts on Main Avenue and Condit Road. The revised course eliminates dangerous left turns onto and off Main Avenue, reducing the need for police assistance. The event typically nets around $65,000 after expenses. Funds are generated through registration fees, sponsors, and member donations, supporting scholarships for women and girls, grants for women’s organizations, and leadership programs. The event includes a 2K for children aged 5 to 10, a 2K run/walk for all ages, shirts, medals, goodie bags for children, stroller baby tees, entertainment along the route, complimentary photos, and a Finish Fest with refreshments, vendors, and youth activities.

Run the trails around Almaden Lake Park, then drink the brews that make San Jose a home base for beer lovers. "Drink local and dig it!" after conquering the Beer City Half™.