5K races near Capitola

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.

California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside hosts its yearly homecoming, a valued time when the Otter community unites to honor connection, tradition, and pride. This event, RAFT Weekend, serves as a gathering for students, alumni, and friends, marking a key date in the university's schedule. Among the activities, Monte's 5K provides a chance for a community run, set against the backdrop of this spirited weekend. Participants will find themselves in a festive atmosphere, experiencing the distinct OtterPride that characterizes the weekend's events and traditions.

Reentry Resource Center’s Rise Up and Run 5K is an October 5K run in San Jose, California, based at Hellyer County Park - Cottonwood. The race is listed as a road event in Santa Clara County, with the park address given as 985 Hellyer Ave. The start is at Hellyer County Park - Cottonwood, so runners should expect a straightforward 5 km park-based race rather than a long point-to-point route. Public listings do not yet give registration details, so anyone planning to enter should check the organizer’s pages before making plans.

The Santa Cruz Marathon is a coastal race series held in Santa Cruz, California. Its routes wind along the beach, bluffs, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Participants begin near the historic boardwalk, proceed through seaside streets towards Capitola Village, and then return to Santa Cruz for a finish adjacent to the sand. The half marathon follows a southbound out-and-back course through coastal neighborhoods and Capitola. Marathon participants continue further, incorporating the rugged trails and ocean vistas of Wilder Ranch State Park. The race offers marked courses, hydration stations, on-route support, medals, and refreshments at the finish line.

The third annual Celebration Of Life 5K/Kids Run/Walk features a 5K run or walk and a short kids race. In-person registration opens at 8:00 AM Pacific time, the 5K starts at 9:00 AM, and the kids race follows at 10:00 AM. The kids race is 400 meters for children 12 and under, with every participant receiving a special prize. The 5K entry includes a shirt and medal, and awards go to the top three overall male and female finishers. Live Mariachi music is performed mid-morning, followed by activities and awards before midday.

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.

Run Rudolph Run is a chip-timed 5K through Old Town Leander, part of the Old Town Rudolph Run series and built around a Rudolph holiday theme. It is a limited-entry race for runners and walkers, with strollers and leashed dogs permitted on the course. The course uses closed streets in Old Town Leander, is flat, and avoids hills or rough terrain, making it suitable for walkers, first-timers, and runners seeking a quick 5K. Participants are encouraged to wear holiday attire. Every entrant receives a race shirt and a custom finisher medal. Chip timing and the finish line remain active for 75 minutes after the start; later finishers may collect their medals from the Leander Chamber of Commerce.

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 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.