Half Marathon races near Livermore

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.

The Reservoir Dogs Trail Run is an October trail race held at San Pablo Reservoir, located near Orinda in the East Bay. All race distances commence and conclude at the San Pablo Reservoir Visitor Center. Participants can select from 5K, 10K, half marathon, or 35K distances. The event has a participant cap of approximately 300 individuals across all races. Inside Trail Racing organizes this event. The longer distances feature a 6.5-hour time limit, maintaining the structure of a genuine trail race as opposed to a casual reservoir run. The course's distinctive feature is its complete circuit around Briones Reservoir using EBMUD trails, incorporating segments typically accessible only with permits. Expect a mix of moderately technical dirt paths, open fire roads, undulating hills, wooded single-track, winding single and double-track sections, exposed ridgelines, and expansive vistas of the watershed. The 10K, half marathon, and 35K races involve less elevation gain compared to many other Inside Trail events, allowing for faster times while still providing road runners with a true trail challenge. Aid stations are equipped with gels, trail mix, salty snacks, fruit, Coke, and Stroopwafels; however, participants must carry their own water between stations. Finishers receive a tech shirt and a medal, age-group victors are awarded trophies, and one participant receives the unique "Dead Last Finisher" award. Notably, dogs are prohibited despite the race's name.

Boundary Bay is a late-fall race series held at Boundary Bay Park, Centennial Beach in Delta, British Columbia, offering 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, and 4-person marathon relay distances. The marathon is presented as a final opportunity for runners aiming for a Boston qualifying time, featuring a straightforward course: a completely flat gravel oceanside trail with no elevation gain. All distances follow an out-and-back route along British Columbia's southern coast, allowing participants to run beside Boundary Bay instead of through city streets. The course offers views across the Salish Sea towards the San Juan Islands, with migratory birds present and ocean weather as the primary variable. The race supports Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon. Organizers acknowledge the late-season timing by advising runners to dress warmly, bring dry clothes, and appreciate the clock-change weekend that may provide an extra hour of sleep.

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.

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.

Bay Breeze begins and ends at San Leandro Marina Park, offering half marathon, 10K, and 5K races on Valentine’s Weekend. This Brazen Racing event, situated on the east side of San Francisco Bay, features a mostly flat bayside trail adjacent to the water. The course suits runners aiming for a fast time, and it welcomes walkers at all distances, including a dedicated Hiker Division. The course traces the shoreline near the marina, providing open views of the bay toward San Francisco and long sections with the water close by. Organizers describe it as a "breeze" relative to Brazen’s steeper Bay Area races, aligning the name with its character. The event has been held for over ten years, attracting more than a thousand finishers across its distances, and has returned to San Leandro Marina Park after previous editions were held in Fremont.

The Oakland Marathon takes place over a weekend in March in Oakland, California. It offers a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a Kids Fun Run. Kaiser Permanente presents the full marathon. The event is designed for a broad spectrum of runners, not exclusively marathon specialists. The expo, kids run, and race festival also attract spectators and families who are not participating. The marathon course is a single loop passing through Oakland landmarks and crosses the Bay Bridge. The finish line is at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, a location also noted as a good vantage point for the final stretch. The full marathon is known among runners for its scenic and challenging terrain. The event collaborates with Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, with race entries, donations, and fundraising benefiting local youth.

The Redwood (Spring) Trail Run is a spring trail-running event held at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, with races taking place within Redwood Regional Park. Participants can select from a short sprint or 5-mile run up to a half marathon, 30K, marathon, and 50K, accommodating children, novice trail runners, and those seeking a long run on trails. The course follows the park’s East Ridge and West Ridge trails, descending into sections of tall redwoods via the Stream and Bridle trails. The children's 50-yard dash is complimentary for ages six and under, youth 5-mile divisions offer reduced entry fees, and the primary adult distances commence in the morning. Distances are measured using a Rolatape surveyor’s wheel, a detail important for trail courses where GPS accuracy can be affected by tree cover and terrain.

Western Pacific is a Brazen Racing event in Fremont, California, offering 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances. All three races begin and end at Quarry Lakes. The event welcomes runners, walkers, and hikers, not exclusively those aiming for a fast time. The course is largely flat and fast, with enough dirt and gravel to offer a trail-like feel rather than a road race. The route follows the Western Pacific Trail, a path with historical significance. In the 1800s, it transported gravel for the western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad. The 10K and half marathon extend along the Alameda Creek Trail. The majority of the running occurs on dirt fire trails, interspersed with gravel sections and a brief paved segment. Volunteers staff the race, participants receive complimentary photos, and sponsors contribute to keeping entry fees affordable.

Diablo Trails Challenge starts and finishes at Castle Rock Recreation Area in Diablo Foothills Regional Park in Walnut Creek, with Mount Diablo as the main playground. Brazen Racing hosts the trail-running series, which offers a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and 50K, so the same event can suit a first trail race or a long day out for experienced ultra-runners. All races are professionally timed, finishers receive medals, and the event is part of the Ultra Half Series. The longer routes reach well beyond Castle Rock, linking parkland such as Round Valley, Los Vaqueros Watershed, Morgan Territory, Mount Diablo State Park, and Shell Ridge Open Space before returning to the start area. The half marathon is listed as a 13.5-miler and includes hill climbing, quick descents, and runnable rolling sections. The race also serves a local conservation purpose: it raises money for Save Mount Diablo, with part of every entry fee going to the group. Save Mount Diablo has spent more than 50 years preserving and expanding open space around the mountain, helping grow protected land from 6,788 acres to more than 120,000 acres.