5K races near Manhattan Beach

The Cabrillo Beach 5K is a running event held at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Los Angeles, on an October morning. The race offers a 5K, a 10K, and a Top Dog Division for participants running with a dog; the dog entry is listed separately and does not include a shirt. The course is flat, following the oceanfront from the Cabrillo Beach area near 3800 Stephen M White Drive. This makes it suitable for first-time runners, walkers, and those seeking a simple road race over a technical course. This event is noted as the first annual Cabrillo Beach Run. Standard race registration includes a T-shirt and finisher medal with packet pickup. Race-day registration closes before the events begin, with the 10K starting before the 5K.

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.

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.

The Reyes Adobe Days “RAD” 5K is a short road race in Agoura Hills, California. The start and finish are at Whizin Market Square on Roadside Drive. It is paired with a kids’ mile, accommodating runners seeking a quick 5K and families with younger finishers. The 5K follows a flat, fast, previously certified course, suitable for pacing or aiming for a strong time. Age-group awards are presented three deep with custom medals. Kids’ mile finishers also receive custom medals, and a portion of the race proceeds benefits a designated charity.

The Palos Verdes Trails 5K is a trail run and walk held at Ernie Howlett Park in Rolling Hills Estates. The route utilizes the Palos Verdes horse trails, avoiding paved roads and street crossings. The course consists of well-maintained dirt paths across gently rolling terrain, shaded by eucalyptus trees. Funds raised benefit Strides in Recovery, a local nonprofit assisting individuals in Los Angeles County addiction treatment programs with goal-setting and physical conditioning, from 5K distances to marathons.

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 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 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 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.

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.