2XU Long Beach Marathon

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.