The Long Beach Classic 5K is usually a short course, and this year it was around 3.05. The course is flat and scenic, and it would make a pretty good PR course. I enjoy it because it’s a fun community race, and I like to do my cooldown on the water.
Before the Long Beach Classic 5K:
This year, because of the World Cup, a lot of 5Ks that I usually do in June were moved up to May. This meant both the Angels 5K and Long Beach Classic 5K were the same weekend. I was also picking up Tim from Newport Beach on Sunday, so ultimately, I just made a weekend out of it.
I spent the weekend of the races being really lazy outside of running. It was glorious and not something I do often. I’m not usually someone who goes on vacation to relax, so spending hours doing nothing was nice. I went to bed early, and the 4:30 am alarm came early. I was really not feeling it, but just kept trudging to the race.
I made the ultimate decision the day before that I didn’t want to pick up my packet, which meant I had to get to the start line and back, which was around a 1.4-mile walk. It was a nice warmup, but I usually need some actual running miles for the 5K warmup. I got around 2 and got to the 7:20 am Long Beach Classic 5K race start a couple of minutes early.
Long Beach Classic 5K:
The Long Beach Classic 5K was off. There were a lot of people who started in the wrong area, and it was easy to get bunched up. Luckily, the course is a long, flat straight road. I found my groove and just kept trucking along. That’s kind of the theme for me for that race: survive and advance. Doing a hard effort on tired legs is great training, but it’s not always fun in the moment.
In the past, I’ve won the Long Beach Classic 5K in 19:59, and I’ve gotten 5th while running a 19:20, so I didn’t have huge expectations to win the race. I didn’t wear makeup because I really was not expecting to win. I hit mile 1 in 6:31, which I was actually really surprised by, but we also had a tailwind for most of it.
Mile 2 had both a headwind and tailwind, and we started to catch half marathoners who took off at 7:00. I noticed the turnaround was not quite at the top of the small hill and thought: interesting. I hadn’t really paid too much attention to the start line and if we were going to be even shorter than usual, but when I hit the halfway in 1.51, I knew we would be.
I hit mile 2 in 6:39, and from there, I knew I was on the struggle bus. I kept telling myself one mile to go. The nice thing about out-and-back courses is you do see everyone and can cheer for everyone. That gave me life and kept me occupied. I ran a 6:52 last mile with some headwind and whew my body was tired. It’s funny because I thought I was running: so hard…and for the day…I was.
By the time I knew it, we were back towards the finish line, and I crossed the Long Beach Classic 5K finish line in 20:18 and logged 3.04 miles.
Long Beach Classic 5K Thoughts:
It’s always fun to break the tape. I do wish it was a true 5K, but even with the cone in the right spot, I’ve had it come in around 3.09. But it’s a fun, scenic one that I’ll do most years. If you’re looking for your GPS watch to log a full 5K, you may need to keep running.
Long Beach Classic Half Marathon and 5K FAQ:
Where does the Long Beach Classic Half Marathon and 5K start?
The Long Beach Classic Half Marathon and 5K start and finish at Marine Stadium in Long Beach, California. The official race FAQ lists the location as Marine Stadium, with the half marathon starting at 7:00 am and the 5K starting at 7:20 am for 2026. If you are running either distance, plan to arrive early enough for parking, bathrooms, warmup, and the usual race morning.
Is the Long Beach Classic Half Marathon course flat?
The Long Beach Classic Half Marathon is described as a fast, flat, scenic course which makes it appealing for runners chasing a half marathon PR in Southern California. If you want a Long Beach half marathon with coastal views and a course that gives you a fair shot to run well, this one fits.
What is the Long Beach Classic Half Marathon course like?
The Long Beach Classic Half Marathon starts and finishes at Marine Stadium, then takes runners through Alamitos Bay, 2nd Street, Belmont Shore, Naples, and along the Long Beach coastline. It is a scenic course with a lot more to look at than a basic out-and-back on empty roads. The 5K also starts and finishes at Marine Stadium and follows a similar path through Belmont Shore and Naples, which makes both distances good options if you want a race with water views and Long Beach energy.
Where do you park for the Long Beach Classic Half Marathon and 5K?
Parking is one of the main things to plan before the Long Beach Classic Half Marathon and 5K. The official event information page includes parking details and notes that the page is updated with complete race weekend information the week of the event. Since both races use Marine Stadium, and the half marathon starts before the 5K, it is worth arriving earlier than you think you need to. Race morning always takes more time than expected. I ended up walking 1.4 miles race morning to get to pick up my packet.
Where can I find Long Beach Classic Half Marathon and 5K results?
The official Long Beach Classic website links to race results, and a searchable Long Beach Classic Half Marathon and 5K leaderboard. If you are checking your time after the race, start with the official race website first.
You can see Strava here and all race recaps here.
Question for you: Would you rather a short race course or long race course?