I signed up for the Sugar Daddy 5K a few weeks ago, but with everything that happened, I was really not in the mood to run. Located in Santa Clarita, it’s one of the few races I can go to where I can sleep in my own bed and not need to get a hotel. A rarity! I debated just not going, but at nearly $80 for a 5K…I decided to go. Plus, it was just good to get off Edwards.
Before the Sugar Daddy 5K:
I had a really low-key night and went to bed somewhat early. I tossed and turned and found myself awake at 2:30 am. I never fell back asleep…I tried but failed. I didn’t even need to leave my house until 5. I didn’t feel great, and I definitely did not feel well-rested.
It’s about a 75 minute drive and I arrived in Santa Clarita around 6:10, got my bib, and did a quick warmup before the 7:00 am race. When I arrived at the Sugar Daddy 5K start line at 6:55, everyone was ready to go. I noticed it was the half marathoners, and they started 30 minutes late.
The Sugar Daddy 10K started 20 minutes late, and the Sugar Daddy 5K started 12 minutes late.
Sugar Daddy 5K Race:
At 7:12, we were off. I was talking to a friend, and he said, “Sub-20?” And I thought, LOL, not today. I feel like garbage and I told myself to just run hard and enjoy the the race atmosphere. I knew the Sugar Daddy 5K was one of the flatter courses. As we were off, I found myself right behind him. I ran a 6:09 mile and was shook because while I didn’t feel good, I also was running fast.
The second mile of the Sugar Daddy 5K has a sneaky hill. You are basically going uphill the entire way but don’t really realize it until you turn around and go downhill. I was feeling good at the turnaround but was bummed when I noticed my watch was reading 6:40. It’s funny, you tell yourself: pace doesn’t matter, until you’re actually running.
As we turned around, I was like…oh yeah, we were going uphill a bit. From there, I just tried to push it because I did want to run under 20. The second mile of the Sugar Daddy 5K I ran in 6:31.
The last mile was lonely, and I ran it all by myself. It can be easy to not run the tangent since you’re on an open bike path and there are people sill using that path. I could see people about a minute ahead, and I kept pushing until we were finally at the end. I ran a 6:24 and crossed the Sugar Daddy 5K finish in 19:55 and first female.
Sugar Daddy 5K Thoughts:
I’m happy with how the Sugar Daddy 5K went. It’s the only 5K this year I’ve broken 20 “on Strava,” as I’ve run some short courses this year or courses where I lost GPS signal because they ran inside. So this was a fun surprise.
Sugar Daddy 5K Q&A
What is the Sugar Daddy 5K?
I mean…with a name like that…who isn’t asking? The Sugar Daddy 5K is part of the Sugar Daddy Race in Santa Clarita, California. The race weekend also includes a half marathon, 10K, and kids run, with a Father’s Day weekend theme. The 5K starts and finishes near Iron Horse Trailhead, and the bridge finish is one of the bigger pieces people remember.
Where is the Sugar Daddy 5K?
The race is held off 25311 Magic Mountain Pkwy in Santa Clarita. It’s close to Six Flags Magic Mountain, which helps if you’re coming from Los Angeles, Ventura, or the High Desert. The start and finish are near Iron Horse Trailhead.
What time does the Sugar Daddy 5K start?
The Sugar Daddy 5K starts at 7:00 am. That sounds early until you remember it’s Santa Clarita in June. I will take an early alarm over cooking on the paseo trails later in the morning.
Is the Sugar Daddy 5K course flat?
The race markets the course as fast and almost flat. I would call the 5K runnable, with enough small changes to keep it from feeling like a track. It’s on paved paseo paths, so you aren’t dealing with technical trail footing. For runners chasing a fast June 5K, the surface helps, although heat, about 50 feet of climbing, bridge traffic, and early race congestion can still affect your day.
Is parking easy at the Sugar Daddy Race?
Iron Horse Trailhead has limited parking and works better as a drop-off area. Race day parking opens at 5:00 am in designated zones, and carpooling is recommended. There was space in the lot across the road.
Can you pick up your bib on race morning?
Yes. Sugar Daddy Race check-in is offered Friday afternoon and race morning. Race morning check-in runs from 5:00 to 7:00 am, which works for the 5K.
Are walkers allowed at the Sugar Daddy 5K?
Yes. The 5K has a 90-minute cutoff, so it is friendly for runners, walkers, and anyone using it as a Father’s Day weekend family event.
Are Sugar Daddy Race photos and results available?
Yes. The race posts results by year, and the 2026 results include official time, bib number, distance, age group, and age group rank. The event also shares free race photos, searchable by bib number or participant name when available.
Would I run the Sugar Daddy 5K again?
Yes, with the right expectations. It’s a fun Santa Clarita 5K with a good theme, paved paths, a bridge finish, and post-race ice cream. I would arrive early, line up well if racing, bring hydration, and expect June heat to be part of the day.
Is the Sugar Daddy 5K worth it?
That’s hard. It was fun, but at almost $80…I question the why. It’s on a closed running path so they don’t need to close the roads. There were about 5 bathrooms at the Sugar Daddy race start and no real other options. While yes, the Sugar Daddy race gives free ice cream and the medals are unique…that’s an abnormally expensive 5k for the area, especially for not having to close any roads.
You can see Strava here and more race recaps here.
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