Running News Daily

2021 Long Beach Marathon is back on

Oceanfront racing returns to Long Beach in a big way on October 9th and 10th with the Long Beach Marathon. This classic Long Beach race is more than just a Boston-Qualifying marathon with a downhill finish. There’s a distance for everyone! Choose from the marathon, the half marathon, the 20-mile bike tour, and the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K.

The marathon course starts in downtown Long Beach, passes the Queen Mary, runs the beach path and completes a 5K loop on the UCLB campus before heading back to Ocean Boulevard for its downhill finish.

Looking for something a little shorter? The half marathon course is seriously flat. The highest elevation on the course is 45 feet. Starting on Shoreline Drive, the course passes the Pike at Shoreline Village, crosses the Queensway Bridge and runs to the bow of the Queen Mary, circles back around the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Lighthouse at Rainbow Harbor, then back by Shoreline Village before heading down the beautiful beach path. You’ll close out your race running above the ocean along the bluff before closing out downhill into a cheering final straight of fans.

Not a runner? The Long Beach Marathon still has an event for you! Join the 20 mile Bike Tour. This event provides avid and leisure cyclists alike the opportunity to ride one of the most beautiful Bike Tours in Southern California. It is a safe, scenic and fully closed 20 mile course. Be a part of the marathon weekend experience with all the perks including a commemorative event shirt, finishers medal, complimentary beer and more! Enjoy the sights of Long Beach on the Bike Tour with your friends and family!

Don’t forget about Saturday’s race! The Aquarium of the Pacific 5k takes place on Saturday, October 9th and is the perfect distance for all running abilities. Run the 5k with friends and family or use it as a shakeout run for Sunday race events.

If you can’t decide on a single race, run multiples! In addition to receiving a unique shirt and medal for each distance, you’ll also receive the Long Beach Combo challenge medal.

For runners that aren’t ready to race in crowds yet or can’t make it to Long Beach on October 9th and 10th to participate in-person, there is the virtual run option for both the marathon and the half marathon. Best of all, the virtual run counts for those individuals looking to complete the Beach Cities Challenge or maintain their loyalty status.

For more information, and to register, visit RunLongBeach.com

The 2020 Long Beach Marathon has been cancelled due to the coronavirus concerns

The 36th annual Long Beach Marathon and all of its weekend activities have been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The race weekend was originally scheduled to take place Oct. 3-4 — along with the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K, Aquarium of the Pacific Kids Fun Run, 20M Bike Tour and the marathon and half-marathon highlighting the event, Oct. 4.

“Announcing yet another canceled event is not what we had in mind,” event manager Natalia Mendez said in a statement. “We monitored every step and kept faith, that with intense planning, enhanced safety protocols and alterations to the event we would be able to host the 36th running of the Long Beach Marathon. It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that our hand was forced, and we join the growing list of live events being devastated by the effects of this pandemic.”

The goal is for the event to return Oct. 10, 2021.

“We know many of you share our disappointment that the Long Beach Marathon cannot take place this year,” said Mendez. “It’s difficult but a necessary precaution that we support.”

Organizers said that all registered runners should look for an email regarding options and instructions.

One of the options is to participate in a virtual marathon. If you choose for the virtual option, runners must complete the 13.1 mile (half-marathon) or the 26.2 (marathon) and submit proof through the Virtual Run Submission Link before Oct. 4. The submission link will go live Sept. 28

“We hope you will join us virtually on race weekend so you can #RunLongBeach how you want, where you want, and when you want,” Mendez said.

Last year’s L.B. Marathon saw 15,000 runners from 44 different states and six countries compete. Nate Clayson won the last year’s men’s marathon (2:28.57) and Sergio Reyes (1:06.25) won the half-marathon.

Andrea Guerra (1:18.43) won the women’s half-marathon and Nina Zarina (2:45.09) was the marathon winner.

The marathon joins the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Long Beach Pride festival and parade, the Dark Harbor Halloween event and scores of conventions and other activities that have been canceled due to the pandemic in the city.