The Long Beach Marathon will return for its 42nd year this weekend — and with it, a chance to do some good.

This year’s theme is “Long Beach Runs Deep,” highlighting the significance and strong ties the city has to community. Runners will have several opportunities to be part of that community this marathon weekend, including a way to give back.

Long Beach’s Energy and Environmental Services Department is once again partnering with WM and Motiv Sports – the event organizer – to coordinate a shoe and athletic clothing drive that will redistribute collected items to those in need with the support of local nonprofits.

Racers and community members can donate gently used running shoes or athletic clothing at the Long Beach Marathon Expo on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, or at the Finish Line Festival on Sunday, Oct. 11. There will be designated marked bins for donations, organizers said.

The Race Expo, located at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, 400 E. Seaside Way, will be open for donations from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The expo is free and open to the public. The Finish Line Festival at Marina Green Park, 386 E. Shoreline Drive, will be open for donations from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

Donated items will be cleaned and redistributed to community members by local nonprofits. Any clothing left behind during the race will also be collected for donations, according to the city’s website.

“This effort not only helps neighbors in need,” organizers said, “but also promotes sustainability by giving usable gear a second life.”

All of the 2026 Long Beach Marathon events are sold out, and organizers anticipate more than 28,000 participants and even more spectators to attend this race weekend.

Long Beach Race for Rare 5K Run

A 5K run along Long Beach’s coastline will also make a difference this weekend.

The National MPS Society will host its fifth annual Long Beach Race for Rare 5K Run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, starting at the Granada Launch Ramp, 5000 E Ocean Blvd. The day of community, hope and action will support families living with MPS and ML, rare diseases with no cure.

Mucopolysaccharidoses and mucolipidosis are rare genetic lysosomal storage diseases caused by the body’s inability to produce certain enzymes, according to the National MPS Society’s website. Without these enzymes, cells cannot properly break down and recycle waste, leading to the buildup of harmful material throughout the body. Over time, this buildup causes progressive damage to the heart, bones, joints, respiratory system and central nervous system – ultimately shortening lifespan.

The Long Beach race is not only to raise awareness of the rare diseases but also to raise money for research and support, organizers said. The National MPS Society has been dedicated to guiding and empowering those impacted by MPS and ML for more than 50 years.

This event is open to participants of all ages and abilities – whether running, wheeling or cheering from the sidelines.

On-site registration, packet pick-up and pre-race entertainment will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday. The 5K run/walk will start at 9 a.m., and after, there will be awards, raffles and a beachside picnic.

The cost to participate in the Long Beach Race for Rare 5K Run begins at $38.10. Sign-ups can be found at tinyurl.com/LongBeach26.