La Jolla Half Marathon adds inaugural 10K run this year – San Diego Union-Tribune

The 2026 La Jolla Half Marathon is running into new territory.

The 47th annual event, which also includes a 5K run, will feature an inaugural 10K as a third component.

The 13.1-mile half marathon, a signature event of the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla, is planned for Saturday, May 16, with a route that spans from Del Mar to La Jolla Cove. The 10K will coincide with the last 6.2 miles of the half marathon course, and the 5K with the last 3.1 miles. The start time is 6:30 a.m.

The event got support this month from the La Jolla Village Merchants Association and the La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board.

The 10K had been discussed for years before finally coming to fruition, said Kiwanis Club President Bart Calame.

“We had thought about it off and on … but weren’t able to focus on it,” he said. “But a 10K is a great race distance, and there are fewer 10Ks in San Diego than 5Ks.”

But the “a-ha moment” came in looking at the course map and realizing the starting point for a 10K would be on North Torrey Pines Road at Callan Road, next to Torrey Pines Golf Course and past the hillier parts of the half marathon course, Calame said.

“We realized how scenic that part of the race is and what a great place that would be to start,” he said. “And because there are no real hills in those last few miles, it should be a fast 10K.”

About 800 people have signed up for the 10K so far, and Calame said he expects that number to roughly double by race day. He projects 10,000 runners across the three races.

“10Ks are an attractive distance because it gives 5K runners something to reach for, and there are those that sign up for the half marathon but either don’t train enough or change their minds,” he said. “[A 10K] gives them something to drop down to. It gives runners options.”

For some runners, the 10K will provide an opportunity for bragging rights.

“Someone is going to walk away as the winner of the first La Jolla 10K,” Calame said. “There are going to be a lot of records set this year. There’s going to be a lot of firsts.”

“We see it as a huge thing that this event continues to grow,” he added. “We want the runner experience to be one of the best, and we think we’re providing that.”

The Kiwanis Club has buses that can take runners from La Jolla’s Scripps Park to their respective starting lines. Additionally, the half marathon route has 10 water stations, though Calame noted that runners are encouraged to bring their own water.

The event is run by volunteers, which Calame said “makes a huge difference” in keeping costs down and raising as much money as possible. Race proceeds go to the La Jolla Kiwanis Foundation to be given to schools and nonprofit organizations in the form of grants.

Registration is $169 for the half marathon, $115 for the 10K and $74 for the 5K, plus fees. Participants who use promo code LJLIGHT will receive a discount. Find out more at lajollahalfmarathon.com.