Final Event Instructions

The Shoppes at Carlsbad
2525 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, CA 92008

The race start, finish and post-race Finish Line Festival all take place in the southwest corner of the parking lot near the corner of Marron and Monroe. Parking is available on site, please follow the directions of parking personnel. Runner drop-off is located on Monroe Street north of Carlsbad Village Drive. Access to this area is only available from Carlsbad Village Drive. 

See Parking & Key Areas Map Here

Holiday Inn Carlsbad – San Diego
2725 Palomar Airport Road
Carlsbad, CA 92009 

Friday, January 16, 2026 – 12 to 4 PM
Saturday, January 17, 2026 – 9 AM to 4 PM

AT THE EXPO/ PACKET PICKUP EVENT

You must attend the expo to pick up your bib number, shirt, 1/4 zip, and souvenir reusable grocery bag. Be prepared to show a photo ID to claim your bib number. Look up your bib number here.

If you’re unable to pick up your bib number, and someone is picking it up for you, they must present a photocopy or electronic copy of your photo ID.

Free parking is available at the expo site. Please follow the directions of the on-site parking personnel and signage. 

Once at the expo, pick up your bib number and present it to claim your shirt, 1/4-zip shirt, and souvenir reusable grocery bag. Please note that while we will do all we can to ensure you receive the shirt size you requested, we cannot guarantee it.

At the expo, be sure to shop our line of stylish and affordable souvenirs. There will also be other vendors offering great deals on products and services you’ll appreciate.

ON RACE DAY

If you’re unable to attend the Expo/Packet Pickup and didn’t add Race Day Packet Pick Up, you can do so here through Wednesday, January 14. Anyone attempting to pick up their bib number on race day will have to pay $25 for Late Race Day Packet Pick Up (cash only). This is an additional fee to pick up your packet on race day; items ARE NOT mailed.

If you pre-purchased Race Day Packet Pick Up during registration, you can pick up your materials from the Bib Pick Up Tent in the northeast corner of the Finish Line Festival starting at 5:30 AM. 

You can pick up your SWAG at our Expo/Packet Pickup or it will be mailed to you. You do not need to let us know how you plan to pick up your SWAG, any SWAG not picked up at the Expo/Packet Pickup will be mailed to the address used during registration after the event.

For more information on our virtual event, click here. 

This year, we have teamed up with Sneakers4Good to help give your gently used running shoes a second life! Do NOT bring your shoes to the Expo/Packet Pickup. Just stop by the Information Booth at the Expo/Packet Pickup or in the Finish Line Festival and pick up a pre-labeled #SNEAKERS4GOOD recycling bag. Take the bag home and fill it with at least (6) pairs of gently used sneakers or running shoes (no holes, please). Seal and follow the mailing instructions on the bag – no postage needed! Your donated shoes will support charitable organizations in our community. 

Your exclusive, one-day pass to the Columbia Employee Store will be provided to you when you pick up your bib number. The pass will allow you access to their Carlsbad company employee store. Enjoy special Employee pricing; up to 50% off retail prices on products from Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna, including the latest outerwear, sportswear, footwear, sleeping bags, and tents for the whole family. See pass for more details. 

Our friends at Chick-fil-A Carlsbad West have generously provided a digitial coupon for one free Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit (original or spicy) or Chick-n-Minis for every participant. Yum! Be sure to pick up your digital offer card with your swag! It can be used at any participating Chick-fil-A. See card for more details.

Racing chairs and handcycles are NOT allowed in the full marathon, only the half marathon and 5K. If you have any questions, contact In Motion at [email protected].

A limited number of racing chairs and handcycles are allowed to participate in the half marathon only. If you have registered to participate and will be using a handcycle or push rim wheelchair, you must email us today and include your name and contact information. Upon receipt, we’ll confirm your entry and forward additional instructions. 

Complimentary pace groups will be provided by On Pace. Pace group leaders run a steady pace throughout the race so members of their group are able to finish the full or half marathon in the projected finish time for that group. Pace groups with the following target finish times will be offered on race day (times are subject to change):

Half Marathon
1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50, 3:00, 3:15, 3:30 & 4:00

Full Marathon
3:00, 3:05, 3:10, 3:15, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:45, 3:50, 4:00, 4:10, 4:20, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00, 5:15. 5:30, 5:45, 6:00

Half marathon pace group leaders will be available in their designated corral 30 minutes before the race start for those who are interested in meeting with their pacer before the race. They will be holding their pace signs.

Please note: besides the clock at the finish line, there are no additional clocks or timers on the course.

Cyclists, skaters, unofficial pacers, and unregistered runners/walkers are not allowed anywhere on the course. Anyone participating with a jogging stroller must stage in the back of their assigned wave. These rules are in place for safety and will be enforced by the Carlsbad Police Department and course officials. 

Gear Check will be available through Mobile Locker ONLY. Locker rentals give you a secure, convenient storage option for your gear at the event site. You can pre-purchase a locker during registration or on race day. A locker will be assigned to you and a key will be issued to keep on your person while you participate in the event.

Mobile Locker will be stationed in the Finish Line Festival, where it can be accessed before or after your event until 12:45 PM. If you didn’t purchase a locker during registration and would like to purchase one prior to event day, you can do so here through Friday, January 16, or on race morning. 

Marathon
There is a strict 6-hour time limit. Participants must maintain a 13:44-minute-per-mile pace or faster throughout the event. Full marathon participants who have not reached mile 7.5 by 8:00 a.m. will be turned around at Breakwater Road and not be permitted to complete the 3.5-mile loop from Breakwater Road to La Costa Avenue and back. In addition, all full marathon participants not at mile 18 by 10:25 a.m. will be turned around at Cannon Park and not permitted to complete the approximate 4-mile loop from Cannon Park to Breakwater Road and back. Those unable to reach Carlsbad Boulevard and Carlsbad Village Drive by 11:45 a.m. will be redirected to the finish via an alternate route. Diverted participants will use sidewalks and be considered pedestrians while following a route equal to the marathon distance. 

Half Marathon
There is a strict 4-hour time limit for the half marathon. All participants must maintain an 18:19-minute-per-mile pace or faster throughout the event. Half marathon participants who have not reached mile 4.5 by 9:30 a.m. will be turned around at Cannon Park and not permitted to complete the 3.5-mile loop from Cannon Park to Breakwater Road and back. Participants who do not get to Carlsbad Boulevard/Hwy 101 and Carlsbad Village Drive by 11:45 a.m. will be redirected to the finish line via an alternate route. Diverted participants will use sidewalks and be considered pedestrians while following a route equal to the half marathon distance.

5K
There is a 1-hour time limit for finishing the 5K and participants must maintain a 19:21-minute-mile pace or faster.

Support stations will be positioned throughout the full marathon, half marathon, and 5K courses. Water and portable toilets will be available at or near every support station. In addition, Lemon-Lime Gatorade and Triberry GU will be available at select stations. For a complete list of each support station and what amenities are offered, please click here.

Please help us keep the course clean and ensure this event continues for years to come by using the provided trash boxes near the support stations and along the course.

If you are registered for the Double Down Challenge (the 5K + the Carlsbad Half), you will receive one bib number to wear for both races. After the 5K, do not collect your 5K medal, it and your Double Down bling will be presented to you after you finish the half marathon. Look for the Double Down Medals table located inside the finish line chute right after water. Please note that you can start the half marathon in any of the eight waves. 

The marathon shares the same roads as the half marathon. Each race has a designated and marked lane. You must stay in your designated lane. Lanes will be marked with signage and cones. 

The full marathon is run on a looped course and there are a few locations where the course differs from the half marathon course. Watch for course advisory and turn-around notification signs, and more importantly familiarize yourself with the course map here. There is a CRITICAL turn at Mountain View to make the second loop of the marathon. If the turn is not made, approximately 8 miles of the full marathon course will be missed. 

Please be sure you are familiar with the course map here and be aware that due to the looped course, faster marathoners will pass slower marathoners heading north on Carlsbad Boulevard from Breakwater to Mountain View. For this reason, slower marathoners should stay to the left and faster marathoners will pass on the right. 

You must be at the marathon starting line at 6:15 a.m. Late starters are not permitted. Timing mats will be immediately turned off after the race starts. 

2026 CONSTRUCTION NOTICE – There is an active construction project on Carlsbad Blvd from Pine Avenue to Hemlock Ave. In this section, there will not be separate full and half marathon lanes. Although there are no cones, please stay in your lane and follow the signs to merge in and out of the full marathon lane before and after the construction. 

The half marathon shares the same roads as the full marathon. Each race has a designated and marked lane. You must stay in your designated lane. Lanes will be marked with signage and cones. Watch for course advisory and turn-around notification signs, and more importantly, familiarize yourself with the course map here. 

2026 CONSTRUCTION NOTICE – There is an active construction project on Carlsbad Blvd from Pine Avenue to Hemlock Ave. In this section, there will not be separate full and half marathon lanes. Although there are no cones, please stay in your lane and follow the signs to merge in and out of the full marathon lane before and after the construction. 

The 5K is an out-and-back course, against the normal direction of traffic. Always stay to the left throughout the course. The pace car and lead runners will be coming through on the right. Lanes will be marked with cones.

A medical tent will be located at Cannon Park and in the Finish Line Festival. If you experience a medical issue on the course, go to the nearest water station for assistance. Race Guards will also be monitoring the course – flag them down if you need help. If you cannot finish the race, transportation to the finish line can be called for you from most water stations.

Look for trash, recycling, and organic waste containers at every water station, with additional containers located between stations for cups, gel packs, and anything else you need to dispose of. If you must discard any clothing items during your race, do so only in available trash cans or at water stations. All collected items will be donated to local shelters. 

All on-course cups, for both water and Gatorade, are compostable. Make sure to dispose of your cups in the designated organic compost bins provided on the course.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO THROW AWAY ALL TRASH, INCLUDING CUPS AND GEL/GU WRAPPERS IN DESIGNATED TRASH CANS. DO NOT THROW THEM ON THE GROUND.

Please familiarize yourself with what items go in each type of bin to help us do our part!

Organics – Course water cups, course Gatorade cups, food waste, food-soiled parchment paper, paper towels and napkins, and yard trimmings

Recyclables – Aluminum and steel bottles and cans, aluminum foil and trays, glass bottles and jars, boxes and cardboard, paper, food, and beverage cartons. 

Trash – Hygiene products, diapers, pet waste, paper plates, paper cups, takeout boxes, tissues, sanitizing wipes, plastic bags, wrappers, film, plastic straws, and utensils. 

Hot Bevs Coffee & Tea Co. will be on-site at the Finish Line Festival before and after your race with coffee and breakfast items.

Puras Papas and Smashed Avocado Toast will also be on-site, selling breakfast and lunch items.

Results will be available at the Results Tent in the Finish Line Festival near the beer garden and also online after the race here. 

The back of your bib number will have a label which is your timing device and should not be removed. We offer live tracking so friends and family can follow your race. On race day, look for the live tracking link here.

As you near the finish line, full marathoners stay to the left and half marathoners to the right. After you finish, you’ll receive your medal, In Motion canned water, finisher food bag, and Hollandia Dairy Chocolate Milk in that order. Do not stop. Keep moving through the finish line until you have completely exited the fenced-in area. 

Registered participants over the age of 21 and displaying their bib number and with proper ID are invited to visit the beer garden in the Finish Line Festival to receive a complimentary post-race beer (limited to one per person while supplies last). Participants can choose between a beer OR Beatbox.

The SoCal Triple Crown starts with Carlsbad!

To start your journey, participate in the 2026 Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon, or 5K, followed by the 2026 GOVX San Diego Half Marathon or 5K on March 22, and the 2026 America’s Finest City Half Marathon or 5K on August 16. 

Three races, four medals, the total distance is up to you!

FinisherPix will have photographers on the course and in the finish line taking official photos. The Carlsbad Marathon does not guarantee that every participant will be photographed. Participant photos will be available here within a few days of the event. 

If you pre-ordered a photo and/or video package during registration, FinisherPix will email you a download link directly within 24-48 hours of the event. If you do not receive the link, please contact FinisherPix at [email protected]. Make sure to check your spam or junk folders as well. 

There will not be any award ceremonies. Overall and age group award sliders and team awards will be available for pickup from the Information Booth at the following times:

5K – after 8:00 AM
Half Marathon – after 10:00 AM
Marathon – after 10:45 AM

Winners who do not pick up their award slider on race day will be emailed instructions for picking it up from our office in San Marcos or having it mailed for a small fee. Awards not claimed within two weeks of the event will no longer be available. 

For more information about the age group award categories, click here. 

Call (760) 692-2900, email [email protected], or visit the information booth at the Expo/Packet Pickup.