Congratulations to the Ventura Marathon, our #7 pick in California for the HalfRuns Editors' Choice 2026. Set in Ventura, California, this is the kind of race that quietly earns its place on a list like this one — and then keeps earning it, year after year.
Why did our editors pick it? A mid-size coastal race that pulls runners from 35 states. That's the whole story in one line: a race big enough to draw a crowd from across the country, small enough to still feel like a coastal town's own. About 1,500 finishers a year, a USATF-certified course, and 18% of last year's runners had run it before — the surest sign a race treats people well. The next race day is Sunday, February 21, 2027.
We're building a community for half marathon runners and collecting the best races across the country, one honest pick at a time. See where Ventura lands on our full Best Half Marathons in California list — and get to know the Ventura Marathon itself.