Overview The Santa Cruz marathon is a coastal road race weekend in Santa Cruz, California, that also includes a full marathon. All three distances start on Beach Street beside the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and finish on the sand at Cowell Beach. Motiv Sports produces the race, and it counts toward Motiv's Golden State Challenge, a set of California road races that rewards runners who complete several of them. On site Race weekend opens with packet pick-up and the Race Expo at Depot Park in downtown Santa Cruz, where every runner comes in person to collect a bib and exhibitors set up booths. On race morning the half heads east past the harbor, East Cliff and the surf break at Pleasure Point, loops through Capitola Village and returns along the water. Marathoners carry on out West Cliff Drive to the bluff trails of Wilder Ranch State Park. Aid stations line the course, and the finish festival on Cowell Beach runs from early morning into the afternoon, with refreshments for finishers. Audience Runners from Santa Cruz County line up next to visitors who travel in for the coastline. The 5K is pitched at walkers and first-timers as well as regular racers, and local run clubs are invited to set up cheer zones along the course. The race leans into the town's surf and skate culture, from the race branding to the neon finisher shirts and medals. Talent and Influencers David Reid, race director of IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz, leads local planning for Motiv Sports. A team of local race ambassadors runs in the event and posts training and race-day content, with free entry, race gear and a personal discount code to share. Track record Motiv Sports runs a portfolio of big-city road races, including the Surf City Marathon, Bay to Breakers and the Long Beach Marathon. In Santa Cruz, registration for the marathon and the 5K filled more than a month before race day, and only the half kept entries open. The course is permitted by the City of Santa Cruz and follows the coast from the Boardwalk to Capitola and Wilder Ranch. Brand presence Partner brands show up where runners need them: race-day fuel, bottled water at the aid stations, training plans in the months before, performance apparel and post-race snacks at the finish. Exhibitor booths at the Race Expo put a brand in front of every participant during bib pick-up, and race partners can also be named on the course, at the start and finish, and across the race's email and social channels.