San Diego Santa Run

The 12th Annual San Diego Santa Run is this Saturday and we have all the event details to get you ready! Check it out below 👇

Early Packet Pick-Up

We have a couple options for you to pick up your Sunny Santa gear! We highly recommend you pick up your gear prior to race morning! Race morning packet pick-up will be available for a $5 convenience fee, but we cannot guarantee you will start the run on time if you wait until race morning:

Saturday, December 7th

WHEN: Saturday, December 7th: 10 AM – 2 PM

WHERE: Road Runner Sports, 5553 Copley Dr, San Diego, CA 92111

Thursday, December 12th

WHEN: Thursday, December 12th: 3 – 7 PM

WHERE: Road Runner Sports, 5553 Copley Dr, San Diego, CA 92111

Friday, December 13th | Pacific Beach

WHEN: Friday, December 13th: 2 – 7 PM

WHERE: Parking Lot, 845 Garnet Ave., San Diego, CA 92109

REMINDERS:

• If you purchased Mail My Packet, you do not need to come to the packet pick-up.
• You can pick-up for someone else as long as you have a copy of their confirmation QR code OR photo of their ID (e.g. they text you a picture of their ID).
• You can pick-up race morning starting at 7:00am but encourage all participants to come on Thursday or Friday. This will avoid delays and lines on event day!
• You can exchange your UNOPENED Santa Suit. We will have sample suits available to try on at packet pick-up. We CANNOT accept Sunny Santa Suits back that have been opened and removed from the package.

Schedule

• 7:00 AM: Event morning pick-up opens for participants that did not come to an early pick-up on Thursday or Friday. Note: $5 event day pick-up fee.
• 8:00 AM: Mavericks Beach Club opens (included drink ticket accepted here!)
• 8:00 AM: 5K – 8:00 AM Start
• 8:30 AM: 5K – 8:00 AM Start Line Closes
• 10:00 AM: 5K – 10:00 AM Start
• 10:30 AM: 5K – 10:00 AM Start Line Closes
• 11:30 AM: Kids 1 Mile Starts
• 12:00 PM: Dog/Owner 1 Mile Starts
• 1:00 PM: Pacific Beach Holiday Parade begins

Parking and Course Map

Start/Finish Line Location: 900 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109. Start and finish line are the same.

Parking/Transportation: When coming to the event, we HIGHLY encourage carpooling and using Ride Share services as we have a lot of Santas coming to Pacific Beach that morning.

If you plan to drive and park in the neighborhoods for free, leave yourself plenty of time to find a parking spot! This can be challenging. Paid lots will be a bit easier that day. Here are some of the closest in the area: PARKING LOTS.

Course Map: CLICK HERE

Post Race Party

After the races, enjoy the vendor village and grab your included post race drink thanks to our friends at Michelob ULTRA. Then stick around for the PB Holiday Parade at 1p!! Check out are 3 bar partners below. You must be 21+ and have your ID to redeem your ticket.

• Mavericks Beach Club: Opens at 8 AM
• 710 Beach Club: Opens at 8 AM
• Tavern at the Beach: Opens at 10 AM
• Bar Ella: Opens at 9 AM

No Dogs on Course

Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on the 5K course. Our whole team are dog owners so we love our dogs as well. But the 5K is a BIG event with thousands of runners. We have had issues with participants still bringing their dogs, the dogs get excited and then cut off a runner, causing the person to fall. Or maybe your dog is great but another owner’s dog gets aggressive. So for all these reasons and more, we ask you to leave your pup at home for the 5K. We do have a Dog/Owner 1 Mile so if you really want to have your dog, ask about transferring!

Stroller Friendly

Yes! We do suggest that if you are walking or running carefully with a stroller, you start toward the back due to the narrow streets. But this is stroller friendly. Bonus points with Santa if your stroller is decorated!

Race Results

Race Results will be live and available immediately after you cross the finish line. Look up your results by scanning the QR code on your bib or by clicking here: RACE RESULTS.

Shoutout to our friends at TimingHQ for all their timing support!

Awards

ONLY the 5K – 8 AM Wave runners are eligible for Age Group Awards. There are no awards for the 5K – 10 AM Wave. Awards will be given for:

• Top 3 Overall Male and Female 5K (5K – 8 AM Wave Only)
• Top 3 Male and Female 5K Age Groups (5K – 8 AM Wave Only): 14 & Under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 25-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+.

Awards must be picked up from the awards tent post-race. They will be available approximately at 9:45a.

Free Race Photos

Race photos will be taken along the course and at the finish provided by 3PIXstudios! You will receive an e-mail with a link to these photos within 2-3 days after the event. These complimentary photos will be free for you to download and share! Be sure to tag @sdrunningco and #sandiegosantarun.

Shout out to our photography team at 3PIXstudios!

The Santa’s Elves 1 Mile Run (Kids 12 & under) is one of San Diego’s largest kids run! At the conclusion of the Santa Run 5K it will be the kids turn to take over Garnet Avenue. All kids participants will receive a chip timed 1 mile result as well as a finisher medal!

Kids Run FAQ

Can the parent/guardian run with their kid?

• Absolutely! If you want to accompany your child during the one mile course you are more than welcome to.

What time does the Kids 1 Mile Start?

• 11:30AM

Where does the Kids 1 Mile Start/Finish?

• The start/finish line will be located on Garnet Ave in front of the Bank of America (912 Garnet Avenue). It is the same start/finish as the Santa Run 5K

What do the Kids 1 Mile participants receive?

• Kids 1 Mile Bib, Santa Hat, Santa Run sunglasses, chip timed results and a finisher medal!

Santa’s Little Helper Mile (Dog Run) – Santa’s Little Helper wave is dedicated to your furry best friend. Dress up with your pup and take to parading down Garnet Ave! Our beloved dog wave is limited to only 125 spots and sells out quick, so be sure to register early!

Dog 1 Mile FAQ

What time does the Dog 1 Mile Start?

• 12:00PM

Where does the Dog 1 Mile Start/Finish?

• The start/finish line will be located on Garnet Ave in front of the Bank of America (912 Garnet Avenue). It is the same start/finish as the Santa Run 5K

What do the Dog 1 Mile participants receive?

• Dog 1 Mile Bib, Santa Hat, and Santa Run sunglasses.

Can I run with my dog in the 5K?

• Dogs are NOT allowed in the 5K run due safety concerns. We love running with our dogs though which is why we created the Dog 1 Mile!

Sunny Santa Suits are Available in Two Sizes:

• Small – Fits adult size small and smaller
• Standard – Fits an adult size medium to XXL

The Santa fun doesn’t stop at the finish line! All Santa Run participants receive a complimentary drink ticket to one of our three post-race partner bars. Your drink ticket is attached to your bib and will be redeemable at Mavericks Beach Club, Tavern on the Beach, 710 Beach Club OR Bar Ella. You must be 21+ and have your ID to redeem your ticket.

Post-Race Celebration Locations and Hours

Drink Tickets Redeemable at:

Mavericks Beach Club

Location: 860 Garnet Ave.

Race Day Hours: Opens at 8am Race Morning

710 Beach Club

Location: 710 Garnet Ave.

Race Day Hours: Open at 8am Race Morning

Tavern at the Beach

Location: 1200 Garnet Ave.

Race Day Hours: Opens at 10am Race Morning

Bar Ella

Location: 1030 Garnet Ave.

Race Day Hours: Opens at 9am Race Morning

Additional Runner Discounts

Show your Santa Run Participant Bib on Race Day for these Exclusive Santa Savings:

Packet Pick-Up Locations:

REMINDER – It is a $5 convenience fee to pick up on race morning!

Packet Pick Up #1:

• When: Saturday, December 7th, 10:00AM – 2:00PM
• Location: Road Runner Sports, 5553 Copley Dr, San Diego, CA 92111

Packet Pick Up #2:

• When: Thursday, December 12th, 3:00PM – 7:00PM
• Location: Road Runner Sports, 5553 Copley Dr, San Diego, CA 92111

Packet Pick Up #3:

• When: Friday, December 13th, 2:00PM – 7:00PM
• Location: Pacific Beach – Parking Lot – 845 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109

If you are picking up a packet for a friend you MUST bring their confirmation QR code OR a picture of their photo ID. A picture of their ID on your phone is best.

Award Categories

Age Group Awards will ONLY be given to participants in the 5K – 8 AM Wave! There will not be age group awards in the 5K – 10 AM Wave.

– Top 3 Overall Male and Female 5K
– Top 3 Male and Female 5K Age Groups: 13 & Under, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+

What is included in my race registration?

• All 5K participants will receive the Sunny Santa Suit, sunglasses, chip timing and a complimentary drink ticket. All Kids 1 Mile runners will receive a Santa Hat, sunglasses, chip timing and a finisher award. Participants must be 21+ to receive the complimentary drink ticket.

What is the difference between the 5K – 8 AM Wave and the 5K – 10 AM Wave?

• We now offer two start times, depending if you are an early riser or would rather get a little more sleep :). The only difference is that we will offer Age Group Awards for just the 5K – 8 AM Wave. There will be NO awards for the 5K – 10 AM Wave. However, both Waves will be chip timed!

Where is the start line and finish line?

• The start/finish line is located at 912 Garnet Avenue next to the Bank of America.

Where can I see the course map?

• CLICK HERE for a link to course map.

Is this race chip timed?

• YES! Every participant will receive a chip timed result in both 5K Waves and the Kids Run. There is no chip timing in the dog/owner 1 Mile.

Where do I pick-up my race packet?

• CLICK HERE to view all packet pick-up information.

Can I have my packet mailed to me?

• YES, for a $18 convenience fee we will mail your packet including your race bib, Sunny Santa Suit, sunglasses and bib directly to your house! Note: the deadline for this purchase is Sunday, December 1, 2024.

Can someone else pick up my packet for me?

• YES, they’ll need to bring a copy of your ID (photo of your ID on a cell phone is fine) or a copy of their confirmation QR Code.

Where should I park for the event?

• All parking will be street parking in Pacific Beach.
• CLICK HERE for a map of paid parking lots close to the start/finish line

Is this event stroller friendly?

• Absolutely! Strollers are welcome in all waves and decorated strollers are highly encouraged! Have fun with it!

Can I run with my dog?

• We have a wave dedicated to Santa’s Little Helper (aka your dog)! Due to the size of the 5K run dogs ARE NOT ALLOWED in the 5K run.

Can I walk the 5K?

• Yes! We gladly welcome and encourage walkers. Although there is no defined course cut-off, we ask that 5K participants maintain a 20 minute per mile pace to allow us to remain on schedule for later waves.

Will there be age group awards?

• Yes, there will ONLY be age group awards for 5K – 8 AM Wave. There are no age group awards for the 5K – 10 AM Wave.
• The age group awards will be: top 3 overall, 13 & under, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 80+ (male and female categories for all these age groups)

Where can I redeem my complimentary drink ticket?

• The Santa-fun doesn’t stop at the finish line! Enjoy a post-run complimentary drink at Mavericks Beach Club.

Can I transfer my registration to another person or defer to a future San Diego Running Co. event?

• Transfers – Participant to Participant: Transfers are available on each event’s registration site. Simply select the “Transfer” button located on the right side of the event’s Race Roster registration page and follow the prompts. A $15 transfer fee applies. The transfer window expires one week prior to the event date.
• Transfers – Changing Sub-Events: Sub-event transfers are available on each event’s registration site. Simply select the “Transfer” button located on the right side of the home page and follow the prompts. Refunds will not be applied for difference in sub-event pricing. The transfer window expires one week prior to the event date.
• Deferrals: Participants are extended a one-time deferral option to either the following year’s event or another SDRC equivalent event. Deferral requests must be made one week prior to the event date. A $15 deferral fee applies. Email us at info@sandiegorunningco.com with your deferral request.
• Deadline: All transfer and deferral requests must be received by one week prior to the event. There are no transfers/deferrals within one week of the event.

How do I volunteer?

• If you would like to join the festivities as a volunteer, we would love to have you! Email us at volunteers@sandiegorunningco.com and let us know you would like to volunteer. It takes a lot of support to make this event happen and it wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers!

Does this event benefit an organization?

• The event benefits the Pacific Beach Holiday Parade. The parade does not happen without the generous support of local businesses and residents. Now with San Diego Santa Run, we’ll be helping to ensure this Pacific Beach staple will continue for future generations.

No Parking Locations

Garnet Avenue between Mission Blvd & Ingraham St.

• • Saturday, December 14th – 5:00am until 4:00pm

Cass St. between Alley South of Garnet Ave. & Turquoise St.

• • Saturday, December 14th – 5:00am until 12:00pm

Bayard St. between Hornblend St. & Felspar St.

• • Saturday, December 14th – 5:00am until 4:00pm

Felspar St. between Gresham St. & Ingraham St..

• • Saturday, December 14th – 5:00am until 4:00pm

Haines St. between Felspar St. & Alley South of Garnet Ave

• • Saturday, December 14th – 5:00am until 4:00pm

Street Closures

Garnet Avenue between Mission Blvd & Ingraham St.

• • Saturday, December 14th – 5:00am until 4:00pm

Cass St. between Alley South of Garnet Ave. & Turquoise St.

• • Saturday, December 14th – 8:00am until 12:00pm

Bayard St. between Hornblend St. & Alley North of Garnet Ave.

• • Saturday, December 14th – 5:00am until 4:00pm

Felspar St. between Gresham St. & Ingraham St..

• • Saturday, December 14th – 8:00am until 4:00pm

Haines St. between Felspar St. & Alley South of Garnet Ave

• • Saturday, December 14th – 8:00am until 4:00pm