Monterey Bay Half

Monterey Bay Half is run on California's Monterey Bay coast over November 7–8, 2026. The half marathon (13.1 miles) is an out-and-back held on the Sunday, while the Pacific Grove Lighthouse 5K, the By-the-Bay 3K and the 16.2-mile Ocean View Challenge take place on the Saturday. The course follows the Pacific shoreline along Cannery Row, the old sardine-canning street made famous by John Steinbeck, then continues down Ocean View Boulevard toward Asilomar, passing near the Pacific Grove lighthouse.

Around 8,000 runners take part, and the coastal setting, with surf on one side and sea lions near the route, is the reason most of them come. A shoreline half like this one is a sensible place to go after a personal best, though the out-and-back shape means you cover ground you have already seen once your legs are tired. Ten to twelve weeks of preparation suits it, with a long run reaching 11 to 12 miles and one weekly session at goal half pace.