Beginning was a bit confusing. Overall, organized and fun! 50 Entertainment spots and neighbors screaming support while others passing out Bloody Mary shots and Bud Light. Loved it! See you in September for the 5k. read more

Wharf To Wharf Race - Races & Competitions Near Me - Capitola, California

This was our third Wharf to Wharf race and it ended leaving a bad taste in my mouth! I think it is a very well organized event! Staff and volunteers have always been so upbeat and supportive of us older gals doing the best we can on a beautiful walk. We tend to walk slower and love to enjoy the festivities along the way! Today there were two groups of two who were close to the last balloon arch before the finish line.The staff/ Volunteer began to dismantle the balloon arch as we were approaching the arch. He also popped the baloon arches one by one.I. It was so insulting to us! we drove over 3 hrs each way and relish in the beauty of the ocean surroundings. Not sure we well attended again! read more

I was so happy to run in the 50th Annual Wharf to Wharf race this year. The event was held virtually in 2020 and 2021 so it was great that they have resumed the in-person run again. The price has increased to $50. Loyalty runners (past registrants) and locals get early registration. I was surprised that it didn't sell out immediately as it has in years past. They are doing phased start times. I was in Corral 2 so had to wait for the Elite and Corral 1 runners to start. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. so our corral didn't get to start until 8:40 a.m. Despite this, I STILL was passing WALKERS at the quarter mile mark. SO annoying. There were a lot of local bands playing along the route and several stations with volunteers handing out cups of water. We left a car in Capitola the night before so I had to make sure I got back to it before 10:00 a.m. or risk getting a ticket. Wasn't a problem :) I grabbed my goody bag with my t-shirt and high-tailed it to my car in plenty of time. It's still "the best little road race in California" and a fun community event. read more

See all

Awesome set-up!! Fun crowds, bands, beautiful setting and the fog gave us great running conditions!

Since I ran my first official race last February (Niles Half Marathon) I've become very aware of other local races and this event peeked my interested when fellow members of my Running Club told me they had heard good things about both the race and the course. Better yet, it excited me a little as friend and fellow Yelper Tram lives in Santa Cruz and this would be the perfect opportunity to Run together again and hang out. Sign up for me was very easy, I entered my average pace, personal details, paid and then a few weeks before the event I received my bib in the mail. Tram didn't have quite the same good luck although got charged never received her bib! Luckily she has a great boyfriend and when I found out the local Fleet Feet had a limited number of bibs sold back by Runners who could no longer attend he went and picked one up for her just so that we could run together. Race day comes and Santa Cruz gets crazy busy!! 16,000 people attend this event every year and is sold out in no time. Corals are given based on your average pace which is supposed to alleviate road blocks but people clearly do not understand this as people that should have been in coral 3 or 4 were in 1 and 2 and vice versa. Once given your coral you can move back but not forward and being placed in Coral 1 I moved back to run with Tram as her Coral had already been set by the person who originally had the bib. The course is beautiful, yes but really not the sort of event serious Runners like myself should attend unless registered as an Elite Runner or are right at the front of Coral 1. walkers were all over the place and people zigzagging left right and center throughout the entire 6 miles, it was mildly organized chaos. The course was littered with numerous bands and spectators cheering or on hand with hosepipes spraying people with water, not something I appreciated but some people seemed to enjoy it. Post race festivities were on the Capitola beach, I didn't see much festiveness going on as we just picked up or goodie bags before heading out. The bags were pretty cool - Drawstring bag containing a T-Shirt, Bottled Water, Prickly Passion Lemonade, Power Bar Wafers, Trail Mix, a Fruit Chew Bar and a Chapstick. NO Banana's! Which kind of sucks. That's one of my favorite parts of a Run. Not a Race I would do again unless I'm registered as Elite. read more

See all

It doesn't matter which wave you register in because at the end, you can go into any wave. Just $40 to register and while it sells out fast, there are usually a lot of folks that cannot attend so be on the lookout for ads and sports stores a few weeks before the event. Road closures start at 8AM. Emmalouise and I walked from my house so we did not deal w/ any traffic whatsoever. I live about 4 miles from the Santa Cruz Wharf and about 1.2 miles from the Capitola Wharf. Complete mayhem as we headed closer and closer to the start line. We were in the last wave so we did not get to start on time. Think we started 20 minutes afterwards. Even folks that started in the wave before us was walking w/o and consideration to everyone else around; walking on the left, waking on the right. God. Please walk on the right!!! We had to weave in and out throughout the entire 6 mile run. The rest periods for bathrooms and rehydration was nice but I wish the people that did the race would cleanup after their themselves. There were crushed paper cups all over the road. It was a brutal run for me. I had the flu the day before and ran w/o feeling 100% but at least I got a chance to experience my first run w/ my best friend. I like running but I am no marathon runner - my damaged lungs are restricted. The bag and shirt at the end was a nice perk. I did not like that we had to step in the sand for that. There was no after party for the racers. I just see a sea of people lining up at Pizza My Heart and a lot of people taking their sweet ass time at the narrow corner to get to Wharf Rd. to Capitola Rd. Glad I did it but never again. read more

Wharf To Wharf Race - Races & Competitions Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

This is a world famous marathon put on yearly in santa cruz what is quite the party. Well part of a marathon anyway. Six miles isn't all that much as far as marathons go, but it's as competitive as you want it to be. Parking can be an issue. This race will bring 20-30,000 people to the santa cruz wharf and capitola wharves respectively. Worse side roads and parking lots that otherwise would be available-such as the boardwalk parking in santa cruz-will be closed for the race. There are designated park and ride areas however the bus shuttles stop running within an hour of the official end of the race. That may or may not be enough time for you to recover and walk another half mile or so. Plan ahead if you plan to drive here for the race. The race course itself meanders around a bit more or less evenly matched between private neighborhoods and along the beaches. It's a nice run/walk/crawl/whatever your pace may be, and since it's earlier in the morning it can be cool and comfortable. As mentioned earlier if you want a super competitive half marathon qualifier you can totally get that out of this race. The top times are just short of 30 minutes for six miles, and those who are very very serious run it both ways. For everyone else it can be quite the fun run experience as not (actually most) everyone takes it quite so serious. People tend to dress up a bit sporting fairy wings, tutus or not quite born children. Adding the most to the party atmosphere is the official and not so official music staged along the route. The official music is well, everything. Blues, rock, jazz, classical, folk, bagpipes, taiko, bata, djembe and some weir...er, extremely colorful guy in a costume playing the accordion. The unofficial music can be more creative and enthusiastic as some-but not all-are part of the semi organized block parties along the route. Not everyone makes it all the way of course. Many people find a way to have a race ending cramp at the microbrewery located right at the 3.1 mile mark which conveniently puts out a beer tent along with a food truck to recover. You know just in case you need it. Some of the pubs along the route (mile 2.5,and 1.9) also have race specials which theoretically will allow you to continue the race. All this means you can absolutely make this run as fun or as hard as you want it to be. Bonus points for ending and beginning at just lovely beach spots, fail points deducted for opening the marathon route up to local traffic an hour and a half into the race in 2018. read more

Wharf To Wharf Race - Races & Competitions Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

This was my second time racing, due to last year being injured. It was fun, as usual. I'm glad that an American male won the overall race. I suggest that your ride stays in the parking lot the entire time, since it's impossible to find parking when they leave. Quite a few corral 1 people are lying about their times. I was running past a lot of them at mile 4, despite them starting earlier than corral 2. read more

For being the first race EVER that i've ran...it was AWESOME! Great weather (cloudy and cool) so that i was not dying of dehydration in the heat that starts to climb in around noon. The scenary was great, and the people were awesome. Enjoyed the live entertainment & bands, and the "fans" that cheered us on a long the way. Definitely a FUN FUN race. and i loved the balloon arches...bc they kept me motivated to make it another mile. The hills also gave us a little challenge, which i also liked. Would definitely recommend it. Will probably do it again next year!! read more

This race truly lives up to it's reputation as the world's greatest little race. After two years of not being able to register before they sold out, I finally got into this year's 44th annual Wharf to Wharf race! From registration, to bibs being mailed out, to the shuttles, and even the volunteers handing out safety pins everywhere, the planning committee made it real easy for race participants. Race cost $40 and registration opened up sometime in April I believe. Sign up ASAP or else it truly will sell out. I drove down that morning from Sacramento and was able to find street parking nearby where the shuttle pick up to the race start line was. I think it'd be nice to have some port-a-potties nearby the shuttle stop because all of the restaurants/gas stations were being stingy about letting runners use their restrooms. When we finally got on the shuttles, the ride to the start was short and there were plenty of port-a-potties there. As for the run, there were supposedly over 15,000 runners that day so I got off to a slow start since the first 2 miles or so was spent dodging people. After that it was smooth sailing. Although there were quite a few little hills, the race was relatively flat and mainly weaved through residential neighborhoods.The 6 miles flew by and I was able to pick up my goodie bag with no problems. T-shirts ran a little small but I truly appreciated the Martinelli's apple juice inside the drawstring bag we got to keep! I was a bit surprised at the lack of food items that are usually given out at these runs (bananas, protein bars, etc.) but the mixed nuts inside the bag were an OK alternative. There were also a bunch of vendors lining the street as you made your way to the shuttles. We stopped by the Brooks one and my friend won a free pair of shoes! I unfortunately got ear buds. #wompwomp Regardless, the logistics were smooth and the Wharf to Wharf was an awesome race. Will definitely try to get in again next year! read more

Wharf To Wharf Race - The start! - Races & Competitions Near Me - Capitola, California

First time running this event last year and will be back again this year. I don't consider myself a runner or even call running fun but I knew in order to stay in shape I would need to have some sort of a goal so I entered the Wharf to Wharf Race. The great thing about this "race" is that it really doesn't seem like a race as you have a ton of bands playing music for you along the way and tons of people cheering you on. Most of houses on the route open up their garages to put the old band together for the day. If there's no band in the yard you would also find people sipping on their Bloody Mary's and Mimosas sitting or standing in their front lawns to cheer you on. Some even had their hoses going to cool you down. So many times I wanted to stop jogging and start walking but there was so much encouragement I knew I had to keep going. The one thing with this race is that they should not allow strollers, I'm sorry but I almost got knocked down or twisted my ankle multiple times trying to run around people with their strollers. LEAVE YOUR STROLLERS AT HOME PEOPLE ! The other thing is that you might want to have someone waiting for you in Capitola to take you back to your car in Santa Cruz. The line for the bus was crazy. Although it is really nice to go lay on the beach and cool down in the water for a bit before your return. Also, check out your photos online when they are posted later. I had no idea I was being photographed along the way so it provided some comic relief a few months later when I found my bright red face puffing and chugging along. I'm leaving my ipod at hope this year. Wharf to Wharf, I'll see you soon ! read more

My very first 10k EVER and I was glad it was Wharf to Wharf! Last year, I supported a friend who participated and promised to join her this year and I am so glad I did! I was even able to get my BF to sign up and I was so proud of how well he did! The race begins at 8:30am and there are about 15,000+ people participating. There's a lot of traffic and it gets pretty tricky having to swerve around those who are walking. The course itself is pretty - some hills here and there but it's all downhill toward the end. Live bands and residents cheering you on along the way. There were even some that turned the hose on to cool you down if needed. Every mile is marked with balloons with the time listed on there so you have an idea of where you stand. I had a GREAT time and will definitely do it again next year! read more

Wharf To Wharf Race - Races & Competitions Near Me - Capitola, California

This is a great 10K... very well organized and pure entertainment... The entire route was covered by different bands, weirdness and neighbors with water sprinklers. The downhill portion with the ocean view into Capitola was very motivating. Since this run was one way, we had to be bussed back to our cars at the starting line. This portion of our day went surprisingly well. The organizers had plenty of buses and the line was in a constant state of motion. I highly recommend signing up for this 10K. read more

Growing up playing sports, I always had an outlet for physical activity. As I got older (and a job), taking care of my physical self no longer came in the form of team sports, but instead I became fairly invested in the gym and lifting weights. It's been great, but my cardio has taken a back seat. A few months ago I read Christopher McDougall's "Born To Run..." and it changed the entire game for me. To hell with the stair climbers and elliptical machines, I'm pounding the pavement. It had been years since I've run so much and I realized that I was beginning to enjoy it. In 2009 I registered for my first race EVER. It just so happened that it was the Wharf to Wharf, but as luck would have it, the day before the race, I came down with a flu - fever, puking, the whole 9! Move forward one year, and I find myself on the starting line waiting for the race to start - surrounded by friends, family, and 15,000 of the most friendly strangers I've ever met. I'm not going to teach you anything here about the course. It's beautiful and festive. At about the halfway mark, I was surprised to see the San Jose State University marching band - my people!!!! (Well, the SJSU part anyway, not the marching band) It was the little things like this that kept me motivated as the course drew the individuals of our group apart. It was amazing to see how the community embraces the event as it does. I was actually proud to be a part of it. Coming off a calf injury, I hadn't run in almost a month leading up to the race. As such, I wasn't expecting much from myself, but having missed the race last year, there was NO way I was missing it this year. Despite the post race big fish stories I was telling (remember, the group got separated) about my record setting pace, I was happy with the fact that I ran it the entire way through. I realized this though: As dedicated to the weight lifting as I have been, I have built my frame to a solid 225lbs. I've come to realize that I was made for quick bursts of speed rather than long distances. For the last two miles, I was feeling EVERY OUNCE of that 225lbs! Who knows, maybe if I actually TRAIN next time, I'll perform a little better. Which, by the way, will be next year. It was an amazing event to prepare for (sort of) and share with people I love. Honestly, I think we're all connected a little differently now having shared this experience together. I told you - that damn book changed everything for me! read more

Wharf To Wharf Race - Races & Competitions Near Me - Capitola, California

Always a great race, but this year a few things were less than amazing. Upon finish and exhausted, a huge group of us lined for our shirts/bags only to be told they ran out and that because most of the women were asking for men's sizes, they had no more. Seriously? Also, no bagels, bananas or any food type at end. I think they had water, but it wasn't bottled, but just cups somewhere. Super cluster and a mess. If you have signups online, maybe it should be a little more organized? Small bright side - the bus system back to Santa Cruz was great. Downside. If you picked up the bus in downtown, they didn't drop you off there. There's always next year. read more

I'm rather disappointed because of the following facts: - This has trully become a WALKERS event. - You don't have to register. Bandit style is the new pink. - Omar and I did not make time because their were thousands of walkers making it so difficult to find our running pace. - No courtesy: Walkers on the left, runners on the right is the golden rule. Walkers scattered all over the place. - I found myself running into walkers and dodging around through an asteroid field. - Very cold. Cloudy skies didn't help enhance what I experienced last year's race. Felt like a morning training run than the actual race. - I nearly collided into a group of walkers at the finish line. WTF? Parade your asses to the left! - Race packets for the finishers: No enough t-shirts for everyone? - If I come back next year, i'm so not registering. Just show up and run in the front of the pack with the Kenyans. There's no timing chip anyways. - This wasn't one of my favorite runs this year. Last year was better. I'm still disappointed. On a better note... - Thank you Kate for driving and meeting us at the finish line. - Thank you Vicky for cribbing Omar and I again. - Congrats to Jennifer (Omar's sister in law) on finishing the race! She jogged, speed walked the entire course in under two hours! - Yes, we all went to 99 Bottles right after! I need some beers! read more

A great 10K from Santa Cruz to Capitola. The run was relatively flat, the view was great and runners are friendly. The neighbors of Santa Cruz and Capitola root for you from their home. Some even had their hose on in a shower spray so you can go under to get a quick wet down, very appreciated when it was warming up. Many spots for water and the bands, music playing along the way make it feel like a mini..rock n' roll marathon. Some negatives: There were so many walkers/ joggers/runners, it took at least a mile + to get away from the walkers and joggers. Going on to the sand to get your tshirt and gift bag was annoying and slightly unorganized....Waiting for the shuttle to take you back to Santa Cruz after the race was a bit long but was well organized. read more

Wow, Walter's review could pretty much serve as the Wharf to Wharf bible! But just because I want to throw in my two cents about how awesome this race is... This seems like a difficult race to get super serious about, just because there are so many darn people, and it's not nearly as organized as it could be in terms of segregating the runners (people who have trained and actually care what their time is), the joggers (me and my friend! I just wanted to run all six miles without stopping, which proved pretty easy), and the walkers (guy wearing Hawaiian shirt and flip flops, Mom with her gaggle of kids and stroller, etc). I spent the majority of the race trying to navigate around walkers, especially during the absolute gridlock of the first mile, then again on all the hills. It was quite frustrating, hence the four stars instead of five. Clusterf*ck of people aside, this race rocked. You couldn't ask for more gorgeous scenery, and the locals come out in force to cheer us on. An average summer morning here starts off cool and at least a little foggy, but with the sun blazing strong on race day I really appreciated how many people were there to water us down with their garden hoses! The variety of bands that appeared seemingly around every corner also kept my feet truckin'. I had heard that veterans of this race leave a car in Capitola to avoid the shuttle... which after the half an hour wait to climb on the school bus back to SC seemed like a great idea. But since they even had a band playing in the parking lot while we waited (and we'd had a couple celebratory beers along the Esplanade) it didn't throw off our runner's high. It's a great time. read more

This is THE fun running event for your body, your mind and your spirit. I have a dozen or so events under my belt and I book my hotel a year in advance to make sure I get here. First timers, remember 3 things: 7:30 AM, a roll of quarters and water and ocean. Why? Ocean and water: names of the streets where you will park. if full, park as close to this intersection with your roll of quarters. they do ticket. a shuttle service will bring you back to this lot from the finish line. 7:30 The race parking lots fills up and as a 1st timer, you might scramble for parking and panic, especially if you've never been to sc before so get there before 7:30 for parking. the best way is to have a friend drop you off at the start and pick you up at the finish. The wait for the bus was painful! read more

I love Santa Cruz so it's hard for me to give anything in this town anything less than 4 stars. The Wharf to Wharf was the best little road race--and more! The race is relatively flat, only a couple minor hills and it's a great distance. A perfect race for starting your training for a longer race. My only critiques were that the race was a wee bit crowded. There should have been clearer instructions that walkers and slower runners should stay to the right side so others could pass. There are fun and funky bands along the way so if you don't like music, there's no need to lug along your ipod. The water stations were not very clearly marked and the water was GROSS. Definitely investing in a hydration belt next time. Make sure to sign up as soon as registration opens otherwise you might get left out! read more

This was my 27th straight Wharf to Wharf (I was a two year old when I ran 6 minute/mile pace ;-)). This is not Barf to Barf, and this is not a carnival, so people leave their costumes at home for Mardi Gras or other more notorious races. Wharf to Wharf is not an exact 10km race. However, after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earth Quake, the organizers diverted the race a little bit through the devastation of Santa Cruz's downtown, and perhaps the mileage did add up to about 6.2miles. Why am I so loyal to this run? Is it because of the now long gone free polo collared giveaways given out by now long gone high tech companies? No. It is all about running by the seaside with the Santa Cruz Wharf behind you and Capitola Wharf in front of you, with sea to the right of you and with music from conga players, to harpist (yes the classically trained ones), to the Crow's Nest cooks banging their pots, to big bands, to little bands, to bag pipers, to rock bands, to jazz bands, to soul bands, to Beatle-sound-alikes, to 14-year old garage bands, to Taiko drummers, to every form of musical instruments at every half a block on both sides of you. Except for the locals in their houses cheering us on, this race is a rush that does not require public drunkenness and outrageous costumes. Today was dominated once again by the Kenyans with a sweep at 1, 2 and 3. Silas Kipruto at 26:56, Kosgei at 27:12 and Ondara at 27:32. Another sign of the economy are the prizes. Magdalena Lewy Boulet, 37, of Oakland, won the women's race at 30:49. The top three placers earned $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. I'm sure that's plenty in Kenya. The best time for me? 37minutes. The worst time? about 3 hours, when I walked the race with a crutch...it was the race for last place between me (the gimpy guy) with a broken leg, a lady with a stroller and her German Shepard, with the street cleaning truck right behind us. The lady with the stroller beat me, but I beat the German Shepard. Today, I was injured, so I walked the race ahead of the pack and had the pleasure of seeing the Kenyans run past me. Today they were not bunched up talking among themselves about village life, today they were spread apart by about 50meters, running 4 minute/mile pace. I plan to continue running this for many more years until I'm doing so in my walker. read more

Ran my first ever Wharf To Wharf Race and it was one of the best experiences I've had running a marathon. 15K strong running from Santa Cruz to Capitola. there was never a dull moment and this is truly a community event. Ton of support from the local residents and entertainment everywhere. You'll find local bands to home owners blasting music just to entertain the runners. The 6.2 mile run is filled with scenic views, community support and good music. I'd recommend carpooling if you're going with a group. Parking isn't as bad as i thought it would be, it's the getting back part that sucks. They had shuttles picking and droping people off after the race, but it takes a while Luckily we had friends in Capitola who dropped us back to SC. If you're considering running W2W, signup as soon as registration opens up. This event always sells out. I'll be there next year! read more

What a cute race! This was the first time I had ever run the Wharf to Wharf. I knew beforehand that it was a six-mile race (just six, it's not a 10k), that goes from Santa Cruz to Capitola and that there would be bands along the course. What I didn't know was how super popular this race is and that the bands are not just your typical guitar and drum bands. The race starts at 830AM (which I think is kind of late for a race) and starts near the Santa Cruz Wharf. The website recommended arriving early and parking for free at the Santa Cruz City Hall parking lot and then taking the complimentary shuttles (yellow school buses!) to the start line. We left San Jose at 6AM just in case, got to the parking lot by 630AM, and were dropped off a few blocks from the start line in 10-15 minutes. We were suuuuuper early for the race. But better early than late, cuz I'm sure traffic on 17 would have been worse if we hadn't left early. We walked around the wharf and saw lots of sea lions! At the start line, one of the restaurants had set up tables and were selling coffee and donuts and hard-boiled eggs - that was pretty smart. There were lots of port-a-potties adjacent to the start line, but that also made it really congested in that area, so it might have been better to put them somewhere else. There were corrals at the start line, maybe four of them, on top of the Elite corral, depending on what your estimated finish time was, when you registered. I was in corral 3, and I'd say that I probably didn't actually start running until 845AM. It was super crowded, so even though it was kinda cold in the morning, it was fine in the corrals cuz of all that body heat! lol Because there were so many people, it was hard to run - I was sort of weaving in and out, trying to pass people. Everyone is running at different speeds or walking all over the course. The water stations were a bit disorganized - the first water station I had to grab my own cup and wait for someone to fill my cup with water from this hose. That was a first. Because of this, I lost some time and so I didn't even bother getting water from the second station. At the third water station, I saw volunteers passing out water so I took one there. Oh and there's no water at the finish line. Because the finish line is like on the bridge, it would've created more congestion, so they have the water on the beach where you pick up your swag bag. But aside from the hiccups, it was a fun race and everyone was having a great time. Lots of spectators are on the sidelines cheering runners on. A lot of the course is in residential areas, so you see lots of people sitting out on their driveways and watching, which was really great. Had an awesome hometown-y vibe to it. Some people had their hoses out and were spraying some of the runners who needed to cool down! And the bands were super cute! There were Scottish bagpipers, taiko drummers, a bunch of people wearing Hawaiian shirts and playing Hawaiian music, AND people just hitting pots and pans!!! Loved the variety and diversity of the bands. They also had the typical rock bands too, and those were fun as well. There was also a DJ and the SJSU marching band was there also. Another cute thing was that every mile marker was a giant balloon rainbow arch thing. That was really cute...and very visible. I loved the bands and music and the energy from the spectators watching from their homes. And a lot of the course was adjacent to the coast, so you could see the beach and the ocean, which was gorgeous! At one part, I could see the surfers out in the water, waiting to catch a wave. You get your race shirt at the end of the event, on the beach at Capitola - you turn in the strip that's on your bib, in exchange for a drawstring backpack that has your shirt and some goodies inside, including a bottle of water, a power bar, and other snackies. There are shuttles in Capitola that take you back to the parking lot in Santa Cruz, but I didn't take them, so I can't really comment on them, although my friends said that they had to wait 25 minutes to get onto a shuttle. Probably inevitable at such a popular race with 16,000 participants. read more

This was my first race two years ago.. and it was such a great experience! I enjoyed the relaxing views of the ocean and beach while running. But one thing that really stood out in my mind is the strong support you get from the local community while running this race. There are so many supporters all throughout the race. Even the people who live in the neighborhoods where the race runs through come out on their porch and look like they're at a tailgating party. Every other block or so, there is a local band (some big and some still gaining publicity) playing. I brought my mp3 player, thinking I would use it, but I never once turned it on. Definitely a memorable 6.2 miles! read more

Two words: SUPER CROWDED. This is not a race to do if you are wanting to have a PR. This was by far the most crowded race I have ever competed in. I had to run around walkers all the way to the finish line. Will probably do again but with a group and will get there early to get to the front of the line. The pacing signs are bogus. Walkers were standing around the 9:00 mile markers. On a positive, very fun race, lots and lots of live music along the way. You won't want to wear your iPod. Book your hotel super early and expect to wait in line for a while before the shuttle brings you back to SC from Capitola after the race. read more

So I'm really torn about this race. I've run in twice now and it's a great run in itself, but it's such a logistical nightmare that they haven't quite worked out still. Considering I have run the Santa Cruz Half Marathon/10K twice, these race organizers seem to have it figured out, but with Wharf to Wharf, there are still a lot of kinks in the system, even though I know changes have been made and overheard that there is a new head organizer. Bathroom lines were just ridiculous. There really needs to be volunteers who direct some traffic or something to get it moving faster. Also, the put in place the corral system, which I initially thought was awesome. HOWEVER, I was assigned Corral 2, but literally couldn't get to my starting corral because people STOPPED on the sidewalks and the street. I couldn't maneuver my way around them to get to my corral. Maybe I just wasn't aggressive enough. I started with Corral 3. The timing for corrals was great though. They let us go ever couple of minutes which definitely helped prevent a bottle neck close to the first bridge. My first year, I started walking during this part because there was so many people. So that's improvement #1. THERE WERE SO MANY WALKERS AND THEY WALKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I'm all for having walkers, but MOVE TO THE SIDE! During mile 2, I was weaving in and out of large groups of walkers. I wanted to run and I cared about my time, but so much wasted energy trying to get around groups of 3+ in the middle of the road. ALSO, because there was so much weaving, I was actually tripped in the middle of the race from someone trying to get past walkers near me. Race etiquette for walkers needs to be emphasized more! Photographers...So I know that pictures aren't supposed to be great while running a race, but these photos turned out awful because you couldn't tell when they were actually going to take the photo. No true way to prepare for it because from what it looked like, they took the photos much earlier than I thought they were. Just yuck. And the end is just a nightmare - way too many people in Capitola. It's overwhelming. Get your goody bag and get out as soon as possible! But before you all write this off as a bad idea, the best parts about this race: - The local bands and musical groups - so awesome! - The great views - beaches, ocean, locals. - The awesome shirts - $35 - one of the cheapest races in the area - The weather - it's usually overcast and the perfect temp. So if you can get past all the other crappy stuff, it's worth it. read more

My only issue is I wish there were more port a pottys. And places to have brunch in Capitola. The course is harder in the beginning. The finish is smooooooth sailing. I got so busy working for the man that I was not a registered runner, but Pumpkin K kindly gave me her shirt. :) read more

This 6 mile race along the scenic Santa Cruz / Capitola beach is great for anyone from the competitive, hard-core runner to the recreational runner. The terrain is mostly flat, so the run makes for an enjoyable experience. Entry fee is $30, and all finishers of the race receive a gift pack which comes with a T-Shirt, snacks and beverages. It was great seeing all the locals cheer us on while spraying cool water on us. The rock bands were also great; it seemed like there was one every tenth of a mile. A great way to get some exercise during the summer, Wharf To Wharf Race is definitely worth checking out. By the way, I finished with a time of 58m:55s. read more

Because of this race, I had to stay somewhat sober on my birthday the day before. There was ample parking at the designated free parking lots but you have to take a yellow school bus to the wharf. Just remember where you parked because when they dropped us back from Capitola, we were lucky to have run into some friends with a car! It was gloomy for July but was good for a 10k run. There were ALOT of people so it was crowded. Hardly any room to do some pre-running stretching. Some people were dressed like they running Bay to Breakers. There were big mile makers every mile which was nice. Water stations every 2 miles. Running the Oakland Half Marathon spoiled me because there were no water, power bars, fruit, and as much love as at the Oakland Half. Sure there were bands playing and people cheering along the way but I was more annoyed by the people walking on the LEFT side which i kept trying to go around. If you drive, you know if you drive slow that you should stay to the RIGHT. Its already super crowded, it was hard trying to go around people who are walking. Know your race etiquette, people!! I dont remember how many near accidents I had while running. $35 dollars to register but register early because they sell out fast. You get a cotton tshirt which you pick up after the race along with nutrients and water. I was hoping to get a medal to add to my collection but NOPE... no medal.. no fruit bites after the race or sports drink to rehydrate. The line was ridiculously long to get onto a shuttle ALL the way back to the Santa Cruz. Then they only drop you off at one parking lot so you're on your own figuring out where you parked! read more

The Wharf to Wharf is a fantastic 6 mile run from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to Capitola. My friends ans I drove down from Sacramento to do this race and had a blast. Not only is it a great course- but there is a lot of entertainment and spectators (many drinking- at 9 a.m.!) cheering the runners/walkers on. My only complaint is that there were too many walkers who would walk 4 or so people across, making it hard to get around them. Generaly when doing a race, its common courtesy for participants to let faster people get around them by staying to the side to allow room to pass. Otherwise- I loved this race and am planning on coming back to do it again next year! read more

Although this year's race was inferno hot it is a beautiful course along the water. The run definitely has some "bumps" but no major hills besides the loooong downhill at the very end. The bag of goodies at the end of the race was really nice (love the towel!), but the best part was that a guy who I'd noticed during the race came up to me after to thank me because he'd been using me to pace the entire time and had shaved 5 minutes off his best time. Ahhhh. Official time: 53 minutes. When I actually crossed the start to finish line: 48. That's 8 minute miles in 80 degree weather, baby! read more

Ran it last weekend and had a blast! I really had no idea what to expect as this was my first race. Definitely not for the super serious runner, although I trained and was committed to running the whole thing. Had to bob and weave a bit and due to the sheer number of people in the beginning we all had to walk a bit too. I would say that 2/3 of the 1st mile were spent walking or jogging very slowly. My time when I crossed the finish line was 1:07, however I am subtracting 10 minutes for the slow start. Yes! 0:57...not bad for a husky white guy with short legs! I won't get into it too much, because others have already discussed, but there was so much to see along the course (bands, performers, people spraying us with hoses and sprinklers, etc.) that it really did make time fly. Looking forward to running it next year...as long as Cynthia runs it again too! read more

Oooh, so fun. It's definitely good to approach it from the mindset of "fun run" and not "race." Every year there are loads of people at the front, in like the 7 and 8 minute mile pace groups, and when the gun goes off they start... walking. I'm not sure what the objection is to walking in the "walking" section (e.g. behind the runners), but the best thing to do is just unclench and go with the flow. I've done it alone and gone with friends, and it's much better to go with friends. Register early, it sells out ever year! read more

My first run. woo hoo & it was awesome! Ran the 6 mi run last year and I definitely will be running again this year. The run is a lot of fun - bands are playing, people are cheering you on, juice, water, & fruit is provided all along the run. Some people running half naked, some people running in crazy costumes - pure ENTERTAINMENT. Nothing inappropriate whatsoever. The run is pretty easy. It's all pavement and nothing too difficult. There's a hill here or there, but nothing too tiring. I didn't prep too much just a few miles/week. Definitely a good run for a first timer. A lot of fun, nice people, good music, etc. Must do it at least once if your lifetime. Oh and when you finish the run, you're given a gift bag with a t-shirt, juice, fruit bars, cereal bars, etc. YAY! read more

The Good: Nice locals will shoot sprinklers and water hoses into the mass of runners. Pleasing scenery. Nice people. Live music along the way. The Bad: Crowded. No free bottled water at the end for non-registered runners. The Ugly: Me after running 6 miles. read more

This is a fun race with a nice view, but it is SO crowded. The course is not meant to hold 15,000 people at a time so you gotta push your way through if you want a good race time (no chip). A couple of hills and a nice downhill finish. Good support and a cotton t-shirt. The poster , done by a local artist, is usually pretty cool. Weather is pretty consistent and again, the view is awesome--makes you appreciate living in California. Logistics are kind of a pain--no place to leave a car at the end, so you have to find someone to pick you up. Therefore, I only do this race if a group of us is going so we can get cover this kind of stuff. Make sure to also bring snacks! By the time you get to a brunch spot, you'll be starving! read more

I came expecting to get a quick warm up run before the SF half marathon the following Sunday. This was quite a nice run. The route was scenic as it ran along the side of the boardwalk, up the hills, through the neighborhoods, and next to the beaches. The hills were not bad at all. There are some logistics issues though. If you get caught in the back, you'll have to swim your way through walkers and people pushing strollers (I still don't even know why they allow strollers along the same path. It not only slows you down, but serves as a hazard). Walkers I don't mind too much because they are trying, but please move to the right and let us pass on the left! Also, it would be nice to get a medal of some sort! Hardware is always nice! Shuttles were fine. Yeah its a long line, but there are a lot of people to move! The line moved pretty easily without too much hassle. read more

Best little road race in all of California. If you are regularly rocking races, coming in third behind the Kenyans, this race is not for you. If you're like the rest of and like to run AND still have fun, this is your event. This is a modest little 10k, with a few hills, people dressed as jelly fish, a free-beer en route (just ask a crowd member), and some awesome music! The event cap for this race is 15,000 runners, although about 30,000 usually run the event anyways. I recommend registering. You have a chance to win a trip to Hawaii, and a chance to be a supportive member of the racing society. Registration is April 1, and typically sells out in the first month, if not sooner. Post race schwag includes a T-Shirt and some Martinelli's apple juice (mmmm), and don't forget you end up in downtown Capitola, where there is lots of fun to be had! All-in-all, this is an awesome, crowded, good-times 10k. read more

Just ran the 2009 Wharf to Wharf for the first time (in fact, it's my first race ever) and I loved it. I had been training to run a 10 min/mi and since they have people announcing the time at the 1, 2 and 4 mi marks, I could easily track my progress. The bands that played along the ocean front view were really good and there was a huge variety of music. I only wish I could now find out how to hear more of their music. Is there a legend or key for determining who was playing where? This year the weather was pretty overcast (as I assume it is most years) so the plentiful water tables, people spraying hoses, and locals giving away sliced oranges and strawberries is a great treat, but I basically just ran past them all. At some point I got hot enough to run through a hose spray, but I could have lived without it. Picking up the goodie bag at the end was easy, and since my fiance's cousin lives in Capitola, we all had a convenient place to shower and change before going out for a hearty brunch. Boris and Briana, you guys rock! read more

First time running this race and I had fun. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was a lot better than I had imagined. I have a lot of thoughts on this event but for the sake of others, I'll just make this an abbreviated list. GOOD: - Cheap event, great crowd/band and scenery, plenty of water of official and unofficial water stations, nice running weather (a bit on the cooler side) free t-shirt and goodies at the end of the race. -Fun, easy run with very manageable rolling hills. NOT SO MUCH (nothing was really BAD): - Slower runners and walkers in the beginning, although it was kind of fun weaving through them like a running back. - I was told by a racing official that no jogging strollers were allowed and I wanted to run with my 1 year old son. Then I see a boat load of strollers =(. "LET ME RUN!" TIPS: - If you're serious about time, get a red bib. Red bib = go to the front of the line. I was told by other racers that you get one based on what you estimate your finishing time to be (I put 42:00 with the intention of running with my son). I didn't go up front because I had a hairline fibula fracture, so I just lined up in between the 6 and 7 minute mile group. Unfortunately, I didn't cross the starting line until about 1:30 - 2:00 minutes later. - Go in a group, carpool or get dropped off. There's parking on the streets starting about a mile back from the starting line which may serve as a good warm-up for some. - Get there early (earlier). Left the south bay around 730, got there around 815. Enough time to empty the plumbing and line up. Overall, I enjoyed it. I'll definitely run it next year, with my son in a jogging stroller. read more