2025 Little Wharf 3-Miler
RACE DATE: September 27, 2025
START TIME: 8:00am
Race Details
LOCATION: The Little Wharf Race starts at the East Cliff Village Shopping Center (21511 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062) and finishes inside Capitola Village in the Capitola Esplanade.
GETTING TO THE START LINE (Parking & Shuttles): Since the East Cliff Village Shopping Center (21511 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062) will not be available for participants to park on race day due to the build and setup of the start line, there will be very little parking available in and around the Start Line. Therefore, we encourage participants to utilize the complimentary, pre-race shuttles available at the Capitola Mall. They will be running from 6:00am until 7:30am.
THE COURSE
COURE DETAILS: The net downhill, coastal three-mile race is a great opportunity to run fast and take in the beauty of the Santa Cruz & Capitola coastline. Early Fall presents some of the best weather in the county, so you are likely going to experience beautiful weather out on the course.
START: The race begins East Cliff Village Shopping Center
MILE 1: The first mile is net downhill, but has rolling hills along the ocean, passing by Blacks Beach, Sunny Cove Beach, and Moe’s Beach at the Corcoran Lagoon, before finishing at 26th Beach.
MILE 2: Mile 2 starts with a small hill, but is mostly flat, hugging the coastline on East Cliff Drive at Pleasure Point, home of the legendary surf spots, “The Hook“ and “Pleasure Point.”
MILE 3: The final mile drifts through local seaside streets… once the ocean reappears; it’s a big downhill past the Capitola Wharf and into the Esplanade.
FINISH: The Finish Line is on Capitola Esplanade in the Capitola Village.
For your safety, the course is closed to all vehicular traffic, including skateboards, bikes, wagons, wheelbarrows, roller skates/blades and baby jogger/strollers. Pets are prohibited. Mile posts are marked and splits will be called at each mile. All participants must maintain a 20-minute-per-mile pace.
FIRST AID: Help is always at hand. Emergency medical services are available on course and at the FINISH. Watch for running medics with fanny packs and specially marked tee shirt interspersed throughout the field.
WATER STATION: There will be 1 water station available on course around 1.5 miles into the race. Water will also be available at the finish line.
THE FINISH
FINISH & POST-RACE: The Finish Line is on Capitola Esplanade in the Capitola Village. Race finishers get food, water, finishers medal and Capitola Beach Bag after they finish. The top 30 overall male and female finishers will receive a coveted Top 30 Top provided by ASICS apparel.