Little Wharf 3-Miler

RACE DATE: September 23, 2023
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.

START CORRALS: The Little Wharf 3-Miler starting area is separated into self-assigned corrals in order to organize everyone by their run/walk pace, and to prevent congestion. When you arrive, please pick the appropriate pace area for your current ability.

*As stated on our registration page, on our website and in our Race Instructions, Joggers/Strollers and dogs are not permitted and will not be allowed to enter the Start Corral under any circumstance. This is a safety policy.

BIB NUMBERS: DON’T FORGET YOUR BIB NUMBER! Your bib number is your ticket to access all race venues, including your ticket onto the shuttle buses before and after the race! The timing chip strip on the back will record your official starting-line-to-finish-line race time enabling you to check your results online.

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.