Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Sees Over 18% Increase in Participants at 35th Annual Event

January 21, 2025

The oceanfront event welcomed over 7,100 participants

CARLSBAD, Calif. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The 35th annual Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K welcomed over 7,100 participants from around the nation, over 18% higher than last year’s attendance of 6,000. Runners could choose from multiple distances, including a marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 5K (3.1 miles). Participants also had the opportunity to participate in the Double Down Challenge, which consists of running both the 5K and the half marathon on race day, completing a total of 16.2 miles. Over 150 participants took part in the challenge and were awarded three medals, one for each race distance and a third “Double Down” medal to signify their accomplishment.

All race distances started at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. The marathon distance featured an 18-mile stretch along the Pacific Ocean, the half marathon showcasing the beachfront for 8 miles, while the 5K took runners on an out-and-back route passing the scenic Buena Vista Lagoon. Runners also enjoyed local entertainment featured throughout each course.

Nicholas Spector, the men’s marathon champion and overall first-place finisher, completed the 26.2 miles in 2:33:33. Coming in after Nicholas was the men’s marathon second-place finisher, Blake Dunkleberger. Tesfaye Wosene took the third-place spot for the men’s marathon. The women’s marathon course was led by Jenna Gasparrini, who finished with a time of 2:58:10. Second and third-place finishers for the women’s marathon were Shannon Clancy and Sarah Myers.

Kritin Karkare claimed first in the marathon non-binary division with a time of 3:30:43. Other notable finishes in the non-binary fields included half marathon first and second-place finishers Bander Mefreh and Nick Schneider.

The men’s half marathon division was led by Dylan Marx, who finished with a time of 1:07:06, while Carlsbad resident Phoebe Massey led the women’s division with a time of 1:20:54. First-place finishers of the men’s and women’s 5K were Eddie Ramos with a time of 15:49, and Stefanie Cullingford who finished in 17:55.

The weekend of events also featured the Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND® California Resort, which brought in over 3,000 people on event day. The Kids Marathon Mile took place before the Park opened to guests, providing a unique and exclusive opportunity for participants to race through LEGOLAND® California. A portion of each registration for the Kids Marathon Mile was donated directly to Merlin’s Magic Wand, the official charity partner of the event. Merlin’s Magic Wand Foundation is a non-profit organization that works globally across all Merlin attractions to create magical experiences for children who need them most through three magical programs.

The Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K is also a part of In Motion Events’ San Diego Foundation SoCal Triple Crown race series, which also includes the GOVX San Diego Half Marathon & 5K, and the America’s Finest City Half Marathon & 5K. This trio offers a variety of courses and scenery throughout San Diego, providing athletes with a fun and unique running experience in distinct parts of the city and county. Athletes who participate in each race in the same calendar year, no matter the distance they participate in, will be awarded a San Diego Foundation SoCal Triple Crown medal to celebrate their accomplishment of completing the race series. The next race in the series will be the GOVX San Diego Half Marathon & 5K on March 24, and registration is now open.

For more information about In Motion Events, please visit www.inmotionevents.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

About The Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K and In Motion Events

The Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K is a scenic winter race that covers over 18 miles of breathtaking ocean views with outstanding course support and entertainment. The race is produced by In Motion Events, a full-service, turnkey event marketing and management firm based in San Marcos. The family-owned and operated business has been working with Southern California-based races and events since 1981. In Motion Events’ mission is to produce the very best running and walking events possible that are a credit to their company, to their sponsors and to the community in which they are held. For more information on In Motion Events, visit www.InMotionEvents.com.

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