What a day, San Diego! 🌴🏁

The 2026 GOVX San Diego Half Marathon & 5K delivered everything we love about this race: perfect running weather, incredible community energy, inspiring stories on every mile, and a finish line celebration that did not disappoint.

Thousands of runners took to the streets for the 15th annual event, turning downtown San Diego into a moving celebration of determination, friendship, remembrance, and joy.

Half marathoners experienced one of Southern California’s most iconic urban routes, running miles of waterfront, passing historic neighborhoods, cruising through parks, and finishing beneath the famous Gaslamp Quarter arch. Meanwhile, 5K participants enjoyed a fast, flat downtown course that welcomed runners, walkers, families, and first-timers alike.

From sunrise over the bay to the final stretch through cheering crowds, the city showed off in a big way.

This year, San Diego runners came out strong, sweeping top finishes across divisions. 

 

Men’s Half Marathon Champion
Medhane Woldu — 1:07:36

 

Women’s Half Marathon Champion
Madison Tanner — 1:22

 

Top Nonbinary Finisher
Eric Mott — 1:56:36

 

In the 5K, local runners Cesar Palomares and Lexi Evans led the men’s and women’s fields, while Scott Johnson topped the nonbinary division.

Before half marathon runners even took their first steps, the morning began with a moving tribute.

This year’s race featured a partnership with wear blue: run to remember, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring fallen military members. Participants gathered for a Circle of Remembrance ceremony, reflecting on the service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our country.

It was a meaningful reminder of the deeper reasons many participants run.

Every bib tells a story, and this year was full of unforgettable ones. Over 1,000 runners were part of the Half Marathon Legacy Program, returning year after year to keep their streak alive. Among them were 168 athletes who have participated in every single year since the race began. Thank you to all our year 15 Legacy runners – now collectively known as Legacy Legends! 

And one couple made headlines for an especially memorable race day…

Matt and Kasie Sopha ran the half marathon together in the morning, wearing custom “bride” and “groom” shirts, before heading off to their wedding ceremony that evening. Joined by members of their wedding party on the course and guests waiting at the finish line, they truly turned race day into the start of a new chapter.

Crossing under the Gaslamp arch never gets old. Runners were greeted with cheers, medals, music, and a festival atmosphere that turned exhaustion into celebration.

The finish line festival featured:

Friends reunited, families celebrated, and thousands of finish-line photos were taken as runners soaked in the accomplishment of their miles.

The GOVX San Diego Half Marathon & 5K is the second race in the SoCal Triple Crown series. Athletes who complete this race along with the Carlsbad Marathon and the America’s Finest City Half Marathon in the same year earn a special Triple Crown medal.

Last year, over 1,300 runners completed the three-race challenge, and participation continues to grow.

If you want to experience the excitement again or watch the action you missed, you can view the half marathon livestream here:

👉 Watch the Half Marathon Start Live Replay

Events like this don’t happen without an incredible community. Thank you to the runners, volunteers, sponsors, spectators, first responders, and city partners who made the day possible. Whether you ran for a personal record, a loved one, your Legacy streak, or simply the joy of moving through a beautiful city with thousands of others, we are honored you chose to spend your morning with us. Until next year, keep running, keep training, and keep chasing that finish line feeling!