✊ Juneteenth — June 19, 1865 · The Day Freedom Was Proclaimed — On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were free — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, a day of celebration, reflection, and community. Run Juneteenth Day invites participants of all ages, paces, and backgrounds to lace up their shoes and run together — honoring resilience, freedom, and the ongoing work of justice. Whether you race the half marathon or walk the 5K, every mile matters.
The Run Juneteenth Day 5K/10K/13.1 in Los Angeles runs on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from Palisades Park in Santa Monica — one of Southern California's most iconic running spots, perched on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean with sweeping views of the water and the Santa Monica coastline. Organized by The Best Races, the event welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. The 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon courses are fast and flat along the coastal paths and greenways, with the course map emailed to all registered participants. Three wave times let everyone find their pace: 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, and 8:30 AM. Late runners are welcome — race coordinators stay on-site for 3 hours after the first wave. Every participant receives swag shipped directly to their US address: a running T-shirt, finisher's medal, and finisher's towel or giveaway. A digital training pack and invitation to a local running club are included. The virtual option lets participants run from anywhere in the lead-up to race day.
Wave Start Times
Email info@thebestraces.com to request your preferred wave time. Waves fill on a first-come, first-serve basis. Late runners accepted — coordinators remain 3 hours after Wave A. Course map emailed to all participants the Wednesday before the race.
What Every Participant Receives
👕
Running T-Shirt
Shipped to your address · US only
🏅
Finisher's Medal
Custom Juneteenth edition
🎁
Finisher's Towel
Or giveaway · All distances
📱
Digital Pack
Training pack + results certificate
HALF
MARATHON
13.1 mi
Sat. June 20, 2026 — Palisades Park, Santa Monica — Wave A/B/C start
13.1 miles · Coastal paths + greenways · Course map emailed Wednesday before race · No packet pickup · Bibs on race day · T-shirt + medal + towel shipped · Digital training pack · Local running club invite · Optional technical shirt +$5 · RunSignUp
10K
6.2 mi
Sat. June 20, 2026 — Palisades Park, Santa Monica — Wave A/B/C
10K (6.2 miles) · Fast & flat coastal course · Course map emailed · No packet pickup · T-shirt + medal + towel shipped · RunSignUp
5K
3.1 mi
Sat. June 20, 2026 — Palisades Park, Santa Monica — Waves 7:30–8:30 AM
5K (3.1 miles) · Coastal greenway · All ages and paces welcome · Walk or run · T-shirt + medal + towel shipped · RunSignUp
FAMILY
1-MILE
FUN RUN
Sat. June 20, 2026 — Palisades Park — Open to all ages
1 mile · Family-friendly · All ages welcome · Walk, jog, or run · Juneteenth community celebration · Santa Monica coastal backdrop
VIRTUAL
RUN
Virtual · Run anywhere · 5K, 10K, or 13.1 · Up to race day
Virtual option available · Run anywhere, anytime leading up to June 20 · Submit your time online · T-shirt shipped to US address · Digital training pack + online certificate · RunSignUp
Location: Palisades Park, Santa Monica, California (90401) · Course map emailed the Wednesday before the race. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026. Events: 5K · 10K · 13.1 Half Marathon · Family 1-Mile Fun Run · Virtual Run. Wave times: Wave A 7:30 AM · Wave B 8:00 AM · Wave C 8:30 AM · Late runners welcome (coordinators stay 3 hours after Wave A). Wave request: info@thebestraces.com (first-come, first-serve). Packet pickup: NONE required — race bibs provided on race day at the event. Swag (all participants): Running T-shirt shipped to US address (the week of your race) + finisher's medal + finisher's towel or giveaway + digital training pack + online results certificate. Optional upgrade: Technical running shirt +$5 (lightweight, moisture-wicking). Last-minute registration: Accepted — note shirt may arrive after race day. Virtual: Run or walk 5K, 10K, or 13.1 anywhere leading up to race day. Refunds: No refunds unless Refund Protection Program enrolled at registration. Significance: Juneteenth — June 19, 1865 — Federal Holiday since 2021. Organizer: The Best Races (thebestraces.com) · @thebestraces. Results: RunSignUp · runsignup.com/Race/Results/Overview/194594 · thebestraces.com/results.
Race Overview
| Event |
Distance · Format |
Start · Course · Info |
| Half Marathon 13.1 MI JUNETEENTH |
13.1 mi · In-person |
Waves 7:30–8:30 AM · Palisades Park · Course map emailed · T-shirt + medal |
| 10K 6.2 MI |
10K · In-person |
Waves 7:30–8:30 AM · Coastal paths · Santa Monica · T-shirt + medal |
| 5K 3.1 MI |
5K · In-person |
Waves 7:30–8:30 AM · All paces welcome · Walk or run · T-shirt + medal |
| Family 1-Mile Fun Run 1 MI |
1 mile · All ages |
Sat. June 20 · Palisades Park · Community celebration · All abilities |
| Virtual Run VIRTUAL |
Any distance |
Run anywhere · Submit time online · T-shirt shipped · Certificate |
| JUNETEENTH 2026 Palisades Park · Santa Monica CA · Freedom · Resilience · Community · The Best Races · RunSignUp · June 19, 1865 |
Running gear — i-Run Run the Santa Monica coastline from Palisades Park — find the right road running shoe for California's iconic blufftop paths. i-Run, running specialist. International shipping.
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