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America's Finest City Half Marathon & 5K: A Local's Race Guide
William Routt·Jul 22, 2026·5 min.
Everything you need to know about the AFC Half Marathon & 5K — San Diego's most scenic point-to-point half, from Cabrillo National Monument to a Balboa Park finish, plus a fast, flat 5K.
If there's one race that shows off the whole city, this is it. The America's Finest City Half Marathon & 5K — "AFC" to locals — runs on Sunday, August 16, 2026, and it's about as scenic as a half marathon gets. The point-to-point course starts high on the tip of Point Loma at Cabrillo National Monument and winds down through Fort Rosecrans, along San Diego Bay and Harbor Island, past the Star of India, through downtown, and finishes in the heart of Balboa Park. Put on by In Motion Events, it's a genuine San Diego institution — 2026 marks its 49th year, and it's been run every summer since 1978.
The half is the headliner, but the 5K is a fast, flat, fun loop through Balboa Park that's perfect for all levels. Both finish in the park with a full celebration. Here's how the morning works.
The draw here is the course — widely considered San Diego's most beautiful half. You start some 300 feet above the ocean at Cabrillo National Monument, with sweeping views of the Pacific and San Diego Bay, then descend through historic Fort Rosecrans and down the Point Loma peninsula. From there it's a bayfront tour: North Harbor Drive, a loop around Harbor Island, a pass by the Star of India, and a run through downtown before the triumphant finish in Balboa Park amid cheering crowds, live music, and celebration.
It's also a race with real history and heart. Established in 1978 and run every year since, the AFC Half has long raised funds for local causes — its primary beneficiaries are the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation and Friends of Balboa Park. And it carries series bragging rights: this is the final leg of the SoCal Triple Crown, so plenty of runners cross this finish line completing something bigger.
The 5K keeps it simple and celebratory — a fast, flat loop through Balboa Park that lands you at the same finish-line festival, making it a great option for first-timers, families, and anyone who wants the AFC experience without the 13.1.
→ Register for the Half or 5K on Race Roster
Every entry comes with a technical short-sleeve shirt, a finisher's medal, and a souvenir reusable grocery bag. The finish line in Balboa Park is where it all comes together: chocolate milk, a pre-stuffed finish-line food bag, a DJ, and a beer garden for finishers 21 and older (bring ID). Both distances end in the park, so it's an easy place to relax, celebrate, and reunite with your crew.
A couple of extras worth knowing:
Whether you're chasing the Triple Crown or just want the prettiest 13.1 in the city, AFC is a San Diego summer tradition worth doing at least once. For more of what's happening around town, browse our full event calendar — and if that Point Loma start has you dreaming, start with our Point Loma neighborhood guide.
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