Nisene Marks Marathon/Half/5K

100 Aptos Creek Rd
Aptos, CA 95003

Running > 5k, Half Marathon, Marathon

Registration Powered by Active.com

Event Description

The Nisene Marks races include a 5k, trail half marathon and trail marathon. The setting for all three races is the beatiful Nisene Marks State Park, host to acres of redwood trees, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the small beachtown of Aptos, CA. The event beneifts the Lions Club of Santa Cruz, a nonprofit organization that works to help the seeing-impaired community.

All race finishers are awarded a finisher's medal, and a technical t-shirt is included in your race entry free. Overall winners of the half and marathon receive the coveted winner's jacket. Great prizes will be raffled off during the afternoon- stay for the post-race party!. There are no age group awards for this event.


The 5K is an out and back on mostly paved road, and includes 2 small hills. (Net elevation gain ~150ft). Walkers, hikers, strollers are welcome. Sorry, no dogs.

The half marathon is a lollipop course on ~7miles of paved road and dirt fireroad and 6 miles of single track trail. Elevation gain is around ~2400ft. The cut-off is 6.5 hours, and hikers are welcome. No dogs or strollers.

The marathon is a part out and back and part looped course, ascending to the Sand Point overlook. It includes rouhgly 3100ft of elevation gain. About 18 miles are on dirt fire road, and 6 miles on single track trail. The cut-off is 7 hours. No dogs or strollers.

Event details and schedule

All races begin in the Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Rd, Aptos, CA 95003.

Packet pick-up will occur at Fleet Feet Aptos on Friday, June 3rd between 2 and 6pm, and again on race day morning starting at 6:30AM. If you register before April 15, you are guaranteed to get the size of shirt you ordered.

The Start Times are as follows:

Marathon: 8:00AM

Half marathon: 8:30AM

5K: 9:00AM


Event Location & Accomodations


Connect on Social