Interested in running 13.1 miles from SLO to Avila? You’re in luck, because Cuesta College’s City to the Sea half marathon and 5K races are back after taking a hiatus in 2024.
This year, Natalie Rodriguez is helping organize the Nov. 16 event. She became a leader in the San Luis Obispo running community when starting the Run SLO Club last year, a casual and inclusive running group that’s free and open to all levels of runners.
Rodriguez said she sees the return of City to the Sea as a way to connect the community.
“Running has become a little bit more popular, in my opinion, with run clubs and … I think people are starting to realize the impact the running community has, which is awesome,” she said. “I love to see it. I love seeing people come together. And so having a race this local really brings that out.”
City to the Sea half marathon and 5K races started in 1995 as a way to help fundraise for the Cuesta College cross country and track teams, and the fundraising focus
still continues to today.
“It’s really important to the race directors and to the community to support Cuesta College and their cross country and track teams,” she said. “That’s the main significance, is to really highlight the fundraising aspect toward the teams.”
The tradition has continued since 1995 except for last year when the race was canceled due to permitting and parking issues, Rodriguez said.
In the past, the half marathon race had started in downtown SLO and ended near Dinosaur Caves Park near Pismo Beach. This year, the race will start at Mission Plaza and end at the Avila Beach resort.
Along the 13.1-mile journey, Rodriguez said runners will pass some of SLO’s most iconic sites, like the Fremont Theater, High Street Deli, Sunset Drive-In, and the Bob Jones Trail.
“We really wanted to showcase San Luis Obispo for people who are traveling outside of town, just to really capture the essence of SLO as you’re racing through downtown,” Rodriguez said.
The race’s absence last year didn’t go unnoticed, Rodriguez said, as the event now has more than 1,000 registered runners after opening in May.
“That is a record in terms of the timeline,” she said. “I feel like that truly reflects, A, just how excited people are, and B, just how much people have gotten into the sport and really enjoy that community aspect. It’s really cool to see.”
The group hopes to sell out the event this year, which hasn’t happened since 2014, Rodriguez said, with the half marathon capped at 2,500 participants and the 5K at 500.
“People are also gathering their own groups and planning to race together,” Rodriguez said. “So I’m hoping to also reach other run clubs throughout California and let them know we’d love to have your run club. Like, let’s make this bigger and better sort of thing.”
While 13.1 miles can feel terrifying, or even borderline impossible, Rodriguez said Cuesta College has an online training program that’s designed to help prepare all runners to reach their goal, whether it’s meeting a certain time or even just completing the race. The program starts on Aug. 11 and supports runners right up to race day for $46.
For those not feeling up to the challenge but still want to be involved, Rodriguez said the race needs volunteers to help set up, take down, and hand out water and snacks at the stops every mile. They also need pacers to help runners gauge their running pace.
General registration for the race is open now through October, where it will then head into late registration prices. Registration will be open as long as there are open spots, Rodriguez said.
For more information, visit the race’s new website at: citytothesearun.com.
Fast fact
• On June 27, the California State Library Parks Pass program was reinstated into the California state budget after being cut a few weeks ago. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the budget bill shortly after legislative approval, officially securing funding for the $6.75 million program through Dec. 31, 2026. According to the California State Parks Foundation, 8,000 Californians use the program each year. For more information about the pass visit: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30806. Δ
Reach Staff Writer Libbey Hanson at lhanson@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Jul 3-13, 2025.