More than 10,000 runners take over Pacific Coast Highway on picture-perfect morning in Huntington Beach
HUNTINGTON BEACH – September 20, 2026 – Runners, by nature, are self-motivated. You have to be to step out of bed while it’s still dark and hit the road for a workout before your first sip of coffee. But Rosie Edwards carried some extra motivation for Sunday morning’s Surf City 10. The 38-year-old, who was born in England and lives in Arizona, had a plane to catch.
America’s oldest 10-mile race started at 6:30 a.m. Edwards scheduled a car to pick her up at 8 a.m. in order to catch a 9:30 a.m. flight to Arizona.
So Edwards powered to the finish line in 58 minutes, 10 seconds to win the women’s 10-mile race. Why the rush to get home? She needed to celebrate her son Leo’s first birthday.
“I’ve got to get back to give him a cuddle, then we’re taking him to Maine on a little vacation,” Edwards said.
Sunday marked the 70th running of the Surf City 10, making it not only the United States’ oldest 10-miler but Orange County’s oldest race of any distance. On a picture-perfect running morning in Huntington Beach – cool, with no breeze and the pier, ocean and palm trees as a backdrop – a record 10,000 runners turned out for the 5K, 10K and 10-mile races.
The turnout represented a more than 50% increase in participation over 2025.
Women’s 10K winner Katie Alvarenga of Northridge summed up why so many runners hit the scenic Pacific Coast Highway layout.
“It’s the place to be,” said Alvarenga, 29, who won her first-ever race in 37:04, more than a minute ahead of runner-up Renee Funston. “There’s the palm trees, everyone is cheering. There’s the fresh breeze of the ocean. Whenever you’re hurting, you just know the water’s right there, how good it sounds. Roll with it like the waves.”
Gabriel Ferreyra, 28, of Perris won the men’s 10K for the second year in a row, this time in 33:45.
“I just came for the vibe,” Ferreyra said. “Great atmosphere, fast course, perfect weather. I love everything about this race.”
Edwards raved about the energy of the runners and spectators.
“The great thing about it being an out-and-back is on the way back the crowd support was so nice,” she said. “I was trying to concentrate but also smiling because everyone was so kind and cheering us on. I just love running along this coastline.”
Jennifer Cardenas-Sandoval of Fontana finished second in the women’s 10-mile, just 19 seconds behind Edwards.
Jonathan Velasco, 26, of San Marcos won the men’s 10-mile in 47:59. A former runner at Wake Forest, Velasco loved the race’s inclusiveness.
“It’s a wide range of runners,” he said. “I see people who look like they’ve never run before and high-level runners. Just be out here. Don’t be afraid to put on those shoes.”
Andi Aguilar, 38, of Aliso Viejo won the women’s 5K in 20:26, just three seconds ahead of 46-year-old Sara Schaible of Costa Mesa.
“I just went for it and saw if I could hang on,” Aguilar said. “It’s high energy, great vibes from everyone. There’s tons of runners from all backgrounds and running levels. Everyone’s out here to do their best and everyone’s out cheering each other on.”
Asked why she keeps coming back, Schaible said, “Why not? It’s close, it’s so well organized. It has a hometown feel. Me and my friends, we run races every month, and we just keep coming back to this one.”
Jake Ogen of Aliso Viejo won the men’s 5K in 16:18.
The Surf City 10 will return for its 71st running on Sept. 19, 2027. For complete race results, photos and more information, visit www.SurfCity10.com.