Long Beach Labor Day Run - Merging Forces
Monday, September 7, 2026
Shoreline Aquatic Park, 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
📍 Shoreline Village, Long Beach, CA
Events
Kids Dash (400-yard dash)
Price:
$16.90
incl. $1.90 Fee
Time:
9:15AM PDT
- 9:30AM PDT
Registration ends September 7, 2026 at 6:00am PDT
Virtual 5K -10K
Price:
$43.40
incl. $3.40 Fee
Time:
8:00AM PDT
- 10:25AM PDT
Registration ends September 7, 2026 at 5:00am PDT
Event Description
💛 Labor of Love – Merging Forces 5K, 10K & Kids Dash
📅 Labor Day — Monday, September 7, 2026
📍 Shoreline Aquatic Park / Shoreline Village
200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Celebrate Labor Day on the Long Beach waterfront with a morning of running, walking, music, community, and purpose!
The inaugural Labor of Love – Merging Forces Run starts near the iconic lighthouse at Shoreline Village and takes participants through one of the most beautiful areas of Long Beach before heading onto the scenic beach path.
With waterfront views, professional chip timing, custom race swag, free photos, music, vendors, awards, and plenty of CaliFlow energy at the finish line, this is more than just a run — it's a Labor Day morning you'll remember.
Participant Parking in Parking Structure
⏰ RACE DAY SCHEDULE
Same Day Registration- Bib Pick Up Opens 6:30 AM
5K & 10K Start — 8:00 AM
Age Group Medal Pickup — Beginning at 9:00 AM
Kids Dash — 9:15 AM
Overall Awards Ceremony — 9:30 AM
✨ WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
✔️ Professional ChronoTrack Chip Timing
✔️ Instant Race Results available within minutes of finishing
✔️ Custom Finisher Medal
✔️ Custom Race Shirt
✔️ Winner Trophies - Top 3 Male and Female Each Distance ( Gun Time)
✔️ Age Group Awards- Based on Chip Time
✔️ FREE Race Day Photos
✔️ Multiple On-Course Water Stations
✔️ Flat, Fast & Scenic Course
✔️ Beautiful Long Beach Waterfront Views
✔️ DJ, Music & Finish-Line Energy
✔️ Vendors & Community Partners
✔️ Kids Dash
✔️ Walkers Welcome
✔️ Stroller Friendly
✔️ Dog Friendly
✔️ Beginner Friendly
✔️ PR Chasers Welcome
Whether you're racing for a new PR, walking your first 5K, bringing the whole family, or simply looking for a fun way to kick off Labor Day, there's a place for you at our Start Line.
🌊 A BEAUTIFUL LONG BEACH COURSE
Enjoy a scenic waterfront course featuring the energy of Shoreline Village and the Long Beach waterfront before heading onto the paved beach running and walking path.
The course is designed to be flat, fast, and approachable for all abilities.
This is an open course, meaning the beach path remains open to the public during the event. Please be courteous and aware of other runners, walkers, cyclists, and beach-path users.
Course markings, turnaround signs, flags, and race staff will be positioned along the route to help keep you on course.
📸 FREE RACE PHOTOS
Yes — FREE!
Our photographers will be out capturing the morning, and race photos are included with your registration. We want you to leave with more than a finish time.
A race experience designed to give you memories and photos — not just a finish time.
Smile when you see the camera. 😎📸
🎉 STAY FOR THE FINISH-LINE FUN
Don't disappear the second you cross the finish line!
Celebrate your finish, take photos, cheer on other runners, visit our vendors and community partners, enjoy the music, and soak up the waterfront atmosphere.
Friends and family are welcome to come cheer you on and be part of the morning.
👟 RUN WITH PURPOSE
This special event is proudly hosted in partnership with Merge Opportunities, a nonprofit dedicated to creating pathways for underserved youth, system-impacted individuals, and transitioning foster youth.
Through job training, mentorship, and essential support services, Merge empowers individuals to rebuild, reconnect, and move forward with purpose.
Your miles are helping us bring people together while supporting meaningful work in our community.
💛 Run with meaning.
💛 Move with purpose.
💛 Be part of something bigger.
Come help us launch a brand-new Long Beach Labor Day tradition where community, impact, movement, and good energy come together.
Come for the run. Stay for the vibe. Run for a reason.
🏆 IMPORTANT AWARDS INFORMATION
Overall Awards
Trophies are awarded to the Top 3 Overall Male and Top 3 Overall Female finishers in the 5K and 10K. Overall placement is determined by gun time.
Age Group Awards
Age Group medals are awarded in 10-year age divisions and are determined by chip time. Age Group winners do not need to wait for the Overall Awards Ceremony. Beginning at 9:00 AM, check your results and pick up your medal at the Results Kiosk.
The awards ceremony is for Overall Winners only.
You must be present to receive an award.
Awards must be picked up during the event. No awards will be distributed or mailed after the event. No exceptions. Please check your results before leaving if you believe you may have placed Overall or in your Age Group.
Finishers Medal
Merge Opportunities is a Long Beach nonprofit that supports young adults ages 18 to 28 who face barriers to work. Many experience housing insecurity, are justice impacted, or are transitioning out of foster care. We provide paid training, mentorship, hands-on skill building, and direct job placement that helps young adults build confidence, purpose, and long-term career success.
Every dollar supports paid training, coaching, and job opportunities that help young adults in our community gain stability and move into real careers.
Accuracy you can count on
🏁 Race It. Finish It. Celebrate It.
From the moment you cross the Start Line to the moment that medal goes around your neck, we’ve got your race covered.
⏱️ Professional ChronoTrack chip timing with fast, accurate results
📲 Instant results available within minutes of crossing the Finish Line
🏅 Custom finisher medal for every finisher
🏆 Overall trophies for our top Male & Female finishers
🥇 Age Group awards celebrating standout performances
🎉 Finish-line music, energy & plenty of reasons to stick around
Whether you're racing for the podium, chasing a PR, or simply celebrating another finish — your finish matters here.
📸 Smile — We’ve Got the Photos Covered!
Race day goes by fast, but the memories don't have to. Our photographers will be out on the course capturing the energy, the smiles, the determination, and those finish-line moments you'll want to remember.
✨ Race photos are FREE with your registration. No photo packages, no hidden charges, and no upsells after the race.
Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your cheer squad! Our Start/Finish area is spectator-friendly, so they can be there to cheer you on, snap their own photos, and celebrate with you when you cross that finish line.
Run hard. Have fun. Smile for the camera. We'll take care of the rest. 📸
Course Information
Flat, Fast & Easy to Follow:
Paved beach path course
Clearly marked from start to finish
Walker & stroller friendly
3 water stations on course
🥇 Overall Awards Ceremony
The Overall Awards Ceremony will begin promptly at 9:20 AM.
Awards will be presented to the:
-
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Overall Male
-
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Overall Female
in each race distance.
Overall winners will be recognized on the awards podium and receive a custom trophy.
Overall Awards are determined by Gun Time.
🥈 Age Group Awards
Age Group Awards will be available beginning at 9:00 AM at the Race Registration Tent / Results Kiosk.
Awards will be presented to the:
-
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Male
-
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Female
in each 10-year age group.
Age Group Awards are not announced during the awards ceremony and may be picked up at your convenience after results become official.
Age Group Awards are determined by Chip Time.
📌 Important Award Information
-
🏃 Overall Awards are based on Gun Time.
-
⏱️ Age Group Awards are based on Chip Time.
-
📊 Please verify your results before leaving the event.
-
📦 We do not mail awards.
-
🎖️ Winners must be present on race day to pick up their trophy or medal.
We look forward to celebrating your accomplishment at the finish line! 🏁
Kids Dash Information
🏃♀️💨 KIDS DASH — LITTLE LEGS, BIG FINISH!
Our youngest runners get their own moment to shine! 🌟
Kids will start near the main Start/Finish area and follow the sidewalk along the designated Kids Dash course. At the turnaround, a race staff member will be waiting to direct them around the U-turn and back toward the Finish Line.
👨👩👧 Parents are welcome to run alongside our littlest runners! If your child needs a hand, a little encouragement, or just wants Mom or Dad along for the adventure, come join them.
🏁 Every Kids Dash participant receives:
🎽 Their own race bib
🏅 Their own finisher medal
📸 Plenty of opportunities for adorable race-day photos
👏 A real Finish Line experience with everyone cheering them home!
This one isn't about how fast they run — it's about getting them moving, having fun and giving them their own big race-day moment.
Run, walk, skip or giggle your way to the Finish Line! 💛🏁
Parking
🚗 PARKING
Convenient race-day parking is available at the Aquarium of the Pacific Parking Garage, located just a short walk from the Start/Finish area at Shoreline Aquatic Park.
📍 99 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
The garage is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
💲 Parking Rates
First 30 Minutes — FREE
30 Minutes – 1.5 Hours — $3
1.5 – 2.5 Hours — $6
2.5 – 4 Hours — $8
4 – 5 Hours — $12
5 – 8 Hours — $15
The garage accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay. EV parking is available. Maximum vehicle clearance is 8'2".
⭐ Race Morning Tip
Please arrive early! The parking garage is a short walk from the race area, so build in extra time to park, walk to Shoreline Aquatic Park, check in, use the restroom and get ready for the start.
The 5K & 10K begin promptly at 8:00 AM.
We recommend having your parking location pulled up before you arrive so race morning is easy: park, walk over, check in and get ready to run! 🏁
How to take GREAT Race Photos
Any questions? Contact us today!
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