Events
Race the Wave Run/Walk
110 spots left. Registration ends September 13, 2025 at 8:00am PDT
Place
Santa Cruz, CA US 95060
Description
Are you ready? If you had to escape a tsunami event in Santa Cruz how long would it take you to run or walk to high ground? Would you know which way to go? Here’s your chance to test yourself and gain some knowledge about tsunamis and their impact on our community.
Be part of the first race to start on the Santa Cruz Wharf!
Adults are only $20 and kids 12 and under are $10. This will automatically be calculated at check-out.
Background
Race the Wave combines a community fun run, and an emergency preparedness fair hosted by the City of Santa Cruz during National Preparedness Month.
This event reinforces the City's commitment to tsunami preparedness and hazard mitigation while highlighting the shared responsibility to protect public infrastructure, such as the Wharf.
The race begins on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, follows Pacific Avenue through the downtown area and concludes at Mission Plaza Park, outside the updated maximum tsunami inundation zone.
At the finish line, an emergency preparedness fair will bring together City departments and community-based organizations to share emergency preparedness information with the community. The fair will focus community attention on the need for 72 hours of personal and household preparedness.
During the registration process you will be asked if you would like to opt into Cruz Aware, the local emergency notification service. You can find out more about Cruz Aware by clicking on the link above.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Shirts and Prizes
Race T-Shirts
Participants signing up after Aug 24th are not guaranteed the correct size shirt, as the t-shirt order is placed 2.5 weeks in advance.
Front and Back
Race Prizes
The City of Santa Cruz has teamed up with the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, so the first runner to cross the finish line in each race category will score FOUR FREE One-Day Unlimited Ride Passes to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk!
1st Place Male Division
1st Place Female Division
1st Place Child (Age 12 and under)