Monterey Bay Half Marathon takes place on Sun, Nov 8, 2026 in Monterey, United States. The main route is 21.1 km.
- Date
- Sun, Nov 8, 2026
- Start
- Monterey 🇺🇸
- Distance
- 21.1 km
- Climbing
- 32 m
- Level
- Open to all
The Monterey Bay Half Marathon is an out-and-back course beginning in historic downtown Monterey, running along Steinbeck’s Cannery Row and the Pacific Grove shoreline with scenic ocean views.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
The Monterey Bay Half Marathon demands steady pacing over a standard 21.1 km distance along a coastal out-and-back course.
Aerobic Endurance
Covering the 21.1 km distance requires sustained cardiovascular output and consistent energy management throughout the run.
Pacing Discipline
The out-and-back format along the shoreline requires controlled initial pacing to ensure a strong return leg.
What would it take you?
Pick the level closest to yours for an estimate of finish time on this course and the training a solid preparation needs.
Estimated finish
1:50–2:10
Peak-week training
5–7 h/week
A model estimate from distance, climbing and level, not a promise. Conditions, drafting and pacing move it.
IntervalCoach turns those weekly hours into a concrete plan built around your actual fitness. Start with this race as your goal
Your road to race day
Race day at Monterey Bay Half Marathon is 11 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Build5 weeks · Aug 24, 2026 – Sep 27, 2026
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
02Peak3 weeks · Sep 28, 2026 – Oct 18, 2026
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
03Taper2 weeks · Oct 19, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
04Race week1 week · Nov 2, 2026 – Nov 8, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
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