Race to the finish line or your next discovery, Carlsbad active events run throughout the year

It’s spring and time for the world’s fastest 5K. A good part of the country is still shoveling out of a long winter. But residents and visitors in Carlsbad are seeing inspiring ocean views while pushing their physical limits at the Carlsbad 5000, because in Carlsbad, playing hard lets you work hard.

The annual event is one of nearly a dozen competitive athletic events hosted throughout the year in Carlsbad and draws thousands of runners from far and wide. The Junior Carlsbad 5000 encourages youth to take part in the weekend focused on healthy and active living where it’s done best: the San Diego region.

“It’s a great way to experience Carlsbad’s coast while getting your heart rate up,” explained Christie Marcella, economic development manager for the city. “If you want to walk, run, or do the all-day 20K, this race will push any participant to demonstrate how Carlsbad is the place for a Life in Action®.”

Carlsbad has become a mecca for athletic events. From running, to walking, cycling and triathlon, there is a race out there for all skill levels and interests. Even kids can get into the action with fun runs like the Maverick Mile and Superhero Obstacle 2K.

Carlsbad hosts big-name draws each year like:

January – Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon
February – Mitchell Thorp Foundation 5K
March – Maverick Mile, Tip Top Run 5K/10K
April – Carlsbad 5000, MS Walk
July – Carlsbad Triathlon
October – Superhero Obstacle 2K, Walk Like MADD, MS Bike
November – MS Challenge Walk

San Diego County Leads with Runs, Walks, and Races

If that’s not enough to keep you busy, there’s more than 300+ events happening throughout the county.

“San Diego County hosts more athletic participation events than just about every other county in California, second only to Los Angeles,” said Dan Cruz, vice president of communications for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, which also operates the Carlsbad 5000.

The sports marketing and management company is located in San Diego to be in the epicenter of all these athletic events. They own and operate 40 large scale running, cycling and triathlon events and produce four publications including Competitor magazine, Triathlete magazine, VeloNews, and Women’s Running.

Carlsbad’s Sports & Active Lifestyle Community

An active lifestyle is one of the hallmarks of life in Carlsbad, and is appealing for companies like COOLA looking to provide their employees with an unmatched work-life balance. Competitive events are one element to that, but with nearly 50 miles of trails, 3 lagoons, 7 miles of coastline and extraordinary community parks, recreational opportunities are endless.

“We all love being competitive, doing things like surfing, stand-up paddling, mountain biking, and the relaxing activities too. We’ve had yoga instructors come to our office and as a company we support gym memberships for our employees,” said Chris Birchby, CEO of COOLA Suncare.

The same goes for tech company Processing Point, who found that the City of Carlsbad was not only business friendly, but featured a natural landscape that was tremendous for its employees.

“Paddleboarding is huge for us,” explains Chad Buckmaster. “We have 12 stand-up boards that we keep in the warehouse, and a group of us will go out paddleboarding to relax and exercise together. It really is an extension of our office and office culture.”

“Carlsbad offers work-life balance done right, and the droves of new talent coming our way are a testament to the importance of this in the new economy,” added Marcella.

Think you’re ready for a Life in Action®? Then consider the opportunities that are teeming in Carlsbad – where competitive performance in an inspiring environment doesn’t have to stop at the end of the workday.