wellness
Where to find the best parkrun near you
Long Beach runners turn to two neighborhood parks for the city's weekly free 5-kilometer events.
How we reported this
El Dorado Park on Studebaker Road hosts the largest Saturday morning parkrun group in Long Beach, with 187 finishers recorded on July 5.
The active wellness scene here draws residents who want outdoor exercise without gym fees. Summer temperatures push more people outside before the heat builds, and city parks have added marked routes that support timed runs.
Two established routes draw steady crowds
El Dorado Park's 5k loop starts near the main parking lot off Studebaker Road and circles the lake twice. Runners meet at 7:30 a.m. for a safety briefing before the 8 a.m. start. Heartwell Park on Carson Street offers a flatter alternative that attracts families and newer runners. Volunteers from the Long Beach Running Club mark the course each week and record times on the national parkrun site.
Both locations stay open daily, but the organized events happen only on Saturdays. No entry fee applies, though participants must register once online before their first run. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department lists trail maps and parking rules on its website.
Numbers show growing participation
National parkrun data for 2025 showed an average of 142 finishers per Long Beach event, up 19 percent from the prior year. Local organizers report that 40 percent of runners return at least eight times in a six-month stretch. July events start at the same time regardless of weather forecasts.
Check the parkrun Long Beach page the night before for any last-minute course changes. Arrive 15 minutes early to pick up a barcode, then stay for the volunteer-led cool-down near the finish line.