The I'm Your Huckleberry 5K costs $20 to enter and takes place on July 23, 2026, in Long Beach, California. The race starts at 6:30 PM at 25 39th Place. This 5K running event is sponsored by AREC and offers a straightforward summer racing option for athletes in the area. The evening start time means you'll be running after sunset during the peak heat of summer, so plan your hydration and pacing accordingly. With registration at this price point, this is an accessible local race option for runners training through the season.
From the Race Organizer
We're excited to be hosting another one of our NIGHT races! And this will be our biggest one yet- we've got more spots than ever before! But don't wait- this race WILL sell out as our last races all did. Your $20 entry fee will get you this unique "I'm Your Huckleberry" medal and a neat finisher’s bib. "I'm Your Huckleberry" means "I'm the right person for the job", "I'm the one you're looking for", or "I can handle this. We KNOW you're the right person for the job of running this 5K! In addition to the finishers medal, we will also have additional medals for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female to finish. We also have added a 'stroller' division and will give out 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals for our top-three stroller pushers! If you've run any of our races, you know exactly what’s in store! This is an out-and-back course right on the beach boardwalk alongside the sand and surf. The views are absolutely beautiful. We’ll meet right by the Belmont Brewing Company in Long Beach, at the start of Veterans' Pier, and head out on the beach path for a 5k. Bib pickup is between 6 pm and 6:30 pm. Afterwards, runners will head inside BBC for food, drink, and laughter. Results will be posted online within 36 hours of the event. This event counts for your Century Club totals, if you're a member of AREC. RACE INSPIRATION (I'm Your Huckleberry): This race is in honor of Val Kilmer, who died in April of 2025. The medal itself is a tribute to two of his most iconic movies: Top Gun (1986) where he played Iceman and Tombstone (1993) where he played Doc Holliday. Kilmer made his final film appearance in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), reprising his role from the original film. In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer. A tracheal procedure damaged his vocal cords, leaving him unable to speak easily, and he also underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies. He released a memoir, I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir, in 2020 and a documentary titled Val the following year, both about his career and health struggles. He died of pneumonia on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65. Films in which Kilmer appeared grossed more than $3.85 billion worldwide. In 1992, the film critic Roger Ebert remarked, "if there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Kilmer should get it". It's not quite an award, but on July 23rd, we'll help Kilmer be a little less unsung by honoring him in our "I'm Your Huckleberry 5K" race.
Hotels Near This Race
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Thursday Evening 5K Race (Sponsored by AREC) 2026 — Long Beach, CA
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Race Travel Insurance
Don't forget travel insurance for July 23.
You've trained for months and booked a trip to Long Beach, CA.
A pre-race injury, a delayed flight, or a family emergency can derail the whole thing.
Travel insurance can help cover your race entry fee, hotel, and flights if you can't make it,
and may cover medical costs if something goes wrong on the course. Plans typically only run
5-7% of your total trip cost — and running events are covered under standard plans with no
additional coverage needed.
Trip cancellation up to 100% of prepaid costs
Running events covered under standard plans — no add-ons needed
Trip interruption up to 150% of non-refundable costs
When is Thursday Evening 5K Race (Sponsored by AREC) 2026 — Long Beach, CA?
Thursday Evening 5K Race (Sponsored by AREC) 2026 — Long Beach, CA takes place on July 23, 2026. The race is held in Long Beach, California.
Where is Thursday Evening 5K Race (Sponsored by AREC) 2026 — Long Beach, CA held?
Thursday Evening 5K Race (Sponsored by AREC) 2026 — Long Beach, CA is held at 25 39th Place in Long Beach, California.
Where can I find hotels near Thursday Evening 5K Race (Sponsored by AREC) 2026 — Long Beach, CA?
RaceHotelFinder shows hotels sorted by distance from the race venue in Long Beach. Use the map or list view on this page to compare options and book race weekend accommodation.
