People like to run for the fun at California marathons, mainly because the running can take so long and the scenery really helps out when you're spending hours in the sun. Among the favorites for visitors to the state are the classic L.A. Marathon known for its city setting and fantastic weather. However, the trend is toward being out in nature and there are just some amazing views when your run over the famous bridges of Big Sur Coast and Golden Gate or tackle the spectacular scenery from vistas above in Catalina Island, Berkeley's Grizzly Trail and the amazing Muir Woods. For deserts, it doesn't get any dryer than distance races at Calico Ghost Town and Death Valley's Borax.

California Marathons

Catalina 50 Mile Run runcatalina.com
Crystal Springs Trail Run in Woodside coastaltrailruns.com
Honkers Marathon Anaheim
Beach Blast Marathon Long Beach, CA active.com
Pacifica Foothills Trail Run insidetrail.com
San Diego 50 and Trail Marathon Escondido sandiegotrail50.com
Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon Carlsbad carlsbadmarathon.com
Redding Marathon reddingmarathon.org
The Odyssey Marathon rocketracingproductions.com
Calico Trail Run Ghost Town Yermo calicotrailrun.org
Envirosports Death Valley Borax Marathon envirosports.com
Run the Beach Long Beach active.com
Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach runsurfcity.com
Golden Gate Trail Run Marathon San Francisco / Rodeo Beach coastaltrailruns.com
San Miguel Buzz Marathon buzzmarathon.org
Valentine's Day Marathon Van Nuys rocketracingproductions.com
Bandit Ultra Trail Run Simi banditultratrailrun.com
Majestic Marathon Huntington Beach rocketracingproductions.com
San Juan Trail Cleveland NF bigbaztrailraces.com
Habitat for Humanity Diamond Valley Lake Challenge Hemet dvlrun.com
Napa Valley Marathon Calistoga napavalleymarathon.org
Way Too Cool in Cool wtc50k.com
L.A. Marathon lamarathon.com
Lake Natoma Marathon Folsom elementalrunning.com
Catalina Conservancy runcatalina.com
Oakland Running Festival oaklandmarathon.com
Modesto Marathon active.com
American River Endurance Run Folsom ar50mile.com
Grizzly Peak Trail Run Berkeley coastaltrailruns.com
Muir Woods Marathon Stinson Beach envirosports.com
Leona Divide 50 Miler Lake Hughes leonadivide.com
Mokelumne River Coast Trail Run ultrasignup.com
San Luis Obispo Marathon slomarathon.com
La Jolla Half Marathon lajollahalfmarathon.com
Big Sur Marathon bsim.org
Wild West Marathon Lone Pine lonepinechamber.org
OC Marathon Costa Mesa ocmarathon.com "