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Hollywood to the sea

Road and Trail Relay

2025 Registration PARTICIPANT LOGIN

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LEGS

RULES

SAFETY

FAQ

FOURTH ANNUAL RACE

TBD 2026

START TIME

  

ABOUT THE RACE

Join us for the fourth annual Hollywood to the Sea Road and Trail Relay, an incredible 75-mile relay race from Hollywood to Malibu, California! Teams of four compete running alternating legs with a 14,000 foot elevation gain and loss across the Santa Monica Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, with sweeping views of the Hollywood Sign, the ocean, Los Angeles and the natural environment of grassy hills, forests, wildflowers, canyons and rock formations!

75.2
TOTAL MILES

14,222 FT
ELEVATION GAIN

14,612 fT
ELEVATION DROP

4 TO 10.3 MILES
BETWEEN EXCHANGES

52.2
TRAIL MILES

4
​RUNNERS
PER TEAM

What Racers Are Saying

  • Beautiful course. Well run.
    I was fortunate to participate in the first Hollywood-to-the-Sea relay, and it hooked me on trail running.

    My segments through the Santa Monica Mountains were so lush I had to keep my eyes open for dinosaurs as I thought I was running through the set of Jurassic Park.

    All kidding aside, this was a well-run event that took advantage of the beauty Southern California has to offer runners.
    I’m looking forward to running it again.
    JOHN L.
    Trial By Fire – ’23

“

  • Beautiful Trails and Well-Organized Race
    It was an absolute blast running along the Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains. Beautiful scenery and nice and fast flowy trails made the time pass very quickly.

    It was my first time participating in a relay race and that added a whole new dimension to the experience. It was great camaraderie within the team with everyone supported each other.

    I’ve ran in a lot of races so I’ve seen a lot of different race websites. The website for this race is by far the best I’ve seen. It is chock-full of detailed information for all the legs and it made it much easier to coordinate with the team and our driver. I would highly recommend this race as I think it’s only going to get better and better.
    SAM C.
    Trial By Fire – ’23

“

  • Great way to experience L.A. trails!
    Challenging at times but a wonderful route for navigating Los Angeles trails (with a beach finish). Love the team relay aspect and definitely recommend.
    Kevin f.
    Trial By Fire – ’23

“

  • Tough, Beautiful, Adventurous
    Highly recommend this race. Being the first year out there was a lot to coordinate and I felt they did a really good job of mapping the course, providing good directions multiple ways. The course is really beautiful!
    adam b.
    Walking Dead Poets Society – ’23

“

COURSE

21% PAVED
69% TRAIL
10% GRAVEL

LEGS

TOTALS 1ST LEG 2ND LEG 3RD LEG
Runner Miles Ascent Decent Difficulty Leg Miles Ascent Decent Difficulty Leg Miles Ascent Decent Difficulty Leg Miles Ascent Decent Difficulty
1 21.97 4395 2312 VH / M / VH 1 7.55 1637 1256 VH 5 7.85 534 249 M 9 6.57 2224 807 VH
2 20.89 4015 3515 H / H / H 2 6 1161 836 H 6 7.31 1614 1108 H 10 7.58 1240 1571 H
3 17.99 3854 3152 M / VH / H 3 4.74 692 902 M 7 6.9 1965 1128 VH 11 6.35 1197 1122 H
4 19.49 2072 5671 E / H / H 4 5.72 413 564 E 8 6.77 784 2604 H 12 7 875 2503 H

Table scrolls to the right

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
7.55 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
1466 FT / 1076 FT
TERRAIN
Mixed
Leg 1
Hard

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
6.0 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
1161 FT / 836 FT
TERRAIN
Mixed
Leg_2_Elevation
Moderate

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
4.74 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
682 FT / 964 FT
TERRAIN
Mixed
Leg_3_Elevation
Easiest

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
5.7 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
413 FT / 564 FT
TERRAIN
Mostly Road
Moderate

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
7.85 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
534 FT / 249 FT
TERRAIN
Road
Hard

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
7.31 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
1614 FT / 1108 FT
TERRAIN
Mixed

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
6.9 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
1965 FT / 1128 FT
TERRAIN
Mixed
Hard

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
6.8 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
784 FT / 2604 FT
TERRAIN
Trail

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

RUNNER’S NOTE: The county has restricted vehicle traffic in the last 1.2 miles to the exchange due to storm damage so the leg has been extended by 1.2 miles to get down to an alternate exchange point.

DISTANCE
6.57 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
2224 FT / 807 FT
TERRAIN
Mostly Trail
Hard

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
7.58 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
1240 FT / 1578 FT
TERRAIN
Mostly Trail
Moderate

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
6.42 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
1197 FT / 1122 FT
TERRAIN
Trail
Hard

RACE START: North Atwater Bridge – Los Angeles River

DISTANCE
6.99 Miles
ASCENT / DESCENT
1955 FT / 816 FT
TERRAIN
Trail

RACE RULES

  • Help each other out. There will be little support out on the course so teammate or not, if someone is in trouble or needs assistance please do what you can to bring them to safety.
  • Treat other vehicles, trail users and the community-at-large with respect. Walk when you come across horses on the trail.
  • Check in with race staff if there are any safety issues or runner substitutions
  • Teams shall consist of four runners
  • The course will not be marked in any physical way. Runners must rely on gpx navigation or printing their own maps & directions from the provided gpx files & turn-by-turn instructions.
  • Stay on the course. Do not use or create social pathways, cut switchbacks or shorten the course in any way. If at any point a runner deviates from the official course they are required to return to where they went off course to continue in the race. No allowance will be made for lost time or miles run off course.
  • Each team shall be self-supported. Runners can only be supported by their teammates and race officials – no outside assistance is allowed. Aid stations will be not be provided.
  • All team members must travel in the same vehicle together with their teammates throughout the race.
  • Participants must travel forward under their own power without wheeled or mechanized support, must stay on the gpx identified course, must obey race personnel and officials, must not litter, must conduct themselves in a civil and sportsperson-like manner, and must only use the speed of travel to prevent being passed by another competitor.
  • Drug and alcohol use during the race is prohibited. All performance enhancing substances on the WADA list are strictly prohibited.
  • The race time cutoff is 10:30PM the day the race starts. Teams that haven’t left Exchange 11 by 9:00PM must pick up their runner at the next exchange and exit the course.
  • Runners shall exchange the ‘baton’ provided to the team to designate the active runner. The baton must be carried by the active runner from point to point between exchanges.
  • Dogs and other animals are not allowed to run in the race
  • Race bibs must be worn facing forward and visible to race officials while running the course
  • Trekking poles are allowed
  • The final leg runner must cross the official finish line to have the team’s finish time recorded
  • Headphones are prohibited on the road sections of the course and are not recommended for trail sections.
  • Pacers are allowed to run with a runner on dusk and night legs (the end of the course). Pacers are required to sign the participant waiver before the race begins and declare themselves as a pacer with the race official at each exchange before entering the course with their runner.
  • A current teammate can take over the remaining legs of a runner that is unable to continue in addition to their own remaining legs.  They are not allowed to repeat sections of the course missed by the original runner. Check in at an exchange or electronically with a race official to declare a runner substitution.
  • Race officials reserve the right to cancel the race if unusual conditions (mud, snow, rain, weather, etc.) might result in serious safety concerns, risks and/or permanent environmental or trail damage if the race is held.
  • A signed Participant Waiver & Release is required
  • Teams choosing to cross the finish line at the same time to intentionally tie will be ordered by coin toss
  • Any violation of the rules is grounds for disqualification

SAFETY

  • If you get injured while out on the course and it’s an emergency call 911 or ask someone else to call if the injury is serious or life threatening.  Someone may have to get to a location with cellular service if the injury occurs in a remote area.
    If the injury is not life threatening, notify your teammates if cellular service is available.  If cell service is not available, flag down another runner or hiker to have them notify the next exchange. 
  • Teams shall be self-sufficient and carry enough food and drinks in their vehicles to support their runners
  • Wear sunscreen – much of the course is exposed
  • Carry an inexpensive whistle in case of emergency and to scare off wild animals
  • Runners of dusk and night legs are required to wear a reflective vest or harness and carry a handheld flashlight or headlamp. A belt flashlight is also encouraged.
  • Runners of pre-dawn and dawn legs are required to also have a red flashing rear light as parts of these legs will be on streets with automobile traffic
  • Pacers are allowed to run with a runner on dusk and night legs (towards the end of the course)
  • While there’s no requirement to carry water, please pay attention to your hydration as many of the legs have limited shade
  • Please read this information in its entirety on your safety in a mountain lion habitat by the National Parks Service

FAQ

The course record is currently 12 hours and 20 minutes. The inaugural race was completed by a single team in 15 hours and 50 minutes. The cutoff time for year three is 10:30PM, 17 hours from the expected start time.

  • Tracking and submitting runners times from each exchange if no volunteers present
  • Bring at least one volunteer to work a minimum of three hours to support the event
  • Great attitudes!
  • Come for fun and friendly competition
  • Each leg is between 4.1 and 8.5 miles, however, due to the elevation change they can be significantly more challenging than flat segments of the same distance
  • The entire course is on paved or gravel roads and improved trails – no sections are off trail or so steep that additional gear is required to safely pass

No, but a having at least one dedicated driver is encouraged as it takes pressure and stress off tired runners

A current teammate can take over the legs of a runner that is no longer able to continue in addition to their own remaining legs.  Check in at the exchange with a race official to declare a runner substitute. See Rules for additional requirements.

A runner exchange area will be designated at each exchange during the event.  The runner completing the leg is required to hand the “baton” to the runner starting the next leg within the exchange area.

  • Call 911 or ask someone else to call if the injury is serious or life threatening.  Someone may have to get to a location with cellular service if the injury occurs in a remote area.
  • If the injury is not life threatening,  notify your teammates if cellular service is available.  If cell service is not available, flag down another runner to have them notify the next exchange. 

  • Finisher medal
  • Challenge winners will receive a commemorative token

The race is designed for four runners, so at a minimum a car that can hold the four runners if the team doesn’t have a dedicated driver
While some roads may have large pot holes or wash out, no exchanges require four wheel drive. A larger vehicle is recommended.
Plan on having room for food, water and gear

  • Hills!  Both up and down. 
  • At a minimum, runners should be able to run a 9:00 minute mile in a typical (flat) 10k race
  • It is highly recommended that runners are able to easily finish a traditional half marathon within two hours

Wait at the exchange until they show up.  Part of the race includes teams getting their runners to the exchange start on time. Traffic, parking and navigation can all affect the outcome of the race.

Early on in the race cellular coverage is good considering the start is in the middle of Los Angeles.  Once heading into Exchange 6 (Topanga State Park) cellular coverage is spotty, especially while on the trail.  Vehicles driving to the next exchanges will have better cell service when approaching PCH.

  • Reflective vest
  • Headlamp
  • Red flashing rear light (pre-dawn legs)
  • If you don’t have a watch that can load GPX files (preferred), download the navigational app of your choice onto your phone
  • Open your routes in Plotaroute by clicking on the legs in the Runner Quick Links section above the legs section and download a GPX or KML file for each onto your phone
  • Another option is to print out the turn-by-turn directions listed at the end of each leg description
  • Should you get off course, you are required to return to where you left the course to continue in the race
  • Stop, look, and listen for other runners
  • Retrace your steps as best you can back to the course
  • Check GPX/KML file if you have it loaded on a device or refer to the printed turn-by-turn directions you brought with you
  • Call your teammates in the vehicle to see if they can help locate and direct you back to the course

A rolling start may be implemented based on the average reported times of a teams’ runners. Slower teams will be scheduled to leave earlier in the morning and the fastest teams will be scheduled later. The goal is to have everyone finish as close together as possible.

Headphones are prohibited on the road sections of the course and are not recommended for trail sections.

  • The winning team will be awarded a first-place team medal

  • Awards presentation at a time TBD
  • Showers at the campground

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