Healthy Fun in San Diego

If you’re here just for a SoCal vacation or are a true San Diego native, you know that the region offers an abundance of outdoor activities. From riding the waves along the gorgeous beaches or hiking the historic Torrey Pines, there is plenty to do while having fun in the sun this summer.

But one activity is quickly gaining in popularity. Fun runs are uniquely designed races that promote great exercise and fun at the same time. Whether you just like to be active or are a dedicated marathon runner, these thrilling rallies are energetic, tough, and colorful—and can even get pretty muddy. Check out our top picks for creative and fun ways to get outdoors, get moving and have fun while getting in shape.

Recently held at Camp Pendleton was the gnarly Tough Mudder. Designed by the British Special Forces, the Tough Mudder is an intense 10-12 mile obstacle course that tests your strength and endurance. Participants support the Wounded Warrior Project—which assists thousands of soldiers returning from the battlefield—by getting down and dirty with family and friends for an intense experience similar to boot camp. This worldwide obstacle course challenge has already raised $5 million for the Wounded Warrior Project.

So, are you tough enough? This race offers the Tough Mudder Boot Camp to prepare warriors for the obstacle course. The camp combines resistance training and cardio to give runners the edge. And each dollar raised helps provide combat stress recovery programs, adaptive sports programs, benefits counseling, employment services, and more. Every Tough Mudder event has a team of Wounded Warriors to remind everyone what the definition of "tough" really is.

After the Tough Mudder, don’t bother doing the laundry. The eighth consecutive year of the Marine Corps Mud Run it is a 3-mile obstacle course race held at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California is going off March 11, 2024. The run is approximately 3 miles 3 miles long and has around 25-30 obstacles. These obstacles are designed to challenge participants both physically and mentally, and they range from simple to complex. Some of the most common obstacles include:

• Mud pits: These are deep pits of muddy water that participants must climb over or wade through.
• Climbing walls: These are walls of varying heights that participants must climb over.
• Barbed wire crawls: These are sections of barbed wire that participants must crawl under.
• Cargo nets: These are nets that participants must climb over or swing across.
• Tire hills: These are mounds of tires that participants must climb over.
• Balance beams: These are narrow beams that participants must walk across without falling off.
• Log jams: These are piles of logs that participants must climb over or crawl under.
• Water crossings: These are sections of water that participants must wade or swim through.

The run has several time slots, starting in the morning and going into the afternoon. Run times are filled on a first come, first serve basis, so the sooner you register the better—and individuals on teams are guaranteed to be put in the same start time. The program is a premier sports and fitness program for American military personnel, veterans and first responders with permanent physical disabilities. CAF provides funding for equipment and training and competition expenses, Military Medical Center Physical Training (MMCPT) and sports clinics.

If getting muddy doesn’t sound like fun, try running in a world full of color. The Color Run is coming back to San Diego for its second consecutive year. Developed in January 2012, the Color Run is popping up all over the nation and will make its way back to Qualcomm Stadium on Oct. 12. Also known as the "Happiest 5k on the Planet," the Color Run promotes happiness, healthiness and individuality—all while giving back to the community.

The guidelines for this event are simple: wear white at the beginning and come to the finish line plastered in color. Participants are blasted with colored powders in this untimed run perfect for individuals, families or teams. The point is to exercise decked out in vivid colors while supporting community development and various San Diego charities. Following the run is the "Color Festival," a party with food and music.

Finally, brave the night with the Neon Run. Runners and joggers alike run at night through glow zones that consist of neon-glowing water, laser lighting, fog and music followed by the Neon Festival. At the end of the reach is the Massive Neon Race filled with performers, music, dancing, and black lights that glow through San Diego and light up the night sky. Runners dress up in creative neon colored costumes from tutus to 1980s workout gear. If dressing in neon is not your thing, make sure to wear all white so you can glow!

Make sure to sign up for these fun runs throughout out the year as a new and fun way to stay active with your family and friends.