COUNTDOWN TO THE STARTING LINE
Events
Plover Dash (5k)
Price:
$48.70
incl. $3.70 Fee
Time:
8:00AM PDT
- 11:30AM PDT
Price increases after March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
Brown Pelican (10k)
Price:
$54
incl. $4 Fee
Time:
8:00AM PDT
- 11:30AM PDT
Price increases after March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
Fuzzy Feathers Kids Run
Price:
$22.20
incl. $2.20 Fee
Time:
9:00AM PDT
- 9:30AM PDT
Registration ends April 25, 2026 at 11:59am PDT
5K Plogging
Price:
$48.70
incl. $3.70 Fee
Time:
8:00AM PDT
- 11:30AM PDT
Price increases after March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
10K Plogging
Price:
$54
incl. $4 Fee
Time:
8:00AM PDT
- 11:30AM PDT
Price increases after March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
Beach Clean up only
Price:
$0
Time:
8:00AM PDT
- 11:30AM PDT
Registration ends April 25, 2026 at 8:00am PDT
$454
Raised of $100,000
Event Description
Amigos De Bolsa Chica, in conjunction with Bolsa Chica State Beach is hosting a run/walk/beach cleanup for Earth Day!
🌎 Run for the Birds, Run for the Planet, Run for Earth Day
At a local 5K/10K near you!
Join us on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Bolsa Chica State Beach — where every step makes a difference.
Run and walk along the beach on a flat, fast, and paved course with stunning ocean views.
🎉 FREE BEACH PARKING before 8:00 AM — races start sharp!
🏃♀️ Race Options:
Plover Dash 5K
Brown Pelican 10K
Fuzzy Feathers Fun Run (for the kiddos)
5K Plogging (picking up litter while jogging)
10K Plogging
Beach Clean Up with State Beach staff
🧢 What You Get:
All registered participants in the 5K, 10K, and Plogging events receive:
🏅 Custom Commemorative Medal – designed exclusively for this Earth Day event
👕 Limited-Edition Race Shirt – beautifully designed by a local artist and featuring a new Bolsa Chica bird each year. These collectible commemorative shirts are more than swag — they’re wearable art that celebrates the spirit of the wetlands.
📸 Free Race Day Photos – downloadable & shareable with no hidden costs
🏆 Overall & Age Group Awards
⏱️ Professional Chip Timing – results synced to Athlinks
🎪 Finish Line Festival – vendors, product samples, music & local community vibes
🎯 NOTE:
👉 Registrations made by March 16th will be guaranteed your requested shirt size.
After that, shirt sizes will be first-come, first-served based on availability.
📍 Race Day Details:
Location: Lot 25, Bolsa Chica State Beach
Check-In Begins: 7:00 AM
5K & 10K Start: 8:00 AM
Kids Fun Run: 9:00 AM
✅ FREE Beach Parking (arrive early!)
🚲 Bike Valet available near the start line
🎒 Gear Check Available
Fuzzy Feathers Kids Run participants receive commemorative medals & special prizes.
✨ Bonus Highlights:
🌿 Environmental Impact – Proceeds benefit environmental education & leadership programs through Amigos de Bolsa Chica (501c3), protecting California’s coastal biodiversity.
♻️ Plogging Categories – Run and help clean the beach as you go!
👨👩👧👦 Community Connection – Family-friendly, walker-welcoming, and volunteer-powered
🔬 Interactive Expo – Explore Bolsa Chica wetlands up close with microscopes, wildlife exhibits, and hands-on learning hosted by Amigos.
Celebrate Earth Day with purpose — and make your miles matter.
🌎💚 Sign up today, lock in your shirt size, and let’s run wild for a better planet.
State Beach Entrance
Directions for State Beach Entrance
Our event location changed a bit this year! The EVENT and STARTING LINE will in Lot 25 at Bolsa Chica State Beach, but to get FREE BEACH PARKING at Bolsa Chica State Beach, you need to come in through the main entrance on Pacific Coast Highway!
Map Location
Be sure to enter through the MAIN KIOSK from Pacific Coast Highway **be sure to tell them you are here for the Running is for the Birds for FREE beach parking**
Turn right once you are inside the State Beach
Drive all the way down to the end - Lot 25 is the last parking lot near Warner.
Lot 25 will likely be full - park in lot 24 or 23
Our Story & Mission
🌿 Fifty years ago, we went to court to protect Southern California’s Bolsa Chica wetlands from development — and sparked a movement. Today, we continue that mission by tackling the challenges of a rapidly changing climate through research, science, and education.
Our work protects the health of wetlands and oceans for generations to come — but we can’t do it alone.
💚 Join the movement to preserve our coastline — and stay connected to our conservation stories, field updates, and community events.
🎥 Subscribe to the Amigos de Bolsa Chica YouTube Channel and be part of the journey to protect and restore our coastal ecosystems.
Any questions? Contact us today!
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
