Before & After the Long Beach Marathon

Whether you’re gearing up for the Long Beach Marathon or celebrating your fantastic finish, Long Beach has everything you need to fuel, recover and recharge. From carb-loaded meals to hydration hubs, massage therapy and breakfast spots that hit the spot, there’s a wide range of runner-friendly places to support every stage of your race experience.

RESTORE

Runners gearing up for or recovering from the Long Beach Marathon will find top-notch care at Firm Hands (3300 E Broadway), offering personalized sports massage therapy, cryotherapy, infrared sauna, and cold plunge/hot tub therapy. For a holistic reset, visit Human Aeon (121 Belmont Ave) in Belmont Shore—a private wellness sanctuary blending heat and cold therapy, massage, meditation, and breathwork in a serene, resort-like setting. Both spots are perfect for restoring body, mind, and spirit before or after race day.

REHYDRATE

Recover fast with two great hydration spots. Dripp IV (415 Pine Ave) delivers intravenous therapy packed with electrolytes, B12 vitamins, and anti-nausea meds to help you bounce back with clarity and energy—walk in foggy, walk out fresh. For a natural boost, head to Sweet Grass Sugarcane Juice (3545 Atlantic Ave), where fresh-pressed sugarcane juice is loaded with electrolytes and nutrients. Add ginger, lime, or pineapple for a refreshing, stomach-soothing reset—cool, cleansing, and made to revive you.

RELOAD

Carbo loading, eating high amounts of carbohydrates before a race, provides a runner with extra energy and can be achieved with the consumption of pasta, something Long Beach has in delicious abbodanza. Downtown there’s L’Opera Ristorante (101 Pine Ave) and La Traviata (301 Cedar Ave), classic Italian restaurants with traditional menus. Domenico’s (5339 E 2nd St) pasta and pizza has been a Belmont Shore fixture since 1954. La Parolaccia Osteria (2945 E Broadway) offers Roman fare like pasta carbonara, while Ellie’s (204 Orange Ave) serves fresh pasta and elegant vegetable dishes inspired by southern Italy. La Tarantella Osteria (2120 E 4th St) offers wonderful fare and delicacies on Retro Row complete with a charming covered patio.

REPLENISH

After you’ve crossed the finish line in Downtown Long Beach, you’ll be happy and hungry. Luckily, there are plenty of great breakfast spots downtown. The Breakfast Bar (70 Atlantic Ave), named one of Yelp’s top 15 brunch spots, serves standout dishes like Uncle Marcee’s Omelet Casserole and breakfast mai tais. Nearby, EggBred (777 E Ocean Blvd) offers crave-worthy breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, benedicts, and poutine—perfect with a cold-pressed juice or hot drip coffee. This is just a snapshot–there are lots more great Downtown breakfast spots.

Cuisine Scene: Brunch

RESHOE

Sports Basement (2100 N Bellflower Blvd) in Long Beach is a massive, one-stop shop for all things active—and a must-visit for runners looking to upgrade their gear before or after race day. Known for its wide selection of top running shoe brands and an expert staff to help you find the perfect fit, it’s the go-to for comfort, support, and performance. The store also offers apparel, nutrition, recovery tools, bike gear, even rentals, making it your complete race weekend headquarters.

CREDIT: Sports Basement

Explore More

Long Beach Marathon Returns Oct. 4–5, 2025

For the 41st time, the Long Beach Marathon will wind itself through the city’s streets and shoreline, showcasing the very best of the LBC. Marathon weekend includes a series of races that take place over two days, October 4 and 5.

Learn More

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.