Game On, San Jose Joins the 2026 San Jose Half Marathon to Inspire the Next Generation of Game Changers

May 29, 2026

San Jose 26 youth sports initiative sponsors 400 Kids Run entries at Santana Row on Saturday, May 30 and rolls out the Game On, SJ26 App sponsored by Adobe to keep San José connected to sport year-round

• Game On, San Jose — a community program of the San Jose Sports Authority and the official SJ26 youth sports initiative — sponsors the Game On, San Jose Kids Run at the 2026 San Jose Half Marathon
• 400 free Kids Run entries provided to local students many of whom participated in Game On clinics across San José this spring
• Race weekend marks a major moment to download the Game On, SJ26 App sponsored by Adobe — the digital home of the program, where San José families discover programming, take on challenges and unlock prizes year-round
• Program goal: reach 5,000+ San José youth across 50+ school and community activations by June 2026
• Saturday, May 30 @ 10 a.m. at Santana Row — free for all students 12 and under in the City of San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Game On, San Jose, the citywide youth sports and community engagement initiative of the San Jose Sports Authority and a flagship community program of the San José 2026 (SJ26) campaign, is teaming up with Run Local® and the 2026 San Jose Half Marathon to put hundreds of local kids on the start line and put a powerful new mobile resource into the hands of thousands of San José families.

On Saturday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m., the Game On, San Jose Kids Run will take over Santana Row as part of the San Jose Half Marathon race weekend. The event is open to anyone 12 and under and features a loop course through the heart of Santana Row — a ¼-mile for ages 5 and under, and ½-mile for ages 6–9 and 10–12.

As an extension of its mission to increase access to sport, Game On, San Jose is sponsoring 400 free entries into the San Jose Half Marathon Kids Run. These entries are distributed to students who participated in Game On clinics across San José, providing them with a meaningful next step in their sports journey — transitioning from clinic participation to a live race experience alongside their families, mentors and thousands of runners from across the region.

“Game On, San Jose was created to inspire the next generation of game changers and partnering with Run Local on the San Jose Half Marathon is exactly the kind of moment that brings our mission to life. Sponsoring 400 free Kids Run entries means a child who showed up to one of our clinics this year now gets to pin on a bib, run with their family and feel what it’s like to be celebrated for showing up. The Game On App is how we keep those students and their families connected to opportunities like this every single day, long after race weekend is over.”

– John Poch, Executive Director, San Jose Sports Authority

A Hometown Partnership

The partnership extends a long-running commitment by Run Local to root its events deeply in the communities they call home. Reimagined in 2024 at Santana Row, the San Jose Half Marathon has grown into a three-day celebration of San Jose’s neighborhoods, culture and running community, with proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Northern California.

“Run Local was built on the belief that the best events are the ones that belong to their cities, and Game On, San Jose is doing exactly that for the next generation of kids here at home. Sponsoring 400 students into the Kids Run is incredibly meaningful, but the bigger picture is what the Game On App represents — a year-round resource that keeps kids, families and mentors connected to opportunities to be active in San José. We’re proud to put the San Jose Half Marathon platform behind that effort and help drive thousands of downloads during race weekend.”

— J.T. Service, Managing Partner, Run Local Ventures

Download the Game On, SJ26 App Sponsored by Adobe

Race weekend is a major moment for the Game On, SJ26 App sponsored by Adobe, the digital home of the program and a free resource for every San José resident. Available now in the Apple App Store and on Google Play, the app helps users:

• Explore local sports programming and upcoming activations across the city
• Participate in challenges tied to SJ26 events and local teams
• Unlock prizes and rewards by staying active and engaged in their community
• Connect to ongoing participation pathways with the San Jose Sports Authority and partner organizations

Visitors to Santana Row throughout race weekend can download the app on the spot at Game On activations. Organizers are encouraging every San José family — running or not — to download the app and use it as their ongoing home for sport, mentorship and community engagement in the city.

Download now: Search “Game On, SJ26” in the Apple App Store or Google Play, or visit sj26.sanjose.org/gameon.

Game On, San Jose by the Numbers

Kids Run Details

• Date / Time: Saturday, May 30, 2026 @ 10:00 a.m.
• Location: Santana Row, San Jose
• Check-In: Kids Zone near Blue Bottle Coffee, 9:30 a.m.
• Age Groups: 5 yrs & under, 6–9 yrs, 10–12 yrs
• Distances: ¼-mile (1-lap) or ½-mile (2-lap) depending on age group
• Parents: No registration required; parents can run with their kids, cheer them on or both
• Registration & Info: sanjosehalfmarathon.com/kids-run

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About Run Local®

Founded in 2012, Run Local’s mission is to inspire movement in your community™. It has produced events in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California, including the Oakland Marathon (March), the San Jose Half Marathon & 8K (May/June) and the Santa Barbara Half presented by HOKA & 5K (November). Each of its events celebrate the local running community, artists and the unique diversity of each region. For more information, visit runlocalevents.com and join us on social @runlocalevents.

Media Contact: David Monico
david@soulfocussports.com