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California > Pier to Peak Half Marathon
Santa
Barbara, CA
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Date
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Event
Details
The Labor Day holiday weekend in Santa Barbara brings the annual
running of the Pier to Peak Half Marathon, a challenging 13.1-mile race
that takes runners all the way from the Friendship Dolphins Fountain at
the edge of Sterns Wharf on the water all the way up to the peak of La
Cumbra Peak, which overlooks the city and the water from an elevation
of nearly 4,000 feet above sea level. Often called "the world's
toughest half marathon," this is a race that will test even the most
experienced runners and demands plenty of high-elevation and hills
training.
The race begins at sea level at 6:45 AM at Stearns Wharf, and takes
runners through the city of Santa Barbara for the first couple of
miles, up State Street and Santa Barbara Street before entering the
hillier terrain of the race on West Mountain Avenue. Here's where the
race really starts to climb, taking the field past local parks like
Mission Park and Rocky Nook Park as it transitions onto Gibraltar Road.
As the race is reaching its half-way point, runners enter the Los
Padres National Forest, and begin to make their way up toward the peak
and the finish line at La Cumbra Peak.
When they reach the finish, runners will experience the race's true
reward -- the gorgeously scenic overlook into the valley below, the
Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands out in the ocean just off the
coast of California. The race is open to both runners and walkers, who
have the option of starting 30 minutes before the runners in order to
complete the course in reasonable times. The race course will be
monitored but also will be open to traffic during the event, so
participants will need to use sidewalks and obey traffic signals
throughout the race.
Race
Weather & Climate
Set along the coast of Southern California, about 95 miles west (and a
nearly two-hour drive) of Los Angeles, the city of Santa Barbara tends
to see mild to moderately warm temperatures year-round, with little
variation. Its wettest months are January through March, while summers
are usually very dry. In August, average monthly temperatures range
between 77°F and 60°F, while rainfall totals average
near zero (0.03 inches for the month).
Fees
2008 fees:
$60 if registered by August 31, 2008
$80 for late registrations (if space is available)
Registration
To reserve your spot in the summer 2009 running of the Pier to Peak
Half Marathon, print out and mail in this race entry form.
Website
www.runsantabarbara.com
Course Map
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Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in Santa Barbara's annual Pier to Peak Half Marathon? Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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