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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.

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