The UCSB triathlon (also known as Kendra’s race) is an excellent, early season sprint triathlon. There wasn’t much communication prior to the event, except for an email the week before with details on the packet pickup; I’d recommend checking the website and liking the facebook page. The event is a fundraiser for UCSB Triathlon in memory of an athlete who was killed on a training ride. I believe it was also some kind of West Coast collegiate championship, so spirited college teams were well represented. Parking for both the packet pickup and the race itself was easy, close, and inexpensive (all on the UCSB campus). Aside from the medal, swag was basically non-existent. It’s a beautiful course, starting in the water at UCSB’s campus point, a stretch of beach protected from the winds, sandy entry and exit and calm waters. However, to get to transition after the swim, you do have to run up some stairs and across pavement; it’s a fair distance getting back to transition. The 14 mile bike course goes along paths winding out of Goleta and takes you along Cathedral Oaks Blvd; it’s fairly hilly in places. The run is mostly dirt paths winding around a lake, pretty but muddy in places, and one stretch narrows to single file. Minimal vendor presence. Pictures were posted on free site, which was nice. I emailed the race director after the race to see if i might be able to purchase a shirt, but I never heard back.
