Great event! I did the long course (1 mile swim, 34 mile bike, 10 mile run) which is a great distance to push yourself beyond an Olympic as you’re working up to a half-Ironman. Pre-race email communications kept everyone informed about what they needed to do and what to expect. The expo the day before the race had a god vendor presence, and the swag bag was generous given the high registration fee for this event. One big bonus that distinguishes this race from others is the opportunity to raise money for a charitable partner; SB Triathlon picks a different one every year (voted on by participants); in 2012, it was the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. I was set up with a fundraising page and collected enough money in donations to win a couple of prizes (SB tri racing hat & socks). Parking on the day of the race is challenging; if you’re coming in from out of town, try to book a hotel far in advance that’s within walking distance to the transition/ starting area. The course itself is just gorgeous. The water was around 60-62 degrees but a fairly calm and a great swim at Cabrillo Beach. The bike course offers spectacular views and some really challenging hill climbs. On the downside, it’s not entirely closed to traffic and some of the drivers were less than courteous. At one point I had to come to a complete stop while waiting to make a left turn, not ideal for a race. The run course parallels the beach then climbs uphill, and it seems like a longtime before you get to the turn around. One of the tougher courses I’ve done but very rewarding to get through it. Post-race: Results were posted quickly and photos were available within just a few days.
I will definitely do this race again.
