Race: Santa Barbara Half Marathon
Runner: TRR Coach Evan Covell
Race Date: 11/09/2025
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Result: 1:27:34, 103rd out of 4758
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/16407091678
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- Community: Santa Barbara is such a special place filled with people who love running. The race organization, Run Local Events, focuses on highlighting the local community and supporting local artists and vendors. They do this all while putting on a high quality event with over 7,000 participants.
- Course: The half marathon runs through all the significant areas of Santa Barbara. It takes you along a scenic tour of the waterfront, bustling State Street, and around some of the most beautiful parks and botanic gardens.
- Post-Race Festivities: Right after you finish, you can explore the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara known for its many breweries and trendy restaurants. The race partners with different establishments to open their doors early as the streets are closed to traffic, and a live band sets up in the street and fills the air with music.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Each year this race has been growing, which is great! But I will say the line to pick up your free drink might be getting too long for those who finish at the peak times, 1:45-2:15 for the half marathon. Other than that, I honestly can’t think of any complaints! It is so well-run and such a fun vibe.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I paced myself well, taking the conservative approach in the beginning miles. This allowed me to have a strong finish down State Street, which I enjoyed tremendously! I love that this race has multiple sections where you turn around (a generously wide turn) and get to see all the runners either behind or ahead of you. There were so many shouts of joy and encouragement from my friends out there.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Be patient in the beginning miles up the first climb, you will make back your seconds lost on the blazing fast and runnable downhill sections. Also be sure to look around, you won’t want to miss the amazing sights that Santa Barbara has to offer. Pro-tip: around mile 7.5 look to your right, you might see the giraffes poking their heads out of their exhibit at the Santa Barbara Zoo!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Be aware of the two hills, from mile 1 – 2.5, and then again from mile 10.5 – 12. These hills are gradual but tough. The first one is early enough that you run it well, but if you push too hard you might zap your legs a bit for later on. The second hill is more difficult mainly by its position in the race, you will get through it and enjoy the downhill finish.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
YES! Santa Barbara, known as the American Riviera, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, in my opinion. You run the majority of the miles along Cabrillo Boulevard which hugs the coast line. You climb up into the Mesa neighborhood which offers beautiful views of the mountains to one side and the Pacific Ocean to the other. Then you run up historic State Street past all the shops and restaurants. Finally, you head around Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, a beautiful botanic garden often called the “crown jewel” of city parks.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
It is a moderately tough course. The first mile is flat then you climb up Shoreline Drive for about 1.5 miles. This steady climb can slow you down a touch, but you get all that blazing fast downhill right back as you make your first turn-around. Then the course is flat along the waterfront for through mile 10.5, before taking a steady climb up State Street and around the park, before a downhill finish for the last 1.1 miles. The climb up State Street is the most difficult portion of the course mainly because at that point in the race you are already fatigued. But the downhill finish is extremely runnable and is home to the State Street Mile, typically a springtime race where many elites chase down a sub-4 minute mile.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The Santa Barbara Half Marathon is extremely well organized. From the pre-race communications, to the day off experience, in my last three years running this race I’ve experienced zero hiccups. While the participation numbers have increased pretty dramatically, the race organizers have handled in the increase with ease and professionalism.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Moderately so: the winner of the men’s race this year ran 1:06:35, the winner of the women’s race ran 1:19:47. My time of 1:27:34 placed me in 103rd for reference.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
2025 is the first year the Santa Barbara Half Marathon has sold out: about 3 weeks in advance. There was a lot of chatter of people looking for a transfer bib, because they were surprised it sold out so soon. I would expect it to sell out sooner next year as well. I heard from the race director that all the waterfront hotels were at capacity on the weekend. And if you’re traveling from out of state or northern California, Santa Barbara has it’s own airport that is convenient and super easy to navigate.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard fare for the aid stations. The race has the local high school cross country teams attend a few of the aid stations. They always bring a lot of fun energy!
Weather and typical race conditions
Weather is typically low 50s at the start and mid 50s at the finish: perfect conditions. The 7 am start time is perfect, typically giving you some marine layer fog to block the sun. But by the time the post-race festivities come, it’s a classic bright and sunny Santa Barbara day.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
A very spectator friendly course, and the crowds were amazing this year! The energy was so high, and there were so many fun signs out there. You can tell the locals enjoy when the race runs through their neighborhood as they are typically out in their front yards to cheer. Santa Barbara has many rental e-bike options that make getting around the closed-for-race-day streets a breeze.
How’s the Swag?
The swag is epic! Each year they commission a local artist to design the medal and the event T-shirts with a unique design. At the expo they regularly sell shirts, jackets, and hats with the Santa Barbara Half logo on display!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
10/10 stars! If you couldn’t tell, I really love this race. I may be slightly biased since it is in my home town, but I really do believe in the growth and professionalism that this race brings. I couldn’t recommend the Santa Barbara Half Marathon more!
Evan Covell is a coach with Team RunRun based in Santa Barbara, California. He helps runners set and achieve their goals through personalized, science-based training and injury prevention.