As if San Diego County didn’t have steep enough or long enough mountains, some local runners are making the trek about 4 hours north to Santa Barbara, CA to participate in the Pier to Peak Half Marathon. The race happens Sunday, September 5th, Labor Day Weekend, making it perfect timing for an out of town race.
The 13.1 mile course begins at Stearn’s Wharf in Santa Barbara (obviously sea-level) and winds up the spectacular range of coastal mountains to the finish, nearly 4000 feet in elevation higher, at La Cumbre Peak. No, that isn’t a typo. The course features a relentless, constant climb of 4000 feet in elevation gain.
This is not your typical half marathon as the demand on the athletes’ bodies will be far greater. Legs and lungs will fatigue early leaving miles and miles of running on empty, burning muscles to accompany a parched tongue. Thus the draw of the event. Challenging, ultra and unusual events are growing in popularity as runners seek more and seek to know how far they can push themselves.
The rewards of completing the Pier to Peak half are many. First is the beauty of the course itself. The Santa Ynez mountain range which borders the city of Santa Barbara is truly majestic, and a testimony to the power of nature. In the Spring of 2009, the range was scarred by wildfires but, just as the athletes will, it overcame.
The second reward is the view from the peak. Finishers will catch their breath, re-hydrate, and collapse while looking down at the starting line, a mere speck in the distance, against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands. This will make finishing … worth it.
Lastly, there is the reward of completing the challenge. With only 350 competitors allowed to enter each year, this is a feat that only a few runners will get to attempt. And those who finish will have something to brag about.
With all the beauty that exists here in San Diego County and all of the events which are locally hosted, it takes a truly special race to draw locals up the coast. The Pier to Peak Half Marathon is one of those. Check out the slide show to get a taste.
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