In 2021, I ran the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon in 1:29. It was my fastest half marathon since 2018 when I PRed. I thought: I am finally coming back and maybe going to be fast enough to chase some PRs (LOL 1:22). That did not happen, and three days later, I fell and hurt my back. That started an illness and injury cycle that lasted for about two years. It was only in 2025 at Mountains 2 Beach that I ran a 1:29 again.

I have not been ready to return to the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon. I did not want to run a lot slower, feel miserable, or compare myself, so I stayed away from the race. This year, I thought it might be the year I was in similar fitness. I know I am, it just was not my day and that is ok. Two days later, my period came and it all makes sense. I’m someone who can run well on my period, but never the days leading up. I usually just feel very tired and with lower energy…so it all makes sense.

A few questions people have asked about the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon:

Is the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon hilly?
Yes. The course has several climbs in both the first and second half, with the toughest stretch between miles 10 and 12. It is not the fastest half marathon in California, but the views make the race worth it.

Is the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon a good race for beginners?
It can be. The start and finish area is easy to navigate, and there is strong crowd support. Runners should be ready for hills and plan their pacing around the changing terrain.

Does the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon sell out?
Yes, it can. In recent years the race has grown and has reached capacity. If the event is on your list, register early so you are not scrambling the week of the race.

What is the weather usually like for the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon?
Weather can vary, but expect mild temperatures with some humidity. The race starts early, which helps, but the sun and coastal moisture are noticeable by mid race. In 2025, it was about 65 and cloudy at the start.

Is the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon a fast course for PRs?
It depends on your strengths. The course has several rolling hills and long climbs that slow many runners down. If you handle hills well, you can run a strong time. The end is challenging because you are tired and the last thing you want to do is climb from miles 10-12. If you prefer flatter courses, you may want to save your PR attempt for a faster route.

The Day Before the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon

My in-laws came to visit, and we all went down to Santa Barbara around 10:30 am. I was disappointed that the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon expo ended at 2 pm the day before the race. It is inconvenient for those traveling to Santa Barbara to run. The Santa Barbara race has close to 5000 people and for those that are coming from out of town Friday is not an option and to come in before 2 is hard.

The packet pickup was chaotic. We arrived around 1:30 pm and it was busy and messy. It would seem many people faced a similar issue we did. My husband stayed in the car because there was no parking.

After packet pickup, we ended up going to the zoo and walking around. Probably not the smartest pre race decision, but it was fun. We ate an early dinner and relaxed. It was a quiet night. I woke up at 4:30 am for the 7 am start and did a mile warmup at 6 am. I felt decent. Not amazing, but decent.

Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon Race Start

The last time I ran this race, it was much smaller. It has grown a lot, and this year it looked like it sold out. With the race being bigger, I did find there were a lot of areas that were so crowded. the streets are fairly narrow for the amount of runners on the course…The organizers added four corrals, and runners could choose the one that matched their pace.

At 7:01, we started. I felt good early. I settled close to the 1:30 pacer. When I glanced down and saw 6:33 pace, I figured it was GPS error. The first mile of the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon is flat, and I ran a 6:43. I felt strong and hopeful that I might run my fastest half in a while. I felt really good and that was the theme until around mile 7.

The Hills of the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon

I remembered the course was hilly but forgot how hilly. The next mile climbed and I ran a 6:57. The 1:30 pacer drifted ahead, but I thought I would make it up on the downhill. I ran a 6:52, then hit the downhill and ran 6:41 and 6:48.

During the downhill, the 1:30 pacer fully dropped me. I have a love and hate relationship with pace groups and when I looked later they came in at 1:29. Even though the pacer was about 30 seconds ahead, I knew I was still on 1:30 pace. I kept reminding myself to run my own race and that just because they were off pace did not mean I was. But around mile 7, my body just felt flat. It was like I couldn’t pick up my legs.

I hit halfway in 44:55, which averages to 1:29:50 if you run the tangents so I knew I would need to pick it up if I wanted a sub 1:30. I also knew the back half was hillier. It was warmer and more humid than I like, but I kept moving.

Running back through the start area was fun. There were a surprising number of spectators, and the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon really is a great spectating race. If you’re spectating the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon, you can pretty much stand in one spot then go to the race finish and see runners multiple times.

The Back Half: Heat, Hills, and Mental Grind

Around mile 7, I had trouble getting my gel down, likely because it was humid and my body just wasn’t feeling it.. Not terrible and not great, but very in the middle. Two days later, my period came. I can run well when my period is here (and man I’ve had some good workouts on it) but the days leading up, not so much and I usually just feel tired and flat. I don’t know why I didn’t put two and two together.

Miles 7 through 13.1 became a mental grind. After mile 9, every turn felt uphill. When we left the main ocean view and town, I thought the downhill had to be coming. It was not. Miles 10 through 12 were a steady climb. I completely forgot there was basically two miles uphill at the end of Santa Barbara. I told myself not to look at my watch because it would only frustrate me. Afterward, I saw I ran a 7:28 and 7:35.

When we turned toward the finish, I knew the last mile was downhill and could be fast. This year the finish included more uphill before the bridge, but I still pushed. With almost 100 feet of drop, I ran a 6:33 final mile and finished the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon in 1:32:07.

Final Thoughts on the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon

I am not overly excited about my time, but it was not terrible either. Honestly to feel so flat and still run a 1:32 on a hilly course is exciting. My body did not have it on the day and that’s ok. I was happy since I recently moved into the 35-39 age group that I won the age group. How fun.

The Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon continues to be one of the most scenic and challenging half marathons in California. The hills, coastal views, and strong community support make it a memorable race whether it goes perfectly or not. I will always recommend it for runners looking for a beautiful but honest course. Even on an off day, the race reminded me why I enjoy coming back to Santa Barbara.

There were a couple of things I didn’t love: from the narrow streets to the race packet pickup times, but in all a good race.

You can see Strava here and all race recaps here.

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Questions for you:

Have you run the Run Local Santa Barbara Half Marathon?

What is your favorite half marathon?