The start was crowded, took it easy and held back otherwise I would have had to start swimming over people. It was my longest distance tri, so I wanted to go out a little easy. Overall very happy with the swim, being able to breath on the left side as well as the right really helped on the return leg as I was able to not only sight to the shoreline but enjoy the view as well.

Perhaps been alittle more aggressive in the start, I could have easily hung with the front or middle of the pack, choosing the back hung my up in slow traffic. Oh ya, due to sharp rocks on the beach I purchased a set of Blue Seventy Booties, they feel like they filled with water and may or may not have slowed me down. But they where great after running through the sand I got to transition and pulled them off and my feet where as clean as a whistle.

This is my last race with rat traps on the bike. I had to both slip on socks on wet feet, and install my running shoes. I was honestly abit winded from the swim so I also used this as abit of recovery time.

Next race I will have full clip in pedals with shoes attached to the bike so that would make things faster. Time and practice.

A quite challenging route, some good hills that worked you hard and long. Some good fast downhills. Good traffic control and volunteers and police. I probably pushed abit hard, but I really enjoyed the course, even that last hill that had me cursing out loud.

I would highly recommend a wider 25mm comfort tire to take some of the harshness out of the rough roads.

The bike was long and harsh so I had difficulty running off the bike, but either way got a hussle in and got it done. Since riding with running shoes, no shoe change needed, drop the helmet, grab the bib and go. I took off my cycling gloves on the run out of transition.

I suffered on the run and went out slow and was unable to pick up the pace, I had one pace and that is all I had. Started to side cramp and was able to eat a cliff bar over the period of the first 5 miles, one very small bite at a time. Tried to pick up the pace a couple times but knew I would cook myself fast if I kept it up so just stayed at a steady pace.

Not sure if I 'bonked' from not enough to eat pre-race, or if I just over biked the bike course. Either way, I met my time predictions and I got it done. It was my longest Tri yet so I am happy to have had a very acceptable performance.

OMG cooked legs! lol
So happy they had a full meal lunch and vegetarian friendly. I ate and watched the awards ceremonies. walked back to transition and packed up and bike my wasted butt 1/2 mile home for a HOT shower and a nap!


Lack of structured training, perhaps not enough pre-race nutrition, pacing on the bike a little to hard?


I always love Santa Barbara and this race event is definitely a return to race. The swim is perfect, nice and cool with very little current or waves. The bike course is very scenic yet challenging. The run, who would not love to run right along the scenic shoreline of Santa Barbara.

Well organized with both volunteer and police presence. Lots of other distance options as well. Loved it, will gladly return next year.