Surf City Experience Santa Cruz embodies the laid-back, sandy-feet, “no shirt, no problem” culture that makes the California Coast so uniquely… California. Even passionate, driven triathletes (who’ve made Type 2 fun an art) pause their watches to take in the September sunset over the harbor. IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz has a …
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Surf City Experience
Santa Cruz embodies the laid-back, sandy-feet, “no shirt, no problem” culture that makes the California Coast so uniquely… California. Even passionate, driven triathletes (who’ve made Type 2 fun an art) pause their watches to take in the September sunset over the harbor. IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz has a long history in Santa Cruz, merging a chill, local-race feel with the high-end IRONMAN experience athletes expect. The course features a 1.2-mile ocean swim around the wharf, a 56-mile rolling bike along scenic Highway 1, and a flat half-marathon through parks and along coastal bluffs, finishing at the famous beach finish line. If it’s a laid-back season closer you crave, look no further than IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz for the ultimate surf city experience.
Swim
The swim will start on Santa Cruz Main Beach next to the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Swimmers will swim clockwise around the Wharf and exit the water on Cowell’s Beach.
Bike
The bike course is a scenic tour of the California Coastline beginning at Depot Park. The course then takes athletes north on beautiful Highway 1 as you pass more beautiful California coastline to the turnaround near historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Riders will then head back south on Highway 1 and return back to the Depot Park Transition zone.
Run
The run course is an out-and-back starting at Depot Park and heading across the West Cliff Bridge to the West Cliff Path. From there, it’s a primarily flat, fast, and coastal run along the West Cliff path around Natural Bridges State Park. The course takes athletes through the surrounding community, along an access path to Wilder Ranch State Park for the dramatic turnaround on the rugged ocean bluffs. Runners will then return on the same route to an exciting finish on the beach at Cowell’s Beach. The last 100 yards of the run course will be completed on the beach and in the sand.
Swim: OCEAN
Bike: FLAT
Run: ROLLING
High Air Temp: 68 °F / 20 °C
Low Air Temp: 55 °F / 13 °C
Avg Water Temp: 61 °F / 16 °C
Airport: SJC
LESS
Grassroots-like Ironman Event
This is a great late season Ironman event. The atmosphere is very grassroots-like. Feels like a small town event. The area is generally nice and has the character of many … MORE
This is a great late season Ironman event. The atmosphere is very grassroots-like. Feels like a small town event. The area is generally nice and has the character of many California beach towns. Centralize transition area and course variety made this a really fun event. Although there were over 3000 registered, it never felt crowded or overproduced. The swim was an amazing low-surf ocean swim that starts with a sprint into the wave and circumvents the Santa Cruz pier. There a 0.3 or run to transition thru the sand. The ride is great. You traverse thru town along the course with awesome view of the ocean and plenty of spectators. Then you head up the Pacific Coast Highway with rolling past surf an mountains. A very fast course with a few rollers and moderate climbs. The turnaround leads you back to town with a slight tailwind. The run was the best with coastal views and 3 mile or so trail run. The race finishes on the beach. The town has a hippie-like vibe and a real laid-back atmosphere. Definitely will do this again.
Great race for my first 70.3
This race was amazing. I used it as a training race for Ironman Arizona and it did not disappoint. The bike is hilly and there is a lot of elevation … MORE
This race was amazing. I used it as a training race for Ironman Arizona and it did not disappoint. The bike is hilly and there is a lot of elevation change but it was a great ride. The scenery can’t be beat and the ride as well as the run is set on PCH. Part of the ride also goes into the woodsy area so you are in the forrest and that was awesome as well. I loved every minute of it. The weather was amazing as well, no wind and sunny for the run.
The volunteers are awesome and give it their all, ensuring that you have everything that you need for the race at the aide stations. I would do this race again!
70.3 with a trail run in the middle
It is a good course for the most part but be aware you can get stuck at the train tracks, the middle two miles of the run are on trails … MORE
It is a good course for the most part but be aware you can get stuck at the train tracks, the middle two miles of the run are on trails and the last half mile is in the sand of the beach. It isn’t a PR course but it’s fair game.