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.
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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.