2024 SANTA BARBARA HALF MARATHON EVENTS

Back to Articles

On November 3, 2024, runners will hit the pavement for the highly anticipated Santa Barbara Half Marathon, presented by HOKA, alongside the UCLA Health 5K and the ever-adorable HOKA Kids Fun Run. This trio of exhilarating events perfectly blends the breathtaking beauty of Santa Barbara with the excitement of race day. Whether you're tackling the half marathon, enjoying the scenic 5K, or cheering on the littlest athletes, this event is a celebration of fitness, community, and coastal charm. From the fresh ocean breeze along the waterfront to the enthusiastic support from locals at every turn, it's more than just a race—it's a Santa Barbara experience like no other. Lace-up, breathe it all in, and get ready for an unforgettable day.

Aerial view of Santa Barbara's oceanfront boulevard and adjacent beach and red-roofed buildings showing hundreds of runners in the annual Half Marathon

Experience Santa Barbara's Neighborhoods on Foot

Remember—Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on race day, so be sure to set your clocks back one hour to make it to the starting line on time.

The 13.1-mile main event kicks off bright and early at 7:00 am, leading participants on a stunning journey along two of the most quintessential roads in the heart of the American Riviera—Cabrillo Boulevard and State Street.

Participants will enjoy the fresh morning air and the soothing sound of waves as they make their way along Santa Barbara’s picturesque waterfront. Starting on Cabrillo Boulevard, they'll be greeted by palm trees and stunning ocean views. This flat, scenic stretch is the perfect way to find your rhythm and soak in the beauty that makes our coastal haven so special.

But the adventure doesn't stop there. As the course winds into the heart of downtown, runners will pass some of the city's most beloved landmarks, including the historic Stearns Wharf—the oldest working wooden wharf in California—and the archetypal Mission-style architecture that defines Santa Barbara's unique charm.

Crowds will line the streets, cheering on participants, especially during the final stretch—a thrilling descent down the famous State Street promenade. Push for a personal best as you race past Santa Barbara’s shops, restaurants, and theaters. It's a grand finale worthy of the effort.

A dozen runners with hands in the air as they finish Santa Barbaras's annual Half Marathon.

Exciting News for 2024 – A Brand New 5K Course

The UCLA Health 5K starts on State Street at 8:30 am and promises an exciting new scenic experience along a brand new course. Runners will take off, then turn left onto Cabrillo Blvd, enjoying a longer stint on the waterfront loop showcasing breathtaking views of Santa Barbara's spectacular coastline. The first two miles serve up some seriously stunning sights, making for a picturesque run like no other. As participants approach the finish line, the course winds through the streets of downtown, wrapping up with a memorable finish on the State Street promenade. Whether a seasoned runner or just someone looking for a fun morning outdoors, this new course guarantees an unforgettable 5K experience.

A pack of children in colorful running clothes begin a marathon on a downtown street, with dozens of parents cheering on the sidelines.

HOKA Kids Fun Run

The HOKA Kids Fun Run kicks off at 10:00 am near the corner of State Street and Yanonali. Santa Barbara’s possible Olympic athletes of the future will be organized by age group, starting with the youngest and finishing with the oldest, ensuring each group gets their time to shine. Parents and guardians are welcome to join in the fun, too. This untimed run promises to be a blast, with family and friends lining the streets to cheer on kids aged 0-7. Distances will vary based on age, from a short 200 meters up to a half-mile for the older kids. The route winds its way toward the Funk Zone Finish Line Festival, where everyone can celebrate the accomplishments of these budding runners. It’s the perfect way for young ones to experience the thrill of race day while soaking up the excitement of the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.

And thanks to the generous support of the Santa Barbara Running Association and other sponsors, the Kids Fun Run is completely FREE.

Six participants celebrating with beers in their hands as they toast the completion of a half marathon.

Funk Zone Finish Line Festival

The post-race celebration will be in full swing at the festival on Yanonali Street between State and Anacapa Streets in Santa Barbara’s lively Funk Zone neighborhood. Relax and recharge while soaking up the live music, or head over to the Figueroa Mountain Beer Garden for a refreshing drink (runners, don’t forget—your race bib gets you a free beer). A dedicated Kids Zone, packed with fun activities for the little ones, will keep them entertained while the grown-ups recover.

This lively festival is open to the entire community, so bring family, friends, and neighbors to share in the excitement. Aside from the beer garden, there will be plenty of food and beverage specials from local vendors. Plus, explore what local businesses and partners have to offer as you stroll through the festival. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable day of community, celebration, and fun.

Personal Interest. Professional Representation

With my deep commitment to meaningful local initiatives, I’m supporting the Santa Barbara Half Marathon again this year as the Official Real Estate Partner. This event is the perfect way for me to positively impact the local neighborhoods I love. Each dollar spent contributes at least 5% to partner organizations that are dedicated to making a meaningful difference right here in Santa Barbara. Together, this collaboration fosters a sense of community and pride, making every step taken during the race a stride toward a brighter future for our neighborhoods.

Please mark your calendars and get ready to join the Santa Barbara Half Marathon, where the thrill of running meets the beauty of our city's streets. Let's run together, celebrate together, and make memories that will last a lifetime. And remember, I'm here to help you find your perfect home in our wonderful neighborhoods and communities. When you’re ready to buy or sell, just call me at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. As your local realtor, you can count on me to assist you with all your real estate needs. See you at the starting line!

Of Related Interest:

Back to Articles

Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch