UCLA Health 5K (3.1 Miles)

Sunday, November 9 @ 8:30am

NEW 5K Course in 2024! The UCLA Health 5K kicks off on State Street and for the first time turns left (insert Zoolander meme) onto Cabrillo Blvd for an extended waterfront loop. After a scenic first two miles along the world renowned Santa Barbara waterfront, you’ll wind into downtown for a finish on historic State Street.

2024 Santa Barbara Half Marathon & 5K course

'SB Half Collection

All participants will receive a Finisher’s Medal and long-sleeve tech tee .

Each year we work with a local artisan to create a unique participant shirt, medal and merchandise collection. Learn more about our Art program & stay tuned for our 2025 announcement!

Please review the Packet Pick Up page for the most up-to-date information. Packet Pick Up is available on Friday & Saturday the Palm Park Festival.

Gear Check is available beginning at 5:30am on State Street & Yanonali in the Loquita Parking Lot, adjacent the starting line for the Half Marathon & 5K.

We have a NEW 5K Course in 2024! 

Start: You’ll begin your journey on State Street heading toward the Dolphin Fountain and Stearns Wharf.

Miles 1 & 2: You’ll then make a left (insert Zoolander meme) onto Cabrillo Blvd for an extended waterfront loop.

Mile 3: Your journey will finish as you wind onto historic State Street for an energetic finish line.

The 5K starts at 8:30am. We will send everyone off in four Wave starts. Your Wave will be designated on the bottom left of your Bib.

Four Wave starts, from approximately 6mins per Mile pace to 15mins per Mile will leave the start area in 5min intervals. Your Wave will be designated on the bottom left of your Bib. Waves are flexible – if you want to join a friend in another wave, that’s fine!

The National Anthem will take place at approximately 8:20am.

Bike leads are provided for the leaders.

The following items are not permitted on the course:  Dogs or any pets, skateboards, bicycles, roller blades, baby joggers, and any other type of vehicle (other than official event vehicles). These regulations are for your safety and the safety of the other participants in the race. The San Barbara Half Marathon & 5K reserves the right to disqualify and remove anyone from the course who has any of the above items.

To enjoy all that our race has to offer and for the safety of all participants, we also encourage a headphone-free environment during the running of all of our races. You must be able to hear any verbal instructions or commands from race staff.

Please be mindful of the other participants and respect the race personnel to ensure a safe and enjoyable race for everyone. 

All aid stations will have water, electrolytes and portable restrooms. At select aid stations, noted below we also have energy gels. To learn more about our partners please scroll down to the Nutrition Partners section of this web page. Specific aid station locations are subject to change.

Energy Gels On Course

  • GU

Voli Hydration on Course

  • Sunset Strawberry Lemonade


Aid Station Locations

  • Start Line: Water & Gels
  • Mile 1.75: Water, Electrolytes & Aid Station
  • Finish Line: Water, Electrolytes & Assorted Snacks

 

Thank you to our local Volunteer Medical Team led by Jason George, RN, and supported by the Westmont Downtown Grotenhuis Nursing Program as well as various local students and professionals!

In partnership with agency Meliora, which works with events and brands always striving to be better, the Santa Barbara Half Marathon will include the following for families and women. 
 
Lactation Station
Near the start line on State St & Yanonali as well as at the Aid Station on Castillo St. & Bath St. the event will have a four-walled tent for any participant and their family who needs privacy for nursing. Chairs, hand sanitizer, and wipes are provided at each location.
 
Due to safety, strollers are not allowed on the course, but families may meet each other at designated locations. The tents will be well-marked with signage.
 
Feminine Products
Each Aid Station will also have a box of feminine products.
 
Please speak to a Medical Team volunteer (red shirts) who will be ready to assist you.

Upon finishing each participant will receive at the finish line, at a minimum, their finisher’s medal, fruit, water, electrolytes, and healthy snacks. Thank you to Open Water for supplying our event with BPA-free aluminum reusable water bottles! 

At the Funk Zone Finish Line Festival you’ll enjoy music, vendors, a drink garden and many businesses open early for race morning!

Coming Soon! Stay tuned for weekend promos for you to maximize your weekend in Santa Barbara.

Awards are provided for overall winners in the 5K in three categories: Men, Women and Non-Binary+. There are no age group category award in the 5K.

  • Half Marathon & 5K overall awards will take place at the Finish Line Festival Main Stage (Yanonali St. & Helena Ave.) at 9:00am.
  • Winners must be present to pick-up on site shipping award gifts will incur shipping & handling costs.
  • If you miss the award ceremony at 9:00am, awards will be available at the Awards Tent (near Yanonali & State) beginning at 9:30am 
 

2025 will mark our 5th year celebration and the first opportunity for our legacy runners to claim a special award.

Participants in Run Local events are eligible for a special gift when they have participated in 5 editions (or 10, 15, 20, and so on) of a particular event. 

At Run Local we award legacy runners based on the count of events, not just those who have run every single year, since we know life happens and sometimes you can’t make it. But, for you streakers out there, do not worry, we have additional gifts for those who have done it every single year!

So, for those of you who have done the Santa Barbara Half Marathon or 5K every year since 2021, this is your chance to claim the first round of legacy awards!

 

Onsite registration areas, bathroom facilities, and the course are wheelchair accessible. Note that on the course, there are a few curbs to go up/down. When you register online, the registration form will ask if you are a wheelchair participant. We do have a wheelchair division.  The wheelchair division starts a few minutes before the main start of the race.

For questions about accessibility or to request accommodation, please e-mail: [email protected]. Requests should be made at least two weeks prior to the event. We will do our best to accommodate you.

  • All registered participants will receive bib numbers that must be worn on race day.
  • Please fill in the necessary medical and emergency contact information on the back of the bib number with a pen or waterproof marker.
  • Please do not alter the bib in any way.
  • The bib must be visible and worn on the front outside of all clothing during the entire race.
  • Make sure your bib number is clearly visible for the race photographers.
  • Bib numbers are non-transferable and must be worn by the registrant to whom it has been assigned.

B-Tags are attached to the participant’s bib and clearly marked with the corresponding bib number. You do not need to return your bib or b-tag chip.

Tips to have your time accurately recorded:

  • Race bib is clearly visible on the front of the torso
  • Race bib is unaltered and unmodified (Do not fold or wrinkle)
  • Race bib is pinned in all four corners
  • Race bib is not covered (jackets, runner belts, water bottles, etc.)

Course Nutrition & Aid Stations

2024 nutrition & hydration will be powered by Voli Wellness & GU. You’ll be fueled up from start to finish to have your best race! Below we have provided you with the specific locations of the various aid stations to you can have your race plan all mapped out. 

  • Voli Wellness Hydration Stations will provide their Sunset Strawberry Lemonade – enjoy 20% by using promo code RUNSBHALF24 at voliwellness.com today!
UCLA Health 5K

Mile markers below are approximations.

Motivation

Thank you to the following groups providing on-course entertainment! Stay tuned for more as we near race day.
Thank you to all of our volunteers who support everyone along the way. Learn more about our volunteer program and community impact.
Finally, enjoy our playlists curated by Run Local and local DJ & 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier, DJ Curly to get you excited for race weekend! 
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