Lauren S.  11/6/09

Half IM is LONG! The swim was cancelled due to heavy fog in the morning, but the weather was BEAUTIFUL for the bike and run. Long run on concrete/roads to the transition area from the beach, hoefully next time they will clear out the dog droppings and rocks along the way.

Bike course is absolutely beautiful and relatively flat. Course is NOT closed to traffic, so passing on the bike can be a bit hectic. Wind is at your back on the return trip, so it's okay to go out harder on the first half.
Run is an out and back on road, some dirt, and bike paths. Aid stations every mile with friendly and helpful volunteers. Run ends on the beach in a dramatic, but not cleared finish. There were lots of people/athletes walking and standing in the 'course'.

    Mary K.  8/31/09

This was my first long-distance triathlon, and I completed it in 2008. I consider the scenery of the Santa Cruz coast to be second-to-none, and the swim, bike ride, and run are just tremendous. The volunteers were very helpful, and the race announcers were fabulous. The only negative is that the run from the beach to the transition area is very long, but the nice thing is that there were a lot of fans to cheer me on as I jogged down the street with bare feet. I really enjoyed this race, and the necklace that is given out with the shirt is still hanging from my rearview mirror. And the medal - a wonderful ceramic Hawaiian art piece - is hanging in my kitchen.

    Jonathan S.  8/29/09

I did this race as a for fun race. Being for out of town the scenery at this race is amazing! There also aren't too many triathlons nearby that have a relatively flat course which is also a big plus. Overall the only negative thing I have to say is the race was a little unorganized and chaotic during some parts of the bike ride.

Overall I would recommending it / do it again.

    Greg F.  4/24/09

The course is relatively flat and fast with enough undulations in the bike to change up the muscles a bit. Would have been a great race for me back in '07 except for one detail. The beach the swim takes place in had been closed down for high e coli rates in the water and was opened up for the race. I felt great until most of the way through the bike, then spent the beginning of the run in the bathroom and was soon slowed to a very discomforting walk. Had it not been for the bad water (or perhaps my bad swimming that allowed me to take in a bit of the water) it could have been a good race.

    Paul M.  4/21/09

I really liked this race. It was my first half-IM distance race, and I couldn't have asked for more. The scenery on the bike ride and the run was fantastic - bluffs on the California coast. AND they hand out AMAZING burritos at the finish, mmm

A few things I didn't like:
- not super organized (at least when compared to M-dot races)
- they used Hammer products which are gross
- the swim is not the most fun - santa cruz water is cold, choppy and dirty
- the beach finish is kind of evil
- not many hotels/restaurants near-by

Overall, I really liked this race (even though I said more negatives). It is a cost-effective half-IM distance race from which I still vividly remember the views.