Santa Barbara Nine Trails Race

I signed up for Santa Barbara Nine Trails in the winter of 2022, but due to flooding related damage on the course I did not actually get a chance to run it until March of 2025, but it was worth the wait. Dad and I flew into Los Angeles and stayed in Carpinteria prior to the race. My pre race day consisted of a walk through the Carpinteria salt marsh and beach and a hike to Inspiration Point on the race course. The weather was drizzly with temperatures in the upper 40s. However, I knew that race day would be sunny and warmer. 

The race got underway at 0607 while it was still dark. The course began on a paved road and it quickly transitioned onto a very muddy and waterlogged Jesusita trail. I started off fairly conservatively and was sure to avoid getting my feet wet. The trail generally paralleled San Roque Creek and crossed it about 6 times before the trail deviated and began climbing more concertedly. 

The trail was generally not technical, but it was fairly twisty and unrelentingly uphill. We turned off the Jesusita trail onto the Inspiration Point trail and then to the Tunnel trail. As the course transitioned from canopy shaded riparian zone to the higher reaches of the ridge, the headlamp was no longer necessary. The highpoint on the course was the junction between Canyon Ridge trail and Gibraltar Road at 2520 feet. It felt very different to descend a evenly paved road after 7 miles on a windy trail. I hit the first aid station at mile 8.6 in 1:29:59.

From the Gibraltar aid station, the West Fork Cold Spring trail continued to descend, following and periodically crossing West Fork Montecito Creek until reaching a low point of 915 feet at the junction of the west fork and east fork of Montecito Creek (Mile 10.4 1:44:12). The trail then began to climb back up the East Fork Montecito Creek before transitioning onto the Edison Catway. Edison Catway trail gave way briefly to the Hot Springs trail with another creek crossing before continuing out of the ravine. The trail again descended down to San Ysidro Creek (Mile 14.2 2:19:02) and then climbed back up the Edison Access Road. Edison Access Road transitioned to the Buena Vista Trail which crossed Buena Vista Creek and then returned to the Edison Catway. The midway aid station came shortly after crossing Romero Creek at mile 17 (2:51:54 at 930 feet). 

The aid station crew asked if I needed anything and I said Jefferson Airplane was enough as the 1967 hit Somebody to Love played in the background. As it turns out, I should have probably grabbed a few more calories. The temperatures were rising as the sun was heating up the earth. Most of the back half of the course was fairly exposed and therefore I was hoping to move through it quickly. The Edison Catway trail section was generally more a dirt service road than a trail and was probably one of the least scenic on the route. However, the wide open and relatively untwisting nature of this path also made it a little easier to move quicker. I reached San Ysidro Creek at mile 20 in 3:26:43 and the Montecito Creek crossing at mile 23.6 in 4:08:17. This basically concluded the cute little hills on the back half of course and the climbing started in earnest again with the ascent to Gibraltar aid station. 

The temperatures, although mild for Santa Barbara, were sapping my energy reserves quickly and the first 23.6 miles had taken there toll. My pace dropped sharply on the 1500 foot ascent and I ran out of water for the first time during the race. As I staggered my way into the aid station at mile 25.5 (4:38:10), I stopped for the first time all day and gulped down some water, took some electrolyte capsules and put away a few calories. Then I began the march up the paved road to the high point on the course. The walk slowly transitioned to a jog and by the time I hit the trail I was running again. However, my pause in action due to dehydration was costly for my race. I generally combined a walk/jog pace over the next few climbs and put in a nice surge back to the finish area. My final miles were my fastest miles of the day as I was in a battle for position. I ended up 9th overall in 6:21:06. 

Following the race, dad and I explored the Carpinteria Bluffs, and got a chance to see the Harbor Seal pups. The next day we went to Goleta and birded Ellwood Mesa, Forest, and the Snowy Plover Roost Reserve. This was one of my most successful birding outings of all time, we identified 69 species. We followed up that birding walk with another loop of Lake Los Carneros which yielded several more bird species as well as an opportunity to pet some domestic goats and sheep. Because I like to use every last minute of time exploring a new place, I finished the day off with an out and back run along the Franklin Creek trail. This foothills run offered beautiful views of the Pacific Coast as well as the higher mountains to the east. It also provided a tour of an avocado farm which bookended the opening mile of the trail.

Before we boarded the jet home, we made one more quick stop to the Hollywood Hills. Starting from the Observatory trailhead dad and I walked up the Mount Hollywood trail and after reaching the viewpoint, I continued on to Cahuenga Peak and the Hollywood sign. This was a very touristy activity, but surprisingly I did not see many people and the trail system was quite impressive. I would compare the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles to Cougar Mountain of Seattle. Between the historic Nine Trails race, the birding, and the discovery of new trails I deemed the trip a great success. Thanks to the Santa Barbara Nine Trails RD and volunteers. Thanks to my dad for crewing and joining me on the adventure!