Santa Barbara Half Marathon

Santa Barbara Half Marathon, presented by HOKA, is run in Santa Barbara, California, on November 8, 2026. The USATF-certified half marathon (13.1 miles) starts at 7 a.m., the 5K at 8:30 a.m., and a free HOKA kids fun run of 500 meters closes the morning at 10 a.m. The half takes you along the waterfront on Cabrillo Boulevard, through downtown and onto a fast final stretch on the historic State Street promenade, with ocean views, closed roads and a strong local turnout. Finishers get a long-sleeve technical shirt and a medal designed by a local artisan; the weekend also includes a finish-line festival, downtown bib pickup and a drink ticket for partner breweries or the Golden Hour Beer Garden.

A certified, largely flat coastal course is a reasonable place to chase a half marathon best. Sharpen with two or three race-pace long runs in the final month.