Thousands set to participate in Santa Barbara Half Marathon

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - For the first time, those  visually impaired and disabled will join thousands of runners at the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.

"I’m very excited about it because it’s my first marathon. And I’m very enthusiastic." said runner Patricia Aguilar of the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.

“I’m excited because for many of the athletes it’s their first time to ever run in a 5K or half marathon … and are either visually impaired or they have down syndrome or they are artistic … and they’re good athletes and they want to show the world they are good athletes," said executive director Dudley Conneely of Eyeshine.

“It’s such a fantastic experience to be able to run with other people … we’re all looking to just give opportunities for runners who might have lost some of those opportunities or never really got them … so I’m excited," said runner Zane Stull of the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.

Thanks to the Santa Barbara Running Association, entry fees for all the blind and disabled athletes have been covered. 

"We want to make it accessible to everyone. And we’re so thrilled to partner with run local and bring the half marathon … and make it really for the whole family … accessible to kids and athletes of all ability and just bring the community together and what running means," said president Lisa Dosch of the Santa Barbara Running Association.

More than 3,000 runners from all over the world are expected to join the race.

"From not only throughout California but from 39 states seven countries … it’s the largest participatory event in Santa Barbara County," said race director David Monico of the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.

"I love being able to bring our athletes out to a local event like this and really experience a race in a competitive environment that really gets you going and wanting to push yourself in new ways," said executive director Brianna Pettit of Blind Fitness.

Race weekend kicks off Friday, November 4 and continues at the Funk Zone Finish Line Festival on Sunday morning.

The event supports Santa Barbara Running Association's youth programs.

The event is supporting the Santa Barbara Running Association's youth programs.

Last year, more than $15,000 was donated to various organizations

For more information log onto: www.santabarbarahalf.com.

The weekend of events will begin on Friday with a two-day Funk Zone Packet Pick-Up for event participants in the parking lot of Rincon Brewery, Dart Coffee & Mollusk Surf. 

On Sunday morning, race day festivities will begin near State Street and Yanonali Street with the Half Marathon followed by the 5K (3.1 miles) at 8:15am.

Runners will toe the line on State Street in the Funk Zone and head out to enjoy the picturesque American Riviera waterfront before heading into Santa Barbara's historic downtown, including a fast, downhill finish on the State Street promenade.

Registration is still available. Visit www.santabarbarahalf.com to learn more.