MANTA HALF MARATHON
The Santa Barbara International Marathon and Half Marathon is a road race in Southern California, offering marathon and half marathon distances centered around Goleta and Santa Barbara. The marathon begins at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta and concludes at Santa Barbara City College. The full marathon serves as a Boston Marathon qualifier. The event's origins trace back to 1965, making it one of California's early marathons, and it was later re-established after a 24-year hiatus. The course starts in Goleta, proceeds towards Isla Vista's outskirts, winds through residential areas, and then enters Santa Barbara. Participants encounter a significant incline late in the race before descending towards the finish at the City College stadium, with views of the Pacific Ocean. The initial race was established by local distance runners, with its first running featuring 27 starters and 17 finishers, lacking aid stations and road closures. In the renewed series, the half marathon has attracted more participants, with one recorded edition showing more than double the number of half marathon finishers compared to marathon finishers.
