2019 Santa Barbara Wine Country Half
Race Overview/Summary: We have all heard of Santa Barbara - but have you heard of Solvang, a town rich in Danish architecture? Full of quaint bakeries & wineries as well as home to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum? Within the boundaries of the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang means ’Sunny Field’ and you’ll see why on this course!
Packet Pick Up: I took the train & then a connector shuttle directly into Solvang. I was dropped off right at the Expo at Solvang Park! Instead of providing bib numbers beforehand, we were given QR codes (I love technology). Take your QR code to the stand, where they scan it & assign your bib number. Takes less than 5 minutes. Then you grab your shirt. I walked around the Expo, did a little wine tasting & then headed for a walk around Solvang to taste more wine & take pictures of the Windmills.
CourSe Route/Elevation: 2 Words. Corkscrew Hill. With over 1,000 feet in elevation gain, the name says everything you need to know. Train for high elevation & train for hills. Although I must say, the view from the top is absolutely gorgeous.
Swag/Extras: Wine Glass & Wine Before and After Parties! It wouldn’t be a Wine Country Half without it, right? At the Expo for Packet Pick Up, we were treated to a few wine & beer tastings. One of my new favorites - Rosalie - is a beer rose hybrid. Who knew such a thing existed!?!? I picked up a canvas tote bag for $15.00 & then grabbed a few samples as I walked around The Expo. It wasn’t a large Expo. But the layout was nice enough that you could just make loops to ensure you got a chance to visit all the booths. In addition to the wine tasting & merchandise, there were quite a few photo booths & selfies stations for you to get a great photo.
Medal: The medal doubles as a wine topper!
Conclusion: Grab some run pals for a long weekend in Sunny Solvang. Enjoy the small town atmosphere & enjoy some wine. With a Saturday start time, you can enjoy Saturday & Sunday walking around Solvang - visiting the bakeries or historical monuments. You will be in awe that you get to run in such a beautiful place.
