Oceanside, California offers triathletes a chance to race in the city that birthed the sport in the early 1970's in Mission Bay. Oceanside is located at the northern end of San Diego's North County, which includes the beach communities of Del Mar, Cardiff, Encinitas, and Carlsbad—home to a mixture of surf, triathlon, and beach culture. Just half an hour south lies the city of San Diego, with its world-famous zoo, parks, and other attractions to fill a spring break vacation. Just two hours away from the local mountains, skiing and snowboarding are other options.

Santa Cruz embodies the laid-back, sandy-feet, “no shirt, no problem” culture that makes the California Coast so uniquely… California. Even passionate, driven triathletes (who’ve made Type 2 fun an art) pause their watches to take in the September sunset over the harbor. IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz has a long history in Santa Cruz, merging a chill, local-race feel with the high-end IRONMAN experience athletes expect. The course features a 1.2-mile ocean swim around the wharf, a 56-mile rolling bike along scenic Highway 1, and a flat half-marathon through parks and along coastal bluffs, finishing at the famous beach finish line. If it’s a laid-back season closer you crave, look no further than IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz for the ultimate surf city experience.