RunSantaBarbara.com hosted its annual Nite Moves on Wednesday night, where families, runners, and swimmers all gathered at Leadbetter Beach for a night of competitive exercise and socializing.
Every Wednesday night from May to September a presenting sponsor organizes the event for Santa Barbara locals of all ages to collaborate to compete and have fun.
Swimmers get a chance to paddle out and test the waters for a 1k ocean race, and those that feel up to it also get the chance to compete in the biathlon, by also running in the 5k race that follows.
33-year-old Ricky Ho of Carpinteria set out to dominate this week’s 5k, finishing just under the 17 minute mark at 16:51, 28 seconds faster than the next finisher.
“I got 17:00 exactly last week, so it was my goal to break it this week,” said Ho.
His finishing kick in the last 100 meters enabled him to conquer the feat. Ho has been running Nite Moves for the past 3 years, and like many of the other Santa Barbara locals that continue to return to the event, he loves the friendly competition, the course, and the sunset.
Much like Ho, the woman’s winner Feliatas Vielhaber, a cross-country runner from Germany, won the race uncontested as she barreled down the last 150-meter downhill determined for a great time.
“It’s a tough course because you have to pace yourself because there is so much uphill at the beginning, but it’s very beautiful,” said Vielhaber, who finished in the top 15 overall. “The downhill at the end is a good way to finish.”
Christian Terpening won the 1k swim in 14:11, and Chris Arntz from Montecito won the Aquathon with a 16:02 swim and 22:00 run for a combined time of 38:02, over a minute ahead of the next biathlete.
During all the races there was still time for family and food as that sun set on Leadbetter Beach and Shoreline Park. A BBQ on the beach with families gathered and a friendly atmosphere makes Nite Moves feel like 4th of July every Wednesday night.
