Morro Bay Triathlon

The Morro Bay Triathlon closes the Central Coast race season on the waterfront In Morro Bay. The Morro Bay Triathlon stages on the waterfront Sunday, November 1 from 7 AM, with the swim in the protected waters of the bay, the bike course rolling into the back country, and the run tracing the harbor.

Olympic and sprint distances give athletes two ways in, and the race’s spot on the calendar makes it one of the season-closing triathlons on the Central Coast circuit. The bay swim is the signature leg, flat, protected water inside the harbor with the Rock standing over the start, about as scenic as race swims get.

The transition areas and finish sit along the waterfront, which makes this an unusually spectator-friendly triathlon: coffee in hand, athletes coming through all morning, and the whole event compact enough to catch every leg without a car. Registration is required in advance at morrobaytriathlon.com, with pricing varying by distance and date.

For everyone else, the first Sunday of November on the Embarcadero turns into a finish-line party worth wandering into, and the morning fog usually lifts right on schedule for the run. Athletes should book lodging early; race weekend fills the waterfront hotels.

For more races and outdoor events around the bay this fall, see what is on the event calendar .