Growing up, Sebastian Salsbury would go to playgrounds around Santa Barbara. However, Sebastian and his parents soon discovered that he had too much energy that needed to be exerted in some other way.
So he turned to the trails of Santa Barbara.
“My parents figured the best way to tire me out was to go hiking on our local trails,” Sebastian said. “Hikes turned into short trail runs because hiking was boring for me, and the runs and hikes eventually got longer. Back then it was never about results or competition, it was more about the adventure and being outside.”
Those runs and hikes then soon evolved into competitive races across the country.
For Sebastian, growing up in Santa Barbara has been a huge boost for his trail running career, as the hiking and running opportunities combined with the optimal weather provides a great environment to grow and improve.
“Growing up in Santa Barbara has been great because I can run all year,” Sebastian said. “It’s been great, but I’m pretty sure bigger mountains and higher altitudes will be in my future.”
Sebastian is now 16 years old and has been trail running for 10 years, a level of experience that is rare in the sport.
“As I get older I’m becoming more competitive, but what people forget is that I’ve grown up in a sport that is basically 100% adult,” Sebastian said. “It is still fun, and that is the most important. I think I just discovered a love for being in and moving through nature under my own power at a young age, and there was just nothing better than running in the mountains.”
Sebastian just recently shifted his training routine from a more unstructured style to a more ‘professional’ style of training.
“The change this past year is I’m growing and getting stronger and my coach, Hayden Hawks, is also one of the top ultra-distance trail runners in the world,” Sebastian said. “His approach to my training is a long, slow build-up over years, not months. I used to only run; now I bike, stretch and do weight training, and we talk almost every day.”
Despite competing in a sport that is adult-dominated, Sebastian has still been able to find success.
The Santa Barbara Nine Trails is a 35-mile race from the Jesusita Trailhead to Romero Canyon Trailhead and back. This course covers the majority of Santa Barbara’s trail system.
Sebastian finished this endurance run when he was 10 and 11 years old, and won the two-person relay version of the race. Along with this success, he won the 17-mile Half Nine Trails Run as a 16-year-old this year.
“I’m really proud that I have some great history at Nine Trails,” Sebastian said. “Nine Trails is never easy but always worth it.”
Along with it being a more adult-centered sport, trail running is one of the more difficult sports for a teenager, as it requires the endurance of traditional runs while adding the tough terrain of hikes.
When he was 13 years old, Sebastian ran in the Black Canyon 100K (62 miles) in Arizona. Along with it being more than double the distance of a marathon, Sebastian recalled flash floods the day before the race, snow falling on the day of the race, and high, fast river crossing as a few of the challenges faced.
“I pushed through [the race],” Sebastian said. “Even though it was a big challenge, I had great support and I was able to complete the run feeling great.”
Although the competition is an important aspect of trail running, Sebastian says he does it for more than just finishing first. He does it for the freedom being on the trails brings him.
“Being out in the mountains and in nature is perfect freedom,” Sebastian said. “I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. I run on roads and tracks from time to time, but it’s not the same for me. Being able to move through nature on foot clears my mind and makes me happy, and it is a gift I don’t take for granted.”
In terms of future plans, Sebastian sees himself having a long career in ultra-distance trail running. His unique pairing of a decade of experience and youth is a reason for optimism going forward.
“At 16, I’ve got 10 years of trail running experience, and that is pretty special,” Sebastian said. “I want to be a part of the sport for a long time, but I also want to be the best in the sport one day and win big races around the world. It will take hard work and patience, but I’m very excited about the future.”