It’s been a tough year for local businesses, including the business of putting on endurance events in the community.
Jay Campbell’s business is running Santa Barbara Nite Moves, the Pier to Peak Half-Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 4 Miler.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and county health regulations, Campbell had to cancel the hugely popular Nite Moves, a Wednesday evening road run/ocean swim/social activity that takes place from April through August at Leadbetter Beach.
Sunday’s Pier to Peak was the next event to take the hit. Campbell postponed the annual Labor Day weekend 13.1-mile run from the Dolphin Fountain in front of Stearns Wharf to the top of La Cumbre Peak.
“The goal and hope is to have it this year,” he said. “Of course, it’s all up to the government agencies involved.”
If the Pier to Peak wasn’t challenging enough, in addition to climbing nearly 4,000 feet in elevation, participants this Sunday would have dealt with hot weather. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 90s on Sunday.
Campbell’s third event, the Thanksgiving 4 Miler, remains on the race calendar.
“The Thanksgiving 4 Miler is still on. However, it’s again subject to what the government allows,” he said.
This is Campbell’s fifth year as the owner and director of the three races. He took over from co-founder Jake Clinton in 2016.
It was a thriving business until the pandemic hit.
“It has been beyond tricky for the business,” Campbell said. “This has put all my runs in a precarious situation for continuing. It’s so sad all the really small businesses that are suffering and will disappear.”
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.