Bah! Torrey Pines is nothing! You'll just need a triple-crankset with low gearing. Pace yourself and take your time so that you'll make it up without burning out and having to stop. Then gradually increase your speed.
For me, when I was in school, going to work took 15-20 minutes by car or 45-minutes by bike. I found that the extra 25 minutes each way to ride and train was well worth it.
