IRONMAN 70.3 La Quinta
La Quinta, United States · December · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Flat, fast 90 km (56 mi) bike on roads with police at intersections
- Swim acclimation zone with no closure limit
- Desert mountain backdrop at SilverRock
- Reliable December weather
Watch out for
- Cold 13 °C (56 °F) swim and wetsuit decontamination
- 16-24 km (10-15 mi) of rough pavement reported
- The run is hillier than its flat billing
- Split transitions, shuttles and roads closed 06:00-09:30; pricey race-week lodging
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Athletes call it fun, fast and flat, with one naming it a favourite; cold water, rough patches and logistics hassle hold it back. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
Police at intersections and the acclimation zone drew praise; long check-in, unclear parking, shuttle trouble and split transitions did not. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
A flat bike, but a cold 13 °C (56 °F) lake, wetsuit decontamination, split transitions and a hillier run than advertised. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.0
A flat, fast bike; Sam Long won in 3:34:34 and Paula Findlay in 4:06:10 in 2022, before the 2025 reroute. · Medium confidence
- Course easeModerate3.7
An easy bike, but a cold swim, punchy run and logistics hurdles. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.9
The lake is about 13 °C (56 °F), so a wetsuit is essential and always legal. · High confidence
- Water temperatureExtreme1.4
About 13 °C (56 °F) in 2023, under 15 °C (59 °F); athletes call it cold but manageable. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.3
A reservoir with no current, though some swimmers reported drifting off line. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.2
A boomerang course, a swim-through gate and sighting trouble from drifters; the acclimation zone helps. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.2
A scenic desert-mountain lake, but decontamination rules and a cold start; the acclimation zone was praised. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
Posters report 16-24 km (10-15 mi) of rough, bumpy desert pavement. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
Police at intersections were praised in 2023. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.0
Flat desert with a mountain backdrop, described as nothing special. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
No wind complaints were found; sun glare was noted. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.2
Flat and fast, though several 2023-2025 posters call it fast but boring. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.5
Described as flat with no hills; gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0
Some tight out-and-backs and debris on the race-track section; otherwise simple. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.8
A resort golf course run with limited spectator access. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Standard aid; athletes iced themselves with ice and water. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
SilverRock resort with a mountain backdrop, over two loops. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.2
Hotter than expected after a cold morning, with short punchy hills and little shade. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.0
A golf-course run with many short climbs and descents, hillier than advertised. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
December desert: cold mornings and a warm afternoon run; some years were very hot. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.3
Dry desert December; the 2022 weather was ideal. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
Desert mountain backdrop and a resort setting. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.4
Swim shuttles are a mess and VIP pass holders could not leave before about 09:00. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
La Quinta lies near 20 m (65 ft) of elevation. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
A desert resort area where December is busy golf season. · Low confidence
- Hotel valuePricey2.4
Indian Wells hotels were already pricey, and many athletes rent houses. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.3
Swim at Lake Cahuilla, with T2 and the finish at SilverRock; early shuttles and roads closed 06:00-09:30. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
Palm Springs (PSP) is a small airport with connections; LAX is about 3 hours (roughly 130 mi) by road. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.0
Split transitions, wetsuit decontamination, shuttles and a morning road closure. · High confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Resort-town dining and golf, with limited walkable town. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- La Quinta, California, United States
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 6 December 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 2,500 athletes
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish 8:30
- Swim venue
- Lake Cahuilla (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 13–15 °C (55–59 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Little
- Air temperature
- 8–24 °C (46–75 °F)
- Humidity
- low (desert)
- Altitude
- 20 m (66 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Palm Springs International (PSP)
- Where to stay
- La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert
- Booking
- Hotels pricey; many athletes rent houses.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch NewsRaced 2023 · article · Mixed
Pro-race coverage from a moto marshal: the designated acclimation zone with no closure limit was a standout for cold water. Bike roads were bumpy desert tarmac with good police at intersections, some tight out-and-backs, and a drafting pack. Roads in and out were shut 06:00-09:30 and early shuttles were hard.
“designated acclamation zone”
- Run Paige RunRaced 2023 · blog · Positive
First-person report: 56 F (13 C) water felt harsh but passed in about five minutes; mostly flat good-pavement bike with a notable climb near mile 53 (km 85); hotter, hillier two-loop run than expected. Unclear parking, a two-mile (3 km (1.9 mi)) walk and a long split-transition briefing, but wetsuit volunteers and heated tents helped.
“one of my favorite triathlons I've ever raced”
- Slowtwitch forum threadRaced 2022-2025 · forum · Positive
Posters from 2022-2025 call it fun, fast and flat with a chilly but manageable swim. Several report 10-15 mi (16-24 km (9.9–14.9 mi)) of rough pavement, a hillier-than-expected golf-course run, spectator shuttle problems, two transitions, and pricey Indian Wells hotels.
“the swim is chilly but not freezing”
- Tri247Raced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 preview describing a 1.9 km (1.2 mi) single-loop swim in a protected reservoir and a flat, fast bike on the reworked course.
- City of La Quinta / Palm Springs LifeRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
Course previews: Lake Cahuilla swim, 56 mi (90 km (55.9 mi)) bike through Thermal raceway and La Quinta, two-loop 13.1 mi (21.1 km (13.1 mi)) run at SilverRock; route reworked after the Indian Wells partnership ended; 2,500+ registered athletes.
Sources
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