IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California
Redding, United States · May · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Run across the Sundial Bridge and along the Sacramento River Trail
- Exceptional local crowd support on the bike course, per winners and finishers
- Net-downhill point-to-point bike through Shasta County, 90 km (56 mi)
- Four ice-bath stations on the run
- Moves to 23 May 2027, away from August heat
Watch out for
- Only one edition so far, so most conclusions are tentative
- August debut heat near 38 °C (100 °F); lake was 25.6 °C (78 °F)
- Chaotic swim with left turns, glare and limited water support
- Steep first 11 km (7 mi) of descents; a crash at a hard left reported
- Point-to-point with a 3-4 a.m. T1 shuttle and no race-day check-in
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 satisfactionLoved3.7
One edition only. Winners and locals raved about bike support, while a podcast panel found the swim chaotic and the run hot and hilly. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.2
Debut race. Swim buoy layout and water support were faulted and T1 needs a 3-4 a.m. shuttle. Ice baths and local welcome were praised. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.7
Steep descents with a crash, heat near 38 °C (100 °F) in 2026, a messy swim and a point-to-point shuttle. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
Net downhill bike and a 3:39:23 winner, but wind, false flats and heat. Only one edition to judge from. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.6
Hilly winding bike and a hot, hilly run. Total climbing has not been published. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.0
Optional at 25.6 °C (78 °F) in August 2026. The May 2027 date should be cooler but is untested. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.1
Lake was 25.6 °C (78 °F) in the debut, in the warm band. Late May should be cooler. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.1
Sheltered lake with no swell. Chop was not reported. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.6
Left turns, a buoy gate, sun glare and heavy contact. Some athletes thought the course ran long. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.9
Mountain lake setting, but a chaotic start and limited water support. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Mostly good pavement with some rough patches. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Highway patrol warned of delays up to 1 hour on Hwy 299. Some drafting etiquette complaints. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.1
Scenic rolling Shasta County roads with locals out cheering. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Wind was mentioned in one recap. No wider evidence. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.6
Net elevation loss and a fast winner, but false flats, wind and technical descents. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.8
Winding hilly roads and a steep first 11 km (7 mi). Total gain is unpublished. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical2.4
Steep early descents, a hard left at the bottom of the fastest one, and crashes. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.2
The women's winner said it had the most support of any race she has done. A 77-year-old finisher called the bike support unmatched. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Four ice-bath stations and ice at aid stations were praised on the run. Swim water support was thin. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Sundial Bridge and the Sacramento River Trail. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.4
Hot and hilly in August, with cramping reported. Late May should be easier. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.8
Podcast hosts called the run hilly, with some trail sections. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.8
The August debut came after a week near 38 °C (100 °F). The race now moves to May, which is untested. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
Summer heat is predictable, but spring conditions at this race are untested. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.1
Whiskeytown Lake, the Sundial Bridge and Shasta County hills. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Run through central Redding is easy to watch, but T1 and the bike are remote. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.2
Lake at about 360 m (1,180 ft), town at about 150 m (490 ft). · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
About 1,400 athletes started the debut. Hotels, B&Bs and rentals were all available. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Local lodging discounts were offered to athletes. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Packet pickup, T2 and finish are together downtown, but T1 is about 14 km (9 mi) away. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.6
Small Redding airport about 14 km (9 mi) away. Most athletes fly into a larger hub. · Low confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.3
Point-to-point with a 3-4 a.m. T1 shuttle and no race-day check-in. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.4
Local bakeries, a brewery party and sunrise yoga reported. Limited detail. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Redding, Shasta County, California, United States
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 23 May 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 1,400 athletes
- First held
- 2026
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Oak Bottom, Whiskeytown Lake (lake)
- Water temperature
- 25–26 °C (77–79 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional in 2026 (78 F / 25.6 C); May 2027 water likely cooler (unconfirmed)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- First 7 mi (11 km) of long climbs and descents off the mountain
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- mix of shade and exposed
- Air temperature
- 18–38 °C (64–100 °F)
- Humidity
- dry
- Altitude
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Redding Municipal (RDD), 14 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- downtown Redding near the Civic Auditorium
- Booking
- Lodging handled via Choose Redding Lodging (hotels, B&Bs, Airbnbs, RV parks); local discounts for athletes. Airport distance approximate general knowledge. No race-day check-in: packet pickup Friday 2-7 p.m. or Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2026 · forum · Mixed
Thread on the inaugural race: 78 F (25.6 C) lake with optional wetsuits, a steep opening 7 miles (11 km (6.8 mi)) of climbs and descents with a crash at a hard left, rolling rural roads with some rough patches, a hot run with four ice-bath stations, warm local welcome, about 1,600 competitors including relays, and doubts about the race's future.
- Shasta ScoutRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Local report: nearly 1,400 athletes started, hilly winding roads, thousands of spectators, winner Jason West called the bike fun, and Alexander said it had the most support of any race. Officials want future races in spring or fall to avoid heat.
“The local support on the bike was beyond anything that I have ever seen.”
- Average Age Groupers podcastRaced 2026 · video · Mixed
Three age-groupers called the swim chaotic (buoy gate, glare, contact, possibly long), the bike scenic but hard with steep descents, wind, crashes and false flats, and the run hot and hilly. Also criticised limited swim water support and slot allocation.
- KRCRRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Race recap: Jason West won in 3:39:23, Laundry and Long close behind, Alexander took the women's race, and the pro purse was $40,000.
- KRCRRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Race-day guide: swim at Oak Bottom, 56-mile point-to-point bike ending at the Civic Auditorium, run over Sundial Bridge; CHP warned of delays up to 1 hour on Hwy 299; packet pickup only Friday and Saturday.
Show 3 more
- KRCRRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Announcement that the race returns 23 May 2027, about three months earlier than its debut, with registration opening 17 Sept 2026; no reason given.
- Endurance Sports WireRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Launch announcement: sunrise swim, rolling bike with a net elevation loss, run along the Sacramento River Trail over Sundial Bridge, and 2027 70.3 World Championship slots.
- Visit ReddingRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Destination page listing hotels, B&Bs, Airbnbs and RV parks through Choose Redding Lodging; no specific properties named.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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