REDDING, Calif., Aug. 14 (Redding Times) — Redding is scheduled to host the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California on Aug. 16, 2026, giving athletes a 70.3-mile course and a chance to qualify for the 2027 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, Visit Redding said.
The race will begin with a 1.2-mile swim at Oak Bottom in Whiskeytown Lake, followed by a 56-mile bike course through Shasta County and a 13.1-mile run in Redding. The event is being promoted as a test of endurance across the region’s lake, mountain and river landscapes.
According to race-route information reported by KRCR, the bike course will finish at the Redding Civic Auditorium. The run will follow portions of the Sacramento River Trail, pass through the Sundial Bridge area and finish near downtown Redding or the auditorium.
The event is expected to affect travel around Whiskeytown, area highways and roads leading into Redding. CHP Redding warned that delays could reach an hour near Whiskeytown and 20 to 30 minutes at several Redding-area locations. Caltrans District 2 urged drivers to avoid affected areas and use alternate routes during race-related traffic controls.
Athlete check-in is scheduled at the Redding Civic Auditorium from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. KRCR reported that no race-day check-in is planned.
Visit Redding also scheduled a Start Line Social on Friday, yoga at the Sundial Bridge and children’s races on Saturday, and an IRONMAN Village at the civic auditorium. RABA is scheduled to provide free shuttle service between downtown Redding and the Sundial Bridge from Friday through Sunday, but not to the race start.