Redding outperforms for Ironman athletes, from beautiful yet challenging terrain to overwhelmingly supportive crowds

On the morning of Aug. 16, hundreds of people strapped into colorful swim caps and other gear lined Oak Bottom Beach; some jumped in anticipation, others stared at the water ahead with determination. The day’s first wisps of light peaked over the lush hills surrounding Whiskeytown Lake, painting the skies in pastel blues and oranges.

An announcer began counting down from five, his amplified voice nearly drowned out by the cheers of hundreds of nearby spectators. As he shouted, “Go!” the racers started running into the lake in intervals of three. After taking a few splashy strides, they dove into the clear water with their arms outstretched in front of them and made quick strokes. 

The racers were just beginning a 1.2-mile swim as part of the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Northern California, an event that involves swimming, biking and running. It was a little after 6:30 a.m., just eight hours before all athletes were expected to complete the 70.3-mile race.

Most of the athletes finished swimming in under two hours. They went on to bike 56 miles and run another 13.1, ending the race near the Civic Auditorium. In all, nearly 1,400 individuals participated in the triathlon, which is about 300 fewer than the number of athletes who registered for it, according to local tourism officials, who said such attrition is normal. 

For many who raced, the course that Shasta County offered was exceptional. Several noted the beauty and challenge of the bike course, which included steep hills. 

“It was twisty-turny, up and down,” said Jason West, who was the first-place finisher on Sunday. “Two hours flew by, and that was really fun. We don’t get to do many bike courses like that.”

West also said he enjoyed the run course, which was along the Sacramento River and Arboretum Loop Trails, because of the shade, the beautiful water nearby and the energetic sideline supporters. Aside from the race, he said he also liked going to local bakeries, including When Pie Meets Bread and La Joie, for some baked goods — a tradition he has when he travels for races. 

At 77 years old, Ron Beilstein was announced as the oldest athlete to complete this year’s Ironman. He’s been racing since 1989, with eight full Ironmans and about a dozen 70.3s under his belt — but this one was one of his favorite courses he’s ever done.

“It was wonderful,” he told Shasta Scout. “The local support on the bike was beyond anything that I have ever seen.”

Beilstein is from Portland, so when he saw that there would be a half Ironman held in Redding, his first thought was “wow” — it was within driving distance of his home, and it was the right length. Plus, one of the first major endurance races he participated in was held in Redding in the late ’80s, making this race a full circle moment for him. 

When he returns to Portland, he plans to spread the word about how great his experience was “to get more people to come down” for the next two races, he said. 

The female first-place finisher on Sunday, Grace Alexander, also said after the race that this course is one of her favorites she’s ever completed. She’s finished about 35 races, she estimated, and hopes to come back next year to compete again in Shasta. Something that really stood out to her about this race was the support from the community. 

“I will admit, I think this bike [course] had the most support, just people out on the course cheering … than any race I’ve ever done,” she said.

While out-of-towners were impressed by the course’s scenic backdrop, for many Shasta locals, the race’s setting held a deeper significance. Sisters Skylar and Dani Hayward, who completed the race in a relay with their cousin Destiny, are Redding Rancheria Tribal members who were competing on their ancestral grounds.

Skylar, who completed the swimming leg of the race, said she “grew up on [Whiskeytown] lake,” while Dani said she has “run this trail more times than [she] can count.” It was Dani’s idea to sign up for the race, and Skylar said she needed convincing at first — but what sold the proposal for her was the idea that she would have “our people, our family, our Tribe” supporting her.

Dani, who knew some of the aid station staff, said they played her favorite songs for her as she passed. “They were just so supportive, throwing water in my face like I told them to do,” she recalled. “It was so awesome.”

Athlete Alan Abbs was also surprised to see so many familiar faces on the sidelines of the course. Abbs, who used to live in Red Bluff, said joining the competition was a no-brainer when he heard there was going to be a race held in Redding. “We signed up on the first day,” he said.

Abbs has completed 10 triathlons, and like others, said this course was one of the best races he’s ever done, in part because of familiar faces. “We started seeing all the folks that we used to know from back when we lived up here,” he described. “Every corner we ran around, someone we knew.”

And Abbs wasn’t the only one feeling that sense of community. Along the course route were not only hundreds of volunteers but thousands of spectators who showed up to cheer on their friends, family and coworkers. 

Emmanuel Jimenez Jr. and his family were up at 4 a.m. to catch his dad and uncle beginning the swim at Whiskeytown. He said his dad “accidentally signed up” for the race, thinking it was a Tough Mudder — but his pride wouldn’t let him back down. He’s been training since January, and Jimenez Jr. said the past few months have been equal parts nerve-wracking and exciting.

Aarsh Sachdeva showed up to support his friend Colin, who was competing in his first Ironman just days after his bachelor party. His sign read: “Colin – this is the last bad decision before marriage.” Colin’s fiancee was found later in the crowd and was excited to see her husband-to-be compete. “The next finish line is the wedding!” she said.

Those who helped bring the race to Redding also saw it as a major success. Redding Sports Commissioner Tim Bauer said today that he heard many finishers express how dynamic and beautiful the course was, and he added that it’s “just waiting to be ridden on by triathletes.” He said this year’s race helped officials figure out what to improve for next year, a race he hopes will be sold out — Ironman caps races at 2,500 registered athletes — and that will likely be held in the spring or fall rather than the heat of summer. 

Jennifer Johnston, the CEO of Redding Tourism Marketing Group, expressed over email today how proud she is of Bauer and his commitment to making the race event exceptional. 

She said the local community was also a major part of the success of the weekend, from volunteers and enthusiastic sideline supporters to the help of local businesses at the end of the race for the finishers. “We didn’t just want to host an IRONMAN,” she said. “We wanted athletes to experience Redding while they were here.”

In the coming weeks, more information will be shared about the economic impact of the race, Johnston said, adding that there’s a real opportunity to sell out the race in Redding in the future because of how much positive feedback was received by athletes. 

“I’ve never felt more proud of my hometown,” she said. “Redding showed up. That’s really the story of yesterday.” 

See more photos from yesterday’s event below.

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