The IronMan La Quinta 70.3 triathlon will take place Sunday, with over 2,500 male and female competitors taking part in a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run.
The triathlon will begin at 7 a.m. Sunday with the swimming competition at Lake Cahuilla.
Athletes will then leave Lake Cahuilla for the bike portion, traveling across flat county roads before hitting the Thermal raceway, then heading through the city of La Quinta and finishing the ride at Silver Rock Golf Resort.
The bicycle course will follow a new route intended to reduce impacts on the surrounding communities, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced.
The public is encouraged to plan accordingly or avoid the affected areas when possible, as traffic delays are anticipated.
The 2-loop running course is entirely on the cart paths and roads through the Silver Rock Golf Resort, offering views of the mountains, ponds and greens.
Also known as the “Half-Ironman,” the 70.3 in the title refers to the total distance in miles covered in the race, which is half as long as a regular Ironman competition. The La Quinta installment is one in a series of triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation. The series culminates each year with a World Championship competition.
Sunday’s triathlon concludes a weekend of events that also included Saturday’s IronKids race.
More than 2,500 athletes registered to race at this year’s La Quinta IronMan 70.3. Competitors are broken into several age categories, from 18 to 80+.
The IronMan Foundation provides grant funding and volunteer opportunities around the world in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. Since 2003, it has provided over $60 million to over 10,000 organizations worldwide, officials said.
More information can be found at ironman.com/races/im703-la-quinta.