New Year, New Goal: IRONMAN 70.3

Commit to one of the new year’s most exciting endurance events—Redding’s inaugural IRONMAN 70.3. Combine your fitness goals with travel and discovery in a destination that’s a revelation. Take your friends, take your family (including the dog), and head to Redding before the big race to practice the course.

Swim. Located just 8 miles west of Redding and surrounded by stunning mountain peaks, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has nearly 40,000 acres of all things outdoors: waterfalls, campgrounds, beaches, hiking trails, and a namesake lake at the center of it all. The 1.2-mile swim in Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters is just what you need for a refreshing sunrise start.

Bike. Pedal amid the super-scenery of Shasta County’s quiet backroads. The 56-mile bike course is a mixture of bucolic rolling terrain and silk-smooth roads for picking up the pace again after a few undulations. You’ll stay inspired thanks to the plentiful panoramic vistas.

Run. The Sacramento River Trail in Redding lives up to its status as one of the premier car-free and multi-use rail trails in the country. The 13.1-mile run on this trail crosses the magnificent Sundial Bridge and follows the sublime Sacramento River past waterside parks, ending in Redding’s creative and dynamic downtown.