Being that I am local to the new "Santa Rosa" venue and intimately familiar with the area and course, I though it might be helpful for a lot of athletes to have some accurate insight to what they will be racing on in May. (and eventually July) I will do another one of these for the Ironman race, but many items here will apply to both events. My information here is accurate but based on my opinion. I am not going to give advice on how to race the course, instead I will save that precise knowledge for my athletes ;-).
**There are plenty of pictures and video on all the Ironman Santa Rosa Facebook pages for you to scroll through so I will let your browse those for aesthetic value**
Logistics: ... if you are are racing, I assume you'll know the logistcs, BUT do remember ... T1 & T2 are 30+ miles apart and you'll be working against a Friday traffic schedule to get things done pre-race
SWIM: ... Lake Sonoma ... we have had a very cool, very wet winter and spring ... at current date as I write this, (April 26th), water temp is still hovering 55-57 degrees. We are forecasted for much warmer and sunnier weather for at least the next 10 days. I'd expect water temp easily moving into the 60's by race day ... how much into the 60's will depend on the final 8 days leading into the race.
The course is very straight forward, good site lines and water clarity.
T1: ... 1/4 mile run UPHILL from the water, padded / carpeted for part and then "smooth" pavement
BIKE ... A point to point course finishing in Santa Rosa ... this course has very few if any technical turns BUT does have a variety of twisty roads and a couple spots that demand a high speed descent with turns at the bottom.
* Elevation Gain: Approximately 2000 feet ... I have seen a lot of ride files that range 1750 - 2200 with the majority being 1800-2000. The course will have a net elevation loss of 400 feet
* Climbs: There really are no proper / extended climbs rather a lot of rollers and small hills in parts. Though deceiving, Dutcher Creek Rd. climbs only 300 feet over 2 miles early in the course.
* First 4 miles of the Course: without trying this should / could be your fastest miles of the day ... remember the first 4 miles will be in left hand lane (closed) and the first 2 miles will have at times a high speed descent ... if you do not descend well STAY RIGHT and be cautious on the fast descent from the lake
* Miles 8-33'ish .... will be the fastest part of the course for most athletes (350-400 foot elevation gain)
* Miles 33-47'ish ... will be the slowest part of the course for most athletes
* Final 10 Miles ... for all purposes flat ... finishing in downtown Santa Rosa
* Pavement ... Overall it is good ... BUT you will find patchy poor pavement on HWY 128 ... and VERY poor pavement on the entirety of Wohler Rd. and Willowside Rd.
RUN ... Well, it's flat ... really flat, except a couple descents underneath the overpass @ Stony Point Rd. ... You will notice some grade on the course profile, but really, it's flat ;-)
* Surface ... about 60% pavement and 40% hard pack dirt
* Elevation Gain ... the course maps say 300+ feet of gain ... I can't see that happening ... all along I have said maybe 100'ish feet of gain
* 2 loops ... 1 long (9mi) ... 1 short (4mi) ... you'll come all the way back to downtown at the end of Lap 1 to head out for a final 4 miles
* Downtown Finish ... I envision the finish on 4th St being a terrific environment ... enjoy it!
Best of Luck to everyone racing and spectating!
