Athletes from around the world gather in the East Valley every December for Ironman 70.3 La Quinta, one of the final triathlon events of the year. “It creates a very unique situation,” says race director Ryan Jarrell, “whether athletes want to have really good form at the end of the year, or it’s their A race and they’ve been building all year towards this.”
The race includes a 1.2-mile swim at Lake Cahuilla, a 56-mile bike ride through La Quinta and Thermal, and a 13.1-mile run at SilverRock Resort (the total mileage is 70.3, hence the name of the race). This year’s race features reworked bike and run routes following the end of a partnership with the city of Indian Wells. “You have a new run course at SilverRock Resort, and the bike course made some adjustments,” Jarrell says.
Last year’s winner, Olympic silver medalist Morgan Pearson, says the desert race offered a new challenge after competing in the Olympics’ mixed-relay event. “I just wanted to try something different,” he shares. Training for the event shifted his focus toward sustained distance rather than weather conditions.
Organizing the triathlon, Jarrell notes, relies on significant community collaboration. “Most people don’t realize how many hands are involved,” he says. “It takes a village — from law enforcement to the Coachella Valley Water District. We’re incredibly grateful for their support.”
For Jarrell, the landscape itself is part of the draw. “You see the mountains and the watermarks from 500 years ago or longer. It’s a unique experience to endure.”
