Shasta Trailblazers Dominate Redding IronKids Race

• Jacob Wood, 11, won the boys' mile in 5:17.
• Daniel Wood, 13, placed second overall.
• Samantha Steiner, 12, took first among girls with 5:43.
• Ten Shasta Trailblazers athletes participated.
• Both Jacob and Samantha have their sights set on Ironman 2032.

On Saturday, the inaugural Redding IronKids Race brought young athletes to the Sundial Bridge in Redding, California. Shasta Trailblazers members delivered a standout performance, taking multiple top spots in the mile event.

Officially called The 2026 IRONKIDS 70.3 Northern California event, the youth race drew families to the Sundial Bridge on Saturday morning as part of the larger Ironman 70.3 Northern California weekend.

Top Finishers

Eleven-year-old Jacob Wood led the boys with a 5:17 mile. His brother, 13-year-old Daniel Wood, finished second. On the girls' side, 12-year-old Samantha Steiner took first place with a 5:43 mile. All three train with the Shasta Trailblazers.

According to the club, ten of its athletes competed in the race. The Trailblazers praised the group's effort in a press release: "We are incredibly proud of how these kids competed today. They have been working hard, and it was exciting to see their training pay off at the very first Redding IronKids race."

More Than a Race

The Shasta Trailblazers is a local youth running club for athletes ages 7 to 14. It provides training and competition opportunities while building teamwork, discipline, confidence and a lifelong love of running. The club competes in races throughout Northern California and offers year-round programs.

Eyes on Ironman 2032

Jacob and Samantha both hope to compete in an official Ironman event in 2032, once they turn 18. Saturday's performances marked another step toward that long-term dream.

Local Context

The race took place at Redding's iconic Sundial Bridge, a popular gathering spot in Shasta County. The event gave young runners from the North State a chance to shine in a family-friendly setting.

Jason West of Boulder, Colorado, won the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Northern California on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in 3:39:23.

Grace Alexander was the top female finisher, completing the course in 4 hours and 17 minutes.

Nearly 1,700 athletes competed in the city's first-ever Ironman 70.3 Northern California, with thousands more spectators and volunteers on hand. More than 1,000 local volunteers supported the race, which drew a field below earlier projections of around 2,500 participants. The event featured a 1.25-mile swim in Whiskeytown Lake, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. Mid-90s temperatures were a welcome reprieve from the previous week's triple-digit heat. Corporate partners included Visit Redding and Dignity Health.

The race began shortly after 6 a.m. with the swim in Whiskeytown Lake. The bike course wound through parts of Shasta County, including near Shasta Lake and the Palo Cedro area. The run was held mainly along the Sacramento River and Arboretum Loop Trails, crossing the Sundial Bridge twice.

Race logistics were carefully coordinated. Athletes received a race guide and tracker app, and wore timing chips that synced with the app. A videotaped live briefing was accessible throughout the event. Each athlete was required to display a run number on their body. Shuttle buses transported athletes to Oak Bottom Marina from 3 a.m. to 5:45 a.m., with no driving or drop-offs allowed. Family and friends could accompany athletes on the shuttles and were transported back to Redding. Bikes were dropped off Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the marina, where numbered racks awaited. On the water, kayaks, paddle boards and jet skis were on hand to assist swimmers, while wet-suit peelers were available, though warm water made wetsuits unnecessary. Bike aid stations appeared every 10 miles, some offering water alone and others providing water, ice, protein bars and bananas, and volunteer mechanics were stationed along the route.

Race officials enforced strict rules. Yellow cards resulted in 30-second penalties and blue cards in two-minute penalties, served in a penalty tent. Runners had aid stations and designated trash areas, and littering outside those areas would earn a penalty. Headphones and earbuds were banned, and family members and friends were prohibited from running alongside athletes. Public urination outside portable toilets was grounds for automatic disqualification.

The event required a maze of road closures and delays, and Caltrans recommended drivers avoid Redding on Sunday. Redding Police issued citations to some drivers who ignored temporary traffic modifications, including one-way traffic control on Highway 299 between Oak Bottom and Rock Creek Road from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Redding residents found their own ways to enjoy the spectacle. John Zeis posted a photo on social media of cyclists racing past his front door.

The awards ceremony was held at 4 p.m. Sunday, and winners earned qualifying slots for the 2027 Ironman 70.3 World Championship.

The Ironman is contracted to be held in Redding again for the next two years.

The youth race was part of the larger IRONMAN 70.3 Redding weekend. Among the adult competitors was Redding resident Dhaman Randhawa, whose brother-in-law Baljovan Khushneet Gill shared a clip of him cycling the course. Redding NOW gave him a shout-out on social media, with the community cheering him on.

Redding Rancheria tribal members Skylar Hayward and Dani Hayward competed in a relay with their cousin Destiny, earning medals and cheers from fans.

Redding NOW also shared a clip from follower Ann-Alica Boshell Iniquez showing cyclists on Dry Creek Road during the IRONMAN Redding 2026 weekend. The post encouraged other community members to send in their own pictures and clips of the event.

Redding NOW also featured a clip from follower Michelle Roberts, who caught the first bike past Sun Oaks on Saturday morning. The post offered a shout-out to Roberts and continued to welcome submissions from the community.

Redding NOW also shared a clip from Chris N Corinna Keleher captured at Palo Cedro Boyle Road. The video showed spectators cheering on competitors, with some even jumping in briefly and running alongside to show their support. Redding NOW thanked the Kelehers for sending it in and continued inviting community members to share their own clips and pictures.

Background

The Shasta Trailblazers have built a reputation for developing young runners in Northern California. The club focuses on early athletic development and sportsmanship, preparing athletes for competitive events across the region.

Conclusion

The inaugural Redding IronKids Race was a success for both the athletes and the community. With results like these, the future of youth running in Shasta County looks bright.