The largest Ironman event in North America is coming up Sunday, October 18, in Sacramento.
Ironman California is considered a destination event, with two-thirds of the competitors coming from out of state. It’s also known as one of the fastest Ironman courses in North America, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Athletes begin with a 2.4-mile swim in the Sacramento River, followed by a 112-mile bike course through farmland and wine country, and then a run an entire 26.2-mile marathon to the California State Capitol.
One competitor has a unique perspective of the race. Michelle Bandur has finished two Ironman California races along with numerous other Ironman competitions, and she has also covered the race as a KCRA 3 journalist. The now-former reporter joined the host of California Tonight, Edie Lambert, to share her insights.
“It really is a mental game,” Bandur said. “Honestly, your body might want to quit, or your mind wants to quit, but your body’s not going to. So it’s really just getting through, digging deep.”
She also said the thousands of spectators and volunteers help the athletes push through.
“There’s so many people out there cheering, and you may have teammates, you see the crowd cheering you on. That’s why it’s so important for people in Sacramento to get down there and cheer us on. It really helps when you see somebody saying, ‘You look great!'”
Bandur also reflected on her experience covering the event for KCRA 3 viewers in previous years, recalling a memorable moment when she reported live from a boat during the swimming portion of the race.
A front-row look at the start of Ironman CaliforniaWatch on
“That was so fun, and I’m so happy that Ironman gave us the permission and these volunteers let us inside the boat to give that perspective because we’ve never seen that before,” Bandur said. “To see the athletes get into the water and that they’re starting that 140.6-mile journey of the day to be there.”
Bandur said, as a journalist, she always tried to convey the importance of the Ironman for the thousands of competitors. “What I hope viewers got out of that is just the hard work that people put into it, and this monumentous goal that people have. And it really does take a lot to train for an Ironman, and you give up so many things. So it’s just really, I wanted the viewers to know, this is what it takes.”
She also highlighted the significance of Ironman California.
“This really is a big deal for the state because we are the only full-distance Ironman in this part of the country,” Bandur said. “The next Ironman that you could participate in would be in Texas, near Houston. And then also, of course, you have the World Championships in Hawaii. But this Ironman, Ironman California, sells out.”
As an example of the popularity of Ironman California, she predicted the 2027 race will also sell out quickly, with entry fees of $1000.
“I guarantee you, as soon as it opens up on Monday, it’s going to close again because there’s nowhere else to go in this part of the country. Everything’s on the other side of the country.”
See a list of Ironman California traffic impacts below:
Race week: Oct. 13 at 6 a.m. to Oct. 19 at 5 p.m.
Capitol Mall: 3rd Street to 5th Street.
Freeway ramp closures: Sunday, Oct. 18
Eastbound Highway 50 on-ramp: Highway 50 on-ramp to the River Road on-ramp near 15th Street; 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.Northbound I-5 off-ramp: I-5 north off-ramp to Q Street; 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.Southbound I-5 off-ramp: I-5 south off-ramp to Q Street; 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.
Yolo County: Sunday, Oct. 18
Babel Slough Road: South River Road to Jefferson Boulevard/SR 84; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.Jefferson Boulevard/SR 84: Babel Slough Road to Courtland Road; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.Courtland Road: Jefferson Boulevard/SR 84 to Ryer Avenue; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.Highway 84/Ryer Avenue: Courtland Road to Oxford Road; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Solano County: Sunday, Oct. 18
Ryer Avenue: Oxford Road to Holland Road; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.Miner Slough Bridge: Holland Road to Ryer Road; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.East Ryer Road: Miner Slough Bridge to Elevator Road; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
West Sacramento: Sunday, Oct. 18
Cabaldon Parkway (Tower Bridge): Riverfront Street to Front Street (east side); 7 a.m. to midnight Monday.Riverfront Street: Mill Street to Cabaldon Parkway (Tower Bridge); 3 a.m. to 8 p.m.Ballpark Drive: 5th Street to Riverfront Street; 3 a.m. to 8 p.m.Mill Street: Riverfront Street to 5th Street; 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.South River Road: Mill Street to Locks Drive; 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.Village Parkway: South River Road to Gregory Avenue; 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.Gregory Avenue: Village Parkway to South River Road; 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.South River Road: Gregory Avenue to Babel Slough Road; 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Sacramento: Sunday, Oct. 18
Capitol Mall: 5th Street to 10th Street; noon to 2 a.m. Monday.Cabaldon Parkway (Tower Bridge): Riverfront Street to Front Street (east side); 7 a.m. to midnight Monday.Neasham Circle: Front Street (Old Sacramento) to Front Street; 12:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday.Front Street (Old Sacramento): L Street to J Street; 12:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday.Front Street southbound: Neasham Circle to R Street overpass; 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.R Street: 2nd Street to 6th Street; 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.6th Street: R Street to L Street; 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.N Street: 6th Street to 7th Street; 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.
Ironkids race: Saturday, Oct. 17
Riverfront Street: Cabaldon Parkway to Mill Street; 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
This story was featured as part of our new California Tonight show. It airs Monday-Friday at 7:30 p.m. Watch on KCRA and KSBW.