Swim Course Details:
The Barbs Race swim is staged at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville, California. Groups of 75-150 swimmers at a time will start in five minute intervals beginning at 8:15 AM. Water temperatures will be between 74 and 76 degrees; USA Triathlon guidelines will be followed regarding wetsuits.
The swim course is an out & back course which starts in front of the dam at Johnson’s Beach and proceeds upstream to the turn-around point. Swimmers will keep the swim buoys on their left-hand side for the entire swim. A neutral area, which is marked with buoys, where there are no swimmers will separate the swimmers on the outbound and return legs of the swim. The Barbs Race swim turn-around is approximately 200 meters after the dock at the Willows Resort (which is on the left-hand side of the river as one heads upstream). The swim course, which averages between 4 and 7 feet in depth, will be monitored by lifeguards in kayaks. The swim course will remain open for one hour and fifteen minutes after the last wave of swimmers begins. Click here for the course map.
With the Russian River being dammed up in a number of locations near Guerneville and the fact that it almost never rains in Sonoma County between June 20th and October 15th, there is very little current in the river during this time period. Under typical conditions, a 25-minute mile swimmer should expect it to take about one minute longer to make it to the turn-around point (swimming against the stream) than it would to return back to the swim finish from the turn-around (swimming with the current.)
The dam at Johnson’s Beach is a seasonal dam which is up only in the summer months. The dam is scheduled to be in place by June 20th and will remain in the river until after Labor Day.
Bike Course Details:
The bike portion of the Barbs Race is the same as the Vineman Ironman 70.3. It is challenging, but not too difficult. The many rolling hills and curves are technically demanding. It has a 385 foot climb on Chalk Hill, which is enough of a challenge and is located at just the right point (48 miles) to keep you honest in your training. But most of all, the course is extremely beautiful, passing endless miles of vineyards and dozens of wineries.
The bike begins in Guerneville and finishes at Windsor High School (approximately 15 miles away from its starting point). Aid stations are located approximately every 10 miles and will be serving water, bananas, Gatorade Endurance Formula, and Clif Bars. The gently rolling hills are challenging, but not overwhelming. The roads are lightly traveled and will be marshaled by USA Triathlon officials.
Air temperatures generally range from the low-to-mid 50s early in the morning to daytime highs between 80 and 95 degrees.
Bike Course Turn by Turn Description:
Barbs Race Bike Course: 56 Miles (Click here for the course map.)
Cyclists leave Guerneville on River Road heading east (toward Highway 101) and proceed 5 miles to Sunset Avenue
- RIGHT on Sunset & underneath River Road
- RIGHT on Westside Road
- LEFT on Kinley Road
- LEFT on Dry Creek Road
- RIGHT on Canyon Road
- RIGHT on CA 128
- LEFT to stay on CA 128 in Geyserville
- RIGHT on to Chalk Hill Road
- LEFT on to Pleasant Road which turns into Faught Road
- RIGHT on to Shiloh Rd
- LEFT on to Old Redwood HWY
- RIGHT on to Fulton Rd
- RIGHT on Airpoort Boulevard
- RIGHT on Skylane Boulevard
- LEFT on Shiloh Road
- RIGHT in to Windsor Rd
Cyclists will enter the south parking lot at Windsor High School to finish the bike portion of the event.
Run Course Description and Turn by Turn:
The 13.1 mile run course for Barbs Race starts & finishes at Windsor High School. Aid stations are located approximately each mile on the run course and will be serving water, Gatorade Endurance Formula, Clif Shot (gel), cola, salty pretzels, and a variety of fruit & cookies.
The run course starts and finishes at Windsor High School. (Click here for the course map.)
Leaving the high school turn:
RIGHT on Windsor Rd
RIGHT on Reiman Rd
LEFT on Starr Rd.
LEFT on Mark West Station to a turn around point just past Slusser Rd. Athletes will follow this course back to the High School where they will loop the transition area to begin Lap #2
**For lap 2 Barbs Race athletes will follow the same route back out for 2.2 miles to a turn around point then return to the finish at Windsor High School.
Click here for the course map.