NOTE: For Barb's Relay course Information, click here:
Swim Course Details:
The Full Vineman Relay swim is staged at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville, California. The swim takes place in the Russian River. Groups of 75-150 swimmers at a time will start in five minute intervals beginning at 6:45 A.M. Water temperatures should be between 72 and 74 degrees; wetsuits will be allowed as this falls within USA Triathlon guidelines.
The swim course is an out & back course which starts in front of the dam at Johnson’s Beach and proceeds upstream stream 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 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 two and one half hours after the last wave of swimmers begins. Click here for the course map.
Between the Russian River being dammed in a number of locations near Guerneville and the fact that it almost never rains in Sonoma County between June 1st 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 112 mile point-to-point bike portion of the Full Vineman Relay passes through the heart of Sonoma County’s wine country. Shortly after beginning the ride beneath the redwoods in Guerneville, it is off through miles and miles of vineyards! Dozens of wineries and literally hundreds of vineyards line the Vineman bike course.
The bike begins at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville and finishes at Windsor High School (approximately 15 miles away from its starting point). Aid stations are located approximately every 13 miles and have bottled water, Gatorade Endurance Formula, and Clif Bars & Bananas. NOTE: Gatorade Endurance Formula contains a unique five-electrolyte blend including nearly twice the sodium (200mg) and three times the potassium (90mg) of Gatorade Thirst Quencher as well as calcium, magnesium, and chloride to help you better replace what you lose in sweat during longer and more intense active occasions.
The gently rolling hills are challenging, but not overwhelming. The roads are lightly traveled and will be marshaled by USA Triathlon officials. Cyclist will make two loops of the bike course. The bike course will remain open until 5:00 PM.
Air temperatures generally range from the low-to-mid 50s early in the morning to daytime highs between 80 and 95 degrees.
Chalk Hill, the largest hill on the course is approximately 385 feet above sea level at its crest. The bike course begins at approximately 50 feet above sea level and ends at approximately 100 feet above sea level.
Bike Course Turn by Turn Description:
Full Vineman Relay Bike Course: 112 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
>>> STRAIGHT THRU GEYSERVILLE to a short out and back ON LAP ONE ONLY ...after the turn around you will be heading back into Geyserville to a RIGHT HAND TURN on to HWY 128 on lap 2 you will be turning left as staed below
- LEFT to stay on CA 128 as you enter downtown Geyserville on LAP 2 ONLY
- 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 on Windsor Road PASSING the High School / T2
- LEFT on Windsor-River Road
- LEFT Eastside Road
- RIGHT on Wohler Road
- RIGHT on Westside Road ...repeat the loop beginning at the 8 mile mark on Westside Rd above until returning to Windsor Road where the cyclists will enter the SOUTH parking lot at Windsor High School to finish the bike portion of the event. The transition area is located in the parking lot on the south side of Windsor High School.
Run Course Description and Turn by Turn:
The 26.2 mile Full Vineman run course is a 3 loop, flat to rolling course with aid stations located approximately every mile serving Gatorade Endurance Formula, water, clif shot, cola, assorted fruit, cookies and salty pretzels.
The run course starts and finishes at Windsor High School taking athletes on a 3 lap, out & back course. (Click here for the course map.)
Leaving Windsor High School turn:
- RIGHT on to Windsor Rd.
- RIGHT on to Reiman Rd.
- LEFT on to Starr Road
- LEFT on to Markwest Station Road to a turn around point 100 meters past Slusser Rd.
Runners follow the same route returning to Windsor High School were they will loop the transition area and begin laps 2 & 3. Runners must have started the third lap of the run course before 9:00 PM. The run course will close at 11:00 PM.
Click here for the course map.