Three to compete in Ironman 140.6-mile race

Maria Kivrizis and Wendy Gallagher train in preparation for the Sacramento Ironman competition on Sunday. They and fellow Canyon Lake Triathlon and Fitness Club member Eric Zapata will be competing in the 140.6-mile race. Photos provided by Karin Cassidy.

Three Canyon Lake Triathlon and Fitness Club members are headed to Sacramento on Sunday to compete in a full 140.6-mile Ironman race. Maria Kivrizis, Wendy Gallagher and Eric Zapata will be representing the club as they compete against nearly 4,000 participants.

The Ironman race includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run. This Sacramento Ironman is an inaugural race, so the course will be new to all of the competitors. Rain is in the forecast, so in addition to the grueling 140.6-mile race, the weather could make an even bigger challenge for the Canyon Lakers.

The course features a downriver swim where athletes start at the American River and finish at the Sacramento River with water temps expected to be around 65 degrees.

Canyon Lake Triathlon and Fitness Club members join Eric Zapata as he trains prior to the full Ironman competition Sunday in Sacramento. Eric, Maria Kivrizis and Wendy Gallagher will be representing the club at the competition.

The Flat and Fast bike course loops through the Sacramento River Delta region, featuring farm and wine country.

The marathon run follows the Sacramento River into Discovery Park and finishes around the downtown State Capitol Building and Gardens.

Maria, Wendy and Eric have put in countless hours of training preparing for this race, many of which were in Canyon Lake, club member Karin Cassidy said.

Canyon Lake fans can follow the three participants throughout the race by downloading the Ironman app to track their progress on the course.