Blaire Kniaziew Gervais Takes the Win at IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California

What an incredible performance from Blaire Kniaziew Gervais at the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California in Redding, California. Blaire took first place in the Women’s 50–54 age group with an outstanding time of 5:19:38, finishing nearly 40 minutes ahead of the second place finisher. For a first year event, this was an impressive course and a serious test of endurance, making Blaire’s performance even more impressive.

The race took athletes through some of Northern California’s most beautiful scenery, but the course was anything but easy. The day began with a 1.2 mile swim in Whiskeytown Lake, surrounded by the mountains and forests of the Shasta Cascade region. From there, athletes moved onto a 56 mile bike course through Shasta County, featuring rolling terrain and significant elevation changes before making the descent toward Redding. The race was designed to showcase the area, but it certainly demanded a lot from everyone taking part.

After the swim and bike, athletes still had a half marathon waiting for them. The 13.1 mile run followed the Sacramento River, taking athletes along the riverfront and across Redding’s iconic Sundial Bridge before heading toward the downtown finish. With the combination of distance, elevation, and the California heat, simply finishing a 70.3 mile race is a major accomplishment. Doing it at the front of your age group is something else entirely.

For Blaire, the day came together perfectly. She pushed through all three disciplines and crossed the finish line in 5:19:38 to become the Women’s 50–54 age group champion. Her result is a great example of what endurance racing is all about: preparation, consistency, determination and the ability to keep pushing when the race gets tough.

We were also excited to see Blaire wearing her BRILLIANZE sport sunglasses throughout the race. Designed for active lifestyles, BRILLIANZE photochromic lenses automatically adjust to changing light conditions, making them a great fit for a long day that moves from early morning to bright California sunshine.

The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California brought approximately 1,500 to 1,800 athletes to Redding and gave the city a new event to showcase its outdoor culture and incredible scenery. For Blaire, it became a race she won't soon forget and a first place finish that she absolutely earned.

Congratulations, Blaire, on an incredible performance. We are proud to see you pushing your limits, representing endurance athletes in the Women’s 50–54 division and rocking BRILLIANZE along the way.

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