IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta
Augusta (swim start in North Augusta, SC), United States · September · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Fast downstream Savannah River swim, 1.9 km (1.2 mi) point-to-point
- Downtown riverfront finish with plenty of spectators
- Partly shaded Greeneway run and strong aid stations
- Race committed to Augusta for five more years
Watch out for
- Race days have reached 31-33 °C (88-93 °F) with humidity
- Bumpy bike with railroad crossings and about seven climbs over 90 km (56 mi)
- Run has a hill out of T2 and a steep climb near 19 km (12 mi)
- Swim shuttles run from 05:00 to 06:30 and river wildlife is present
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
Reviewers and pros mostly praise the course and the city, but heat and a bumpy bike hold it back. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Reviewers rate the production well. Shuttles, rolling start and road closures worked, with a few older gripes about logistics. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Fast downstream swim and manageable climbs. The bumpy bike and race-day heat up to 31 °C (88 °F) add difficulty. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.7
The current saves athletes several minutes on the swim, offset by a rolling bike and frequent heat. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough3.4
Moderate hills plus heat. Reviewers rate difficulty about 3 out of 5. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalSeldom2.4
The river was 21 °C (70 °F) in 2013 but 24.5-25 °C (76-77 °F) in 2018, so legality changes by year. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.5
Roughly 21-25 °C (70-77 °F): comfortable to warm. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.2
The river current makes the swim fast, and a stronger current in 2016 was described as intense. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
One-way downstream point-to-point swim of 1.9 km (1.2 mi) with a rolling start. Sighting is easy. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
A 2013 pro called it her most enjoyable swim. The river is murky and alligators have been seen. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
Bumpy in places, with many railroad crossings, rumble strips and at least one rough road. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.7
Closures and lane reductions in town, with mixed coverage on rural sections. Drafting marshals were inconsistent in 2018. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.0
Rural Georgia and South Carolina back roads. Reviewers rate scenery 2-3 out of 5. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
A 2013 pro reported gusts and an outbound headwind, but wind is not a recurring complaint. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.4
Rolling course with railroad crossings and rumble strips. Climbs are manageable and a 2013 pro rode 2:24. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.0
Reviewers describe about seven rolling climbs, two needing real effort. No elevation total is published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
Single loop on rural roads with no technical descents reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Spectators fill the riverfront and downtown, and the run lets support crews see athletes often. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.3
Reviewers praise the aid stations and volunteers. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.2
Riverwalk and shaded greenway: pleasant, not spectacular. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Partly shaded on the Greeneway, but hot and humid, reaching 31 °C (88 °F) in 2022. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.2
Billed as flat, but reviewers report a hill out of T2 and a steep climb near 19 km (12 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.6
Late-September highs are normally 22-28 °C (72-82 °F), but race days hit 31-33 °C (88-93 °F) in 2018, 2022 and 2025. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Heat is the main risk. Drizzle in 2010 and a tropical storm in 2018 affected the river. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.2
River and downtown setting. Reviewers rate scenery 2-3 out of 5. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Run spectators see support crews often, though the swim start needs a shuttle. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 45 m (148 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.9
Mid-size city and a field of about 2,000. No sell-outs reported. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.0
Regional city pricing, and a reviewer called the city accommodating. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Downtown transition, finish and convention center are walkable. The swim start needs a shuttle. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.9
Small regional airport (AGS). Atlanta is the larger option, about 240 km (150 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.3
Point-to-point swim with shuttles from 05:00 to 06:30. Some 2018 posters called logistics awkward. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Plenty of pre-race dining, a church feeding athletes the night before and on race morning, and a Friday party. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Augusta (swim start in North Augusta, SC), Georgia, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 27 September 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 2,000 athletes
- First held
- 2009
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Savannah River (Sharon Jones Amphitheatre, North Augusta, to downtown Augusta) (river)
- Water temperature
- 21–25 °C (70–77 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- About seven rolling climbs; two that need real effort (RaceRaves 2022, 2026)
- Run shade
- Partly shaded on the North Augusta Greeneway and Riverwalk
- Air temperature
- 14–31 °C (57–88 °F)
- Humidity
- Humid Southeast US late summer
- Altitude
- 45 m (150 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Augusta Regional Airport (AGS)
- Where to stay
- Downtown Augusta / Riverwalk
- Booking
- Convention-center and riverfront hotels in downtown Augusta; swim start is reached by athlete shuttle (05:00-06:30).
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (MarMil)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
First-timer found lots of pre-race dining and a church feeding athletes the night before and on race morning. Did a practice swim, packet pickup was organised but quiet. Bike was bumpy with about seven climbs; run opens with a hill, has a long descent, and a steep climb near mile 12; saw alligators.
- RaceRaves (westja2005)Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Swim was very fast. Bike had two hills requiring real effort, with roads rough but manageable and some pace-lines on climbs. Run was hot with good spectator viewing; city felt accommodating.
- RaceRaves (emelia.pitlick)Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Relay swimmer saved close to ten minutes on the downriver current. Bike was rolling with many aid stations; run flat and partly shaded but reached 31 C (88 F). Aid and volunteers praised.
- Ruth Brennan Morrey race reportRaced 2013 · blog · Positive
Pro's account of a smooth race: 1.2-mile (1.9 km (1.2 mi)) point-to-point downstream swim at about 70 F (21 C), calling it the most enjoyable swim she had done. Bike crossed into South Carolina with gusty winds and an outbound headwind; finished second pro woman in 4:15:20.
- Slowtwitch forum - Augusta 70.3 (2018)Raced 2018 · forum · Positive
Thread on river temperature after Tropical Storm Florence: about 76-77 F (24.5-25 C), borderline for wetsuits; swim described as very fast with a switch to a self-seeded rolling start. Bike criticised for many railroad crossings and rumble strips; run lets spectators see crew often. Most feedback positive, with comparatively low heat and humidity.
Show 3 more
- WRDW - Over 2K participate (2025)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Local TV coverage: more than 2,000 athletes; women's winner Paula Findlay called the course awesome but the heat brutal. Organizers announced the race returns for the next five years.
- WRDW - Augusta 70.3 comes to an end (2022)Raced 2022 · article · Positive
Over 2,000 athletes from 33 countries, up 300-400 on the previous year; athletes spoke about family motivation and the finish-line crowd.
- WRDW - Ironman is this weekend (2026)Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
Event preview: 07:35 rolling age-group start, shuttles 05:00-06:30, Depot Lot transition, road closures through downtown, finishers from about 09:30 to 17:45, slot roll-down at 17:30 awards.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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