IRONMAN 70.3 Dallas-Little Elm
Little Elm (Dallas), United States · March · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Smooth rural bike roads with no chipseal and about 427 m (1,400 ft) of gain
- Flat, fast crushed-gravel run on three loops of about 7 km (4.4 mi)
- About 30 minutes from DFW airport
- Cool March conditions, roughly 11 to 21 °C (52 to 70 °F)
Watch out for
- Cold lake of 12 to 16 °C (54 to 61 °F): wetsuit and cold hands
- Gusts of 56 to 65 km (40.4 mi)/h (35 to 40 mph) cancelled the age-group swim in 2026
- One edition so far, with few athlete reports
- Run is on crushed gravel, not pavement
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 satisfactionLoved3.5
Only one edition, with the age-group swim cancelled for wind; a sell-out and local enthusiasm, but little age-group feedback. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
Coaches who raced saw extra toilets added, volunteers securing tents in gusts and a re-timed bike start, which left the course crowded. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
Many first-timers raced in 2026, and the bike is gentle, but a cold lake and March wind raise the bar. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
Smooth roads and modest bike gain, but strong Texas wind and a gravel run surface temper times. · Low confidence
- Course easeModerate3.5
Moderate terrain; wind and a cold swim are the main difficulties. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
March lake temperatures of 12 to 16 °C (54 to 61 °F) make a wetsuit near-certain. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable2.2
At 12 to 16 °C (54 to 61 °F) the water is cold, below the comfortable range. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterChoppy2.4
Gusty currents from a cold front cancelled the 2026 age-group swim; an open lake in windy March. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
One 1.9 km (1.2 mi) loop, but age-groupers have never swum it, so navigation and contact are unproven. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.6
Reservoir lake without much scenery, and the swim was cancelled in the only edition so far. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood4.2
Rural two-lane roads with no chipseal, per course materials. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Closures were re-timed for the revised schedule; the extent of full closure is not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant2.6
Rural North Texas farmland; pleasant but not scenic. · Low confidence
- WindWindy1.8
Gusts of 56 to 65 km (40.4 mi)/h (35 to 40 mph) unsettled riders in 2026 on open rural roads. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.5
Smooth roads and modest gain, but a tailwind out and headwind plus a hill back shows wind decides the split. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.7
About 427 m (1,400 ft) over 90 km (56 mi), between flat and properly hilly. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0
Rural two-lane roads with no technical descents reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.6
Three run loops on nature trails; limited spectators reported. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Volunteers kept cups and tents up in heavy wind; no aid complaints found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.0
Lakeside nature trails, pleasant but repetitive over three 7 km (4.4 mi) loops. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.1
Gravel surface, three laps, wind shifts, dust and allergies reported; shade unknown. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.9
Described as flat and fast on hard-packed crushed gravel, though one summary says rolling. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Forecast 11 to 21 °C (52 to 70 °F), but past mid-March highs ran from 16 to 28 °C (61 to 83 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.5
A cold front and wind scrapped the 2026 age-group swim; mid-March highs have swung widely. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant2.8
Lakefront district and parks; suburban rather than stunning. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Beach start and finish and a three-lap run allow repeat viewing; the bike is remote. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
North Texas lake country at roughly 165 m (540 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.9
Suburban town with a sold-out first edition; lodging is mostly in nearby suburbs. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
No race-week pricing found; Dallas suburbs are normal-ish. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Little Elm Beach is the hub, but most lodging requires driving. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
DFW is about 30 minutes by car and Love Field (DAL) about 40 minutes. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
The format changed on race day in 2026; transition layout is not well documented. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Lakefront District plus Dallas-Fort Worth dining within a short drive. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Little Elm (Dallas), Texas, United States
- Typical month
- March
- Latest or next date
- 14 March 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 2,700 athletes
- First held
- 2026
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lewisville Lake (Little Elm Beach) (lake)
- Water temperature
- 12–16 °C (54–61 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 427 m (1,400 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 3
- Run shade
- unknown
- Air temperature
- 11–21 °C (52–70 °F)
- Humidity
- low to moderate
- Altitude
- 165 m (540 ft)
- Nearest airport
- DFW (about 30 min drive); DAL (about 40 min)
- Where to stay
- Little Elm Lakefront District, Frisco, Plano
- Booking
- Sold out 2026 general registration; lodging mostly in surrounding DFW suburbs.
What racers and reviewers say
- Tri247Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
Inaugural race report: an incoming cold front produced strong currents, the pro swim became a 350 m (383 yd) time trial and age-groupers had no swim. Gusts on the bike were severe enough to unsettle pros; Hering won despite a two-minute penalty.
“It wasn't smooth or easy in any way”
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2026 · forum · Mixed
Roundup noting 56-65 km (34.8–40.4 mi)/h (35-40 mph) gusts and the shortened pro swim favouring Sanders; forum commenters argued over a drafting penalty and Race Ranger use rather than the venue itself.
- TriDot podcast (athlete coaches)Raced 2026 · video · Mixed
Two coaches who raced describe the swim being called about 20 minutes before the start, a bib-order staggered bike start with a crowded course, a tailwind out and headwind plus hill back, and a three-lap run hit by wind shifts, cold, dust and allergies. They praised extra toilets and volunteers.
- Sports DestinationsRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Pre-race coverage of the sell-out of over 2,700 athletes, with town officials promoting the Lakefront District; confirms the one-loop lake swim, rural bike and nature-trail run.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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