IRONMAN 70.3 Durban

Durban, South Africa · June · IRONMAN 70.3

Why people love it

2.8Good

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 satisfactionLoved3.6
The 2017 race drew over 3,000 athletes and good press, but first-hand athlete reviews are scarce and the 2016 swim was cancelled. · Low confidence
OrganizationAdequate3.4
The 2016 age-group swim was cancelled for high surf; later editions ran on schedule, including 2021 under Covid rules. · Low confidence
First timer friendlyDoable3.1
The beach swim can be rough with shore break and current; the rest of the course is warm and accessible. · Low confidence

PR potentialFast3.5
Winners go around 4:02 to 4:08 on a highway bike, but the elevation is unpublished so speed is unclear. · Low confidence
Course easeTough3.2
The surf swim is the main variable; bike elevation is unpublished. · Low confidence

2.9Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.4
Water temperature is not documented for June, so wetsuit legality is unclear. · Low confidence
Water temperatureComfortable3.8
Durban's winter sea is likely mild, but no race-day temperatures were found. · Low confidence
Calm waterSome chop2.6
Surf cancelled the age-group swim in 2016 and an athlete cited waves and a back current; 2017 was glassy. · Medium confidence
Swim easeModerate2.7
Entry through shore break at uShaka Beach with a reported current makes the swim harder than a flat-water start. · Medium confidence
Swim experienceFine3.2
An ocean swim off the beachfront; there are few accounts of what it is like in the water. · Low confidence

3.2Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

Road surfaceGood3.6
Mostly urban highway, with no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Highway and city roads are used, but the level of closure is not confirmed. · Low confidence
Bike sceneryBeautiful3.6
The route reaches Zimbali and Blue Lagoon on the coast, though few riders have described it. · Low confidence
WindSome wind3.1
Coastal route; no wind reports were found either way. · Low confidence

Bike speedFast3.5
The M4 highway route should be quick, but there is no elevation or split data to confirm it. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessRolling3.3
Coastal highway with likely undulations; the 90 km (56 mi) course elevation is unpublished. · Low confidence
Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
An out-and-back highway route, with no technical sections reported. · Low confidence

3.3Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportDecent3.4
Two-loop beachfront run should draw people; the 2021 edition had no spectators at all. · Low confidence
Aid stationsGood3.6
No complaints found, but no detailed reports either. · Low confidence
Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Golden Mile promenade with the ocean and Moses Mabhida Stadium. · Low confidence
Run conditionsEasy3.7
Mild winter weather suggests comfortable running, though few run reports exist. · Low confidence

Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
Two loops along the beachfront promenade, which is likely flat; no elevation figure is published. · Low confidence

3.9Very good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Air temperaturePleasant4.1
Durban is warm in winter, but no race-day temperatures were found. · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Surf conditions changed sharply between 2016 and 2017. · Low confidence
Venue beautyLovely3.8
Golden Mile beachfront and stadium backdrop. · Low confidence
Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
A two-loop promenade run lets spectators see athletes more than once. · Low confidence

3.4Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityGood3.9
Large beachfront hotel stock along the Golden Mile. · Low confidence
Hotel valueGood3.7
Visitors from abroad likely find reasonable prices, but no race-week rates were found. · Low confidence
WalkabilityWalkable3.6
The beachfront hub is walkable, but uShaka and Suncoast are separate areas. · Low confidence
Travel easeOne connection3.0
King Shaka International serves domestic and some international flights, so most visitors connect. · Low confidence
LogisticsSome complexity3.0
The swim starts at uShaka and the race finishes at Suncoast, so expect moving between venues. · Low confidence
Town and foodGood3.7
Durban is a major city with plenty of eating options. · Low confidence

SlowtwitchRaced 2016 · article · Negative
High surf cancelled the age-group swim. Pros fought the shore break and some were swept toward the pier; a veteran said the swim should have been cancelled. Race otherwise ran.
IOLRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Glassy sea at uShaka after the 2016 cancellation; winner called the surf as flat as a dam. Course ran from uShaka by M4 to Zimbali and back to Suncoast.
IOL Daily NewsRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Over 3,000 participants and a warm winter setting; called a hit for the city.
ECRRaced 2015 · article · Positive
Inaugural race on a warm day; flat bike remark for women's course; Marais took control on the bike.
ECRRaced 2021 · article · Mixed
Pre-race notice: race goes ahead with Covid protocols, no spectators, uShaka start and Suncoast finish.

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UKZNRaced 2018 · article · Positive
Age-grouper profile: surf swim at uShaka, M4 bike looping around Blue Lagoon, two-loop promenade run.

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