IRONMAN 70.3 Kenting
Kenting (Hengchun), Taiwan · November · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Crystal-clear ocean swim from Howard Beach Resort in about 25 °C (77 °F) water
- Closed coastal bike with ocean views on Highway 26
- Sail Rock and coastal views on the run
- Single resort venue with the host hotel by the transition
Watch out for
- Wetsuits unlikely: average water about 25 °C (77 °F)
- Heat and humidity of 24-30 °C (74-85 °F) on an exposed coastal run
- Strong wind on the bike; one report of a course cut to 77 km (48 mi)
- Remote location, a long transfer from Kaohsiung airport and road closures
- Few balanced athlete reviews; older guides describe a different venue and season
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 satisfactionLoved3.6
Promoted as Taiwan's hardest and most beautiful half, but no balanced athlete reviews were found and reports mention severe conditions. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Global IRONMAN production with 1,500-plus athletes from 49 countries and closed roads. No complaints were found. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Heat, humidity, wind and an ocean swim with possible waves; in 2022 only 731 of 1,012 starters finished. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.6
2022 winners took 5:13:49 and 5:47:51, slow for a 70.3, with heat, wind and 506 m (1,660 ft) of bike climbing. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.6
Heat, humidity, wind and 506 m (1,660 ft) of bike climbing make it tougher than average. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalSeldom1.5
The average of 25 °C (77 °F) is above the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) age-group wetsuit limit. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
About 25 °C (77 °F) on average, warm but swimmable without a wetsuit. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterSome chop2.8
An open ocean bay; one guide warns of waves of 0.5-1.5 m (1.6-4.9 ft) and longshore currents. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
A rolling start, but an M-shaped ocean course with possible chop. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Crystal-clear water and a resort exit, according to ironman.com. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
One guide notes rough pavement on descents; otherwise a normal coastal highway. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.2
A club listing calls it a closed-to-traffic course. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.4
Coastal highways with ocean views and a grassland section. · Low confidence
- WindWindy2.0
Wind is the main theme: crosswinds and changing head and tailwinds, and one report of a bike cut to 77 km (48 mi). · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.0
A closed coastal course held back by persistent wind, with 506 m (1,660 ft) of climbing over 90 km (56 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.0
506 m (1,660 ft) of gain per Finishers; an older guide quotes far more for a different route. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
An older guide notes several cornered descents, but the coastal highway is mostly straight. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
A new two-loop Route 26 section improves viewing; crowd size is unknown. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
No direct reports; one older guide mentions gaps of 20-25 km (12-16 mi) between stations. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Sail Rock and coastal views along the run. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.4
Up to 30 °C (85 °F) with high humidity on an exposed coastal road; a Guam athlete finished over the cutoff. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.7
339-342 m (1,112-1,122 ft) of gain is hilly for a half marathon. · 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
24-30 °C (74-85 °F) with high humidity. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Typhoon-season edge and strong November winds; one report of a shortened bike. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.3
The southern tip of Taiwan with clear water and coastal scenery. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
The two-loop run on Route 26 helps; the bike is spread out. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Coastal, at about 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 availabilityGood3.5
Resort and Main Street hotels exist, with advice to book early; no sell-out evidence. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
No price information was found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Transition and swim exit are at Howard Beach Resort, but road closures complicate getting around. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.5
Remote: fly into Kaohsiung (KHH), then a long transfer. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
A single resort venue, but road closures complicate access. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Kenting Main Street has food and lodging; few details. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Kenting (Hengchun), Pingtung County, Taiwan
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 1 November 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 1,500 athletes
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Little Bay (Xiaowan), Kenting, exit up to Howard Beach Resort (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 25 °C (77 °F)
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 506 m (1,660 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run climbing
- 340 m (1,120 ft)
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- exposed coastal sections
- Air temperature
- 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Humidity
- high
- Nearest airport
- Kaohsiung (KHH)
- Where to stay
- Howard Beach Resort, Kenting Main Street
- Booking
- Host hotel Howard Beach Resort; a guide advises booking early and renting a scooter or bike if staying more than 3 km (1.9 mi) away because of road closures.
What racers and reviewers say
- UDN preview (2025)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Chinese-language preview billing the 2025 race as Taiwan's hardest and most scenic half: M-shaped swim in Xiaowan, coastal bike through Wanlitong and Checheng, 342 m (1,122 ft) run gain and a new two-loop run section on Route 26. Over 1,500 athletes from 49 countries.
- ctyeh.com course guidearticle · Mixed
Coaching site rates wind 3/5, says the run is the best test of heat tolerance among Taiwan triathlons, quotes 28-32 C (82-90 F) and humidity that can feel over 35 C (95 F), and warns of waves and currents in South Bay. Describes an older or different course than the current one.
- ctyeh.com Kenting guidearticle · Mixed
Another planning guide: rolling middle bike section with crosswinds, 20-25 km (12-16 mi) gaps between aid stations, exposed sun on the coastal run, and advice to book hotels early and use a scooter given road closures.
- Guam Daily Postarticle · Mixed
Newspaper report on five Guam athletes; one returning athlete called conditions quite difficult and trained for the severe weather; a 60-64 finisher faded in the last 4 miles (6.4 km (4 mi)) and finished about six and a half minutes over the cutoff. Year not confirmed.
- Casco Helme news (German athlete report)article · Mixed
Report from a race at the southern tip of Taiwan where strong wind shortened the bike to 77 km (48 mi), lead group averaged over 45 km (28 mi)/h (28 mph), and humidity was 70%. Venue and year unconfirmed, so treated as low weight.
Show 3 more
- Finishers event pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Listing gives bike 506 m (1,660 ft) and run 339 m (1,112 ft) of climbing, 845 m (2,772 ft) total.
- endurance-data results 2022Raced 2022 · aggregator · Mixed
2022 edition: 731 finishers of 1,012 starters, winners 5:13:49 and 5:47:51.
- American Club Taiwan 2026 listingRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Club listing calls the bike a fast closed-to-traffic course along dramatic Pingtung coastal highways.
Sources
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