IRONMAN 70.3 Maine
Augusta, United States · July · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Fast downriver Kennebec swim that athletes rank among North America's best
- Tough, scenic bike through Kennebec Valley towns that podium finishers loved
- About 900 volunteers and a community that athletes call welcoming
- Race-day parking right next to the venue
Watch out for
- Hilly, technical bike with about 1,050 m (3,450 ft) of climbing over 90 km (56 mi)
- Run has uneven grass and dirt sections and second-lap congestion
- Augusta hotels sold out in 2022, with some price gouging reported
- Wetsuit-optional rules and heat up to 32 °C (90 °F) can catch athletes out
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 satisfactionLoved3.7
Mixed 2022 forum replies, but 2025 and 2026 coverage stresses a welcoming community and the Kennebec swim ranks among North America's best. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
Replies called the 2022 race well run with easy parking beside the venue; 900 volunteers and 2,300 athletes in 2026. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.9
Hilly, technical 90 km (56 mi) bike with about 1,050 m (3,450 ft) of climbing and an uneven run; the downriver swim helps. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.7
One poster said not a race for a PR; the 2025 men won in 3:56 on a bike they called their toughest. · Medium confidence
- Course easeVery tough2.4
Hilly technical bike of about 1,050 m (3,450 ft), uneven run surface and possible heat up to 32 °C (90 °F). · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.5
Wetsuit-optional in 2022 and rules vary by year; no water temperature series found. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.5
Water temperature is not reported; a New England river in July is likely 19 to 23 °C (66 to 73 °F). · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
River swim with a helpful tidal current and no chop reported; the rough 2019 swim was at the old Old Orchard Beach venue. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
Straight downriver point-to-point swim with a current worth about 10 percent in speed. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Athletes and IRONMAN rank the Kennebec among North America's best swims; fast downstream format. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.8
Roads were reported in good shape in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.8
Officers directed traffic and volunteers called turns; full closure is not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Tree-lined roads through Kennebec Valley towns. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.6
Calm in 2022; one rider noted a building headwind on the return to T2. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.6
Hilly terrain, technical descents and railroad crossings; one poster said not a race for a PR. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.6
One rider logged about 1,050 m (3,450 ft) over 90 km (56 mi), just above a typical hilly half. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.7
Technical descents into turns were noted in 2022 and again by 2025 podium finishers. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.9
Double loop through downtown with good crowd support; athletes praise the community. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
About 900 volunteers, and the race director names the community as the standout. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.4
River trail and downtown, a modest setting. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.7
Parking lots, grass and dirt sections, a hairpin and second-lap congestion in 2022; heat to 32 °C (90 °F) possible. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.7
Described as flat by some, though it includes a steep grass hairpin; no gain published. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Cool, pleasant mornings in 2022, but one poster warned of 32 °C (90 °F) heat. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
Calm in 2022; reports of heat and wind in other years. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.2
A modest state-capital setting rather than a destination. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Double-loop run through town with several places to cheer. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Augusta is about 20 m (65 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 availabilitySells out early2.3
Augusta hotels sold out in 2022 and some athletes stayed about 25 minutes away. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.5
Price gouging was reported in 2022. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Parking is beside the site, but with hotels full many athletes drive about 25 minutes. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.7
Portland airport is roughly 100 km (62 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Race village praised, race-day parking next door and a single swim-to-run site. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Small state capital; no food reports found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Augusta, Maine, United States
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 25 July 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 2,300 athletes
- First held
- 2016
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Kennebec River, Augusta (river)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 1,050 m (3,440 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- some tree cover
- Altitude
- 20 m (66 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Portland International Jetport (PWM), 100 km (62 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Augusta, Waterville, Gardiner, Hallowell
- Booking
- Augusta hotels sold out in 2022 with some price gouging reported; one racer stayed about 25 minutes away in Waterville. Airport distance approximate general knowledge.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2022 · forum · Mixed
First Augusta edition thread. Replies: fast tidal downriver swim, wetsuit-optional surprise, rolling bike hillier than expected (one rider about 3,450 ft / 1,050 m (3,440 ft)) with technical descents, run criticized for surfaces and congestion, well-run event, hotels sold out with some gouging.
“"Not a race for a PR."”
- Sun JournalRaced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 coverage: course tours Chelsea to Hallowell; a podium finisher called the hilly technical bike by far the toughest he had done, and loved it. Fourth year in Augusta, not a pro race that year.
“"by far the toughest course"”
- Bangor Daily NewsRaced 2026 · article · Positive
2026 preview: over 2,300 athletes from 45 states and 22 countries, 900 volunteers, 94% travelling in; participants stress the welcoming community and call the bike notoriously hard.
“"the most encouraging, welcoming community out there"”
- Fox23 MaineRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Fifth annual Augusta edition: strong age-group fields, multi-language festive atmosphere, economic boost for Kennebec Valley businesses.
- Sun Journal (contract extension)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
Race kept in Augusta through 2027; 1,800+ starters from 28 countries in 2023; athletes ranked the Kennebec among the best swim courses in North America.
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- Slowtwitch forum (Old Orchard Beach)Raced 2019 · forum · Positive
First-time 70.3 report from the earlier Old Orchard Beach venue (not Augusta): rough ocean swim with pulls from the water, but well-marked scenic bike, friendly volunteers. Used only for brand-level organization feel.
“"Really glad I did it."”
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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