IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan
Frankfort, United States · September · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Protected Betsie Bay swim with the start beside transition
- M-22 lakeshore bike on closed roads through northern Michigan woods
- Downtown Frankfort hub for all three legs and strong community support
- Athletes' Choice 2022: Best Race Venue and 2nd best overall
Watch out for
- September weather swings from 9 °C (48 °F) starts to 26 °C (78 °F) highs, with wind and rain
- Small, weedy bay swim with turns, in cool 16 to 19 °C (61 to 66 °F) water
- Rooms in Frankfort sell out fast; the nearest airport is about 55 km (34 mi) away
- Few first-person race reports exist
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 satisfactionLoved4.3
Rated Best Race Venue and 2nd best overall in the 2022 Athletes' Choice awards; first-person reports are few but warm. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.3
Local racers describe a well-organised event with welcoming crowds, and Athletes' Choice voters rated it highly. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.1
Sheltered bay swim, rolling bike and mostly flat run; a first-time 70.3 reviewer recommended it to newcomers. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Fast bike and flat run, but windy years happen and most 2023 finishers took 5:30 to 5:59. · Medium confidence
- Course easeNaN
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.4
Average bay water is about 18 °C (65 °F), so wetsuits are legal in typical years. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.3
Cool bay water of 16 to 19 °C (61 to 66 °F). · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
The swim stays inside the protected Betsie Bay. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.4
The small bay forces an irregular loop with turns, and one racer complained about seaweed. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.2
Sheltered but weedy; some racers praise the swim and others dislike it. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.8
Paved county roads and M-22; no complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.2
Much of M-22 in Benzie County is closed on race day. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.3
Local press says it was voted a most beautiful IRONMAN course; the M-22 lakeshore ride is the highlight. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
A windy day was reported in 2022; the wooded roads give some shelter. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.8
Rolling M-22 under tree cover; one racer rode her fastest 70.3 bike (2:47:38) despite wind. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.5
Rolling with a few hills and called relatively flat by a local racer; no gain published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.9
Two straightforward out-and-backs. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Several athletes highlight local community support, audible across the bay. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.1
One reviewer gave production 5 of 5; about 1,000 volunteers were expected in 2021. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Bay and downtown views in a lakeside town. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.9
Cool conditions favour running on flat paved loops. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
Mostly flat paved trails and roads. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
September starts as cold as 9 °C (48 °F) and highs reach 26 °C (78 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.9
A local athlete says September can be pleasant, hot, cold, windy or rainy. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.3
Northern Michigan lake scenery; one reviewer gave scenery 5 of 5. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.2
Two out-and-back loops with a transition hub in downtown Open Space Park. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.5
About 180 m (590 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 availabilityBook early2.5
Small town: Harbor Lights sold out in two hours and Crystal Mountain neared capacity in 2021. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
Small-town race-week demand; no price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.3
Open Space Park is the hub for all three legs in downtown Frankfort. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.5
Traverse City airport is about 55 km (34 mi) away; large hubs are far. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
Single hub with the swim start beside transition. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Small waterfront town with local restaurants. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Frankfort, Michigan, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 20 September 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 2,100 athletes
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Betsie Bay (Frankfort-Elberta) (lake)
- Water temperature
- 16–19 °C (61–66 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Partial
- Air temperature
- 9–24 °C (48–75 °F)
- Altitude
- 180 m (590 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Traverse City Cherry Capital (TVC), 55 km (34 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Frankfort, Crystal Mountain, Beulah
- Booking
- Small resort town: Harbor Lights filled its reserved rooms within two hours in 2021 and Crystal Mountain neared capacity; expect early booking.
What racers and reviewers say
- The Trident (Canadian Armed Forces)Raced 2022 · article · Positive
Military triathlete's 2022 report: cold 9 C (48 F) start, rain held off, bay swim shaped like an upside-down hanger, a rolling M-22 bike under trees in windy conditions (her fastest 70.3 split), and a quick two-loop run. Noted energy from the transition and finish area carried across the bay.
- Northern ExpressRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Profiles of local entrants: opinions on the bay swim range from seaweed complaints to a favourite leg, the M-22 bike is the popular leg and relatively flat, and September weather can swing from hot to cold and rainy. Several praised the welcoming crowds and organization.
- Traverse TickerRaced 2021 · article · Positive
Preview of the 2021 race: about 3,000 athletes, swim in Betsie Bay, M-22 bike from downtown around Crystal Lake, run around the bay, and one-county road closures. Lodging at Harbor Lights filled in two hours and Crystal Mountain was nearly full.
- RaceRavesRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
First-time 70.3 racer's review rated production, scenery and swag 5 of 5 and difficulty 4. Praised the sheltered lake swim, countryside M-22 ride, Betsie Bay run path and downtown finish, and recommended it to first-timers. Only one rating posted.
- Sports DestinationsRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Notes that 2022 Athletes' Choice awards ranked the event Best Race Venue, 2nd best overall race, 2nd best bike course and 4th best finish line. Quotes organizers on strong community, volunteers and safety teams.
Show 1 more
- Endurance DataRaced 2023 · aggregator · Mixed
2023 statistics: 1,394 starters, 1,252 finishers (about 90 percent), most finishing 5:30-5:59 with a long tail to 8:30. Suggests a moderately demanding day rather than a fast one.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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