IRONMAN 70.3 New York (Jones Beach)
Jones Beach, United States · September · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Fully closed, smooth Wantagh State Parkway bike with three lanes each way
- Flat boardwalk run beside the ocean
- Praised race director and production
- JFK and LaGuardia are about 48 km (30 mi) away
Watch out for
- Weather has hit three editions: a 2023 tropical storm, 2024 rain and wind, and a 2026 nor'easter call-off
- Winds of 32 km (19.9 mi)/h (20 mph) or more on exposed causeways and bridges
- Bay swim is choppy and dark in bad years; the 2023 swim was cut to 750 m (0.47 mi)
- Traffic jams in 2023 caused athletes to miss the start; most stay off-site
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 satisfactionLoved3.8
Three accounts praise production and the closed-road bike, but 2023, 2024 and 2026 were all hit by storms or wind. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Production praised (9 of 10), but 2023 traffic made athletes miss the 7 a.m. start and the 2026 call-off came about 24 hours out. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
Flat, closed roads and a short swim-exit-to-T1 gap are ideal, but bay chop and cold, windy weather hurt novices. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.0
Flat closed parkway (2:37 and 2:44 bikes) and a flat run; wind is the limiter. 2023 winners took 3:40:47 and 4:32. · Medium confidence
- Course easeModerate3.8
Flat course; the weather is the difficulty. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.8
No water temperature found; late September to October Atlantic bay water is likely wetsuit-legal. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
No measured temperature; autumn Long Island bay water is probably 17 to 21 °C (63 to 70 °F) and the air can be cold. · Low confidence
- Calm waterChoppy2.0
Protected bay but choppy and dark in 2024; the 2023 swim was cut from 1,900 m (6,230 ft) to 750 m (1.2 mi to 0.47 mi). · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
Contact and chop (one racer was kicked in the chin in 2024), with a short exit to T1. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.0
One review praised the protected bay, others found dark, choppy water. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.9
Smooth overall, but a 2 km (1.2 mi) concrete stretch with expansion joints caused hazards and crashes. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresFully closed4.7
Wantagh State Parkway is fully closed and described as completely traffic-free. · High confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant2.5
Highway views; one reviewer rated scenery 2 of 5. · Medium confidence
- WindWindy1.6
Exposed barrier-island causeway with 32 km (19.9 mi)/h (20 mph) or stronger winds in 2023 and 2024, and gusty bridges. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.4
Flat, smooth, closed three-lane parkway; riders averaged about 34 km (21.1 mi)/h (21 mph) even in bad weather. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.7
Called flat and uses parkway and bridges only; no gain figure is published. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityStraight and simple4.5
Straight parkway loops; only the bridges and the expansion-joint stretch need care. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
One review describes a crowd-filled flat run; names on bibs would help cheering. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Volunteers and aid stations were praised in 2023 and 2024. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.7
A 2024 finisher called the ocean-side boardwalk beautiful; another reviewer rated scenery 2 of 5. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.2
Flat, but a headwind felt like running in place in 2024, flooded sections in 2023, and no shade. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.8
Flat boardwalk and beachfront. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Late September highs ranged 13 to 28 °C (55 to 82 °F); cold, wet years are common. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVolatile1.4
Tropical storm in 2023, wind and rain in 2024 and a nor'easter call-off in 2026. · High confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.2
State park beach setting; one reviewer rated scenery 2 of 5. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Boardwalk, loops and transition make viewing easy; the 2026 reschedule adds passes. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, about 2 m (7 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Long Island has many hotels and Airbnbs, and no sell-outs were reported. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
New York-area pricing; athletes used Airbnbs; no race-week price data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.3
Most athletes stay off-site and drive, with ample parking at the park. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
JFK and LaGuardia are about 48 km (30 mi) away with big-city transport. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
Compact transition with swim exit next to T1, but 2023 traffic and 2024 bag-drop confusion. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
Long Island suburbs and beach towns; few reports. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Jones Beach, New York (Long Island), United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 24 October 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 4,000 athletes
- First held
- 2023
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Zach's Bay, Jones Beach State Park (ocean bay (protected))
- Swim start
- rolling/wave (not confirmed)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Bridge crossings only
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- None
- Air temperature
- 13–28 °C (55–82 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 2 m (7 ft)
- Nearest airport
- JFK / LaGuardia (LGA), 48 km (30 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Wantagh, Freeport, Long Beach
- Booking
- Most athletes stay in Long Island hotels or Airbnbs and drive; ample parking reported.
What racers and reviewers say
- Sean Chin blogRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
Rain and wind all day: choppy, dark Zach's Bay swim (44:44), a fast, smooth, traffic-free three-lane parkway bike in two loops with a 2 km (1.2 mi) expansion-joint stretch and several crashes/flats, and a flat boardwalk run into a headwind. Praises race director and production; suggests names on bibs and heated finisher tent; ample parking, Airbnb stay.
“I'm a three-time Ironman; I can do this!”
- Slowtwitch forum (race report)Raced 2023 · forum · Mixed
Inaugural 2023 edition amid a tropical storm: swim shortened to 750 m (0.47 mi), smooth fully closed roads rated among the best, 20+ mph (32 km/h (19.9 mph)) northerly wind, cold. Scores organization 9/10 but reports 30+ minute traffic jams, athletes missing the 7 a.m. start, unmarked hazards and flooded run sections.
“The tailwind/headwind made for an interesting experience that I hope to never repeat.”
- RaceRavesRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Single 5/5 review despite hurricane swells: loved the protected-bay swim, smooth fully closed bike and crowd-filled flat run; excellent race director. Rates production 5, difficulty 2, scenery 2.
“I would recommend this course to anyone.”
- Slowtwitch forum (2026 weather thread)Raced 2026 · forum · Mixed
Athletes say Jones Beach weather runs from terrible to atrocious; a 2024 finisher called the swim rough but doable, bridges sketchy in gusts and the ocean-side run beautiful but like running in place into wind. Debate over the late cancellation and moving to a calmer date.
“rough but doable”
- Slowtwitch newsRaced 2026 · article · Negative
News on the 2026 call-off: a nor'easter with rain, wind and coastal flooding made conditions unsafe; about 4,000 athletes were expected, the decision came about 24 hours out, and IRONMAN later set 24 Oct 2026.
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- Long Island HeraldRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Coverage of the sold-out 2024 edition: around 4,000 athletes did the Zach's Bay swim, Wantagh Parkway bike and boardwalk run in wind and rain with strong volunteer and spectator support.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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