IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina
Wilmington, United States · October · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Current-assisted 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim in a tidal channel, wetsuit legal
- Flat, fast 90 km (56 mi) bike; the 2024 winner rode 2:08:12
- Run through shaded Greenfield Lake to a finish by Battleship North Carolina
- Cool October weather with highs of 18-22 °C (64-72 °F)
Watch out for
- Point-to-point: shuttles, separate transitions and very early mornings
- Headwind for the first 48 km (30 mi) in 2024 and drafting packs
- Metal-grate drawbridge on the bike is risky when wet
- Hurricane-season risk: 2018 cancelled, 2016 bike shortened
- Cold swim-start mornings near 5 °C (41 °F)
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 satisfactionLoved4.1
RaceRaves reviewers averaged 4.5 out of 5, and a 2024 blogger recommends it for first-timers and PBs. Drafting and split logistics are the gripes. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
Shuttles were described as extremely well organised for about 3,000 athletes. Drafting packs and crowded roads on the bike in 2021 and 2024. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.0
Flat course, current-assisted swim and cool weather suit a first 70.3. Point-to-point shuttles and early starts add stress. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.3
Flat 90 km (56 mi) bike and a swim with the tide. 2024 winners went 3:59:33 and 4:31:02. Headwind out and packs can cost time. · Medium confidence
- Course easeModerate4.0
Athletes rated difficulty 2 out of 5. Flat bike and mostly cool weather. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
Water is 20-22 °C (68-72 °F), so wetsuits are normally legal. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureIdeal4.5
Water of 20-22 °C (68-72 °F) is comfortable, though start-line air can be near 5 °C (41 °F). · Medium confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.4
Sheltered channel, but north wind chop and a strong downstream current were noted in 2024. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
Point-to-point with the incoming tide helping. Two 2024 racers both swam about 28:30 for 1.9 km (1.2 mi). · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.2
Called very fast and scenic, and ranked among North America's top swims in athlete awards. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Highway and rural roads. The metal-grate drawbridge is risky when wet. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.8
US 421 closed 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. with police on intersections. Drafting packs suggest crowded roads. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant2.5
Straight highway for much of the way. The two-lane country middle section is more interesting. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.1
North wind gave a headwind for the first 30 miles (48 km (29.8 mi)) in 2024. The 2023 tailwind was light. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.2
Flat, straight highway and a tailwind home. Jackson rode 2:08:12 in 2024. Headwind for the first 48 km (30 mi) and packs slow some riders. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.7
Described as flat with very little elevation, although the exact gain is not published. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0
Mostly straight multi-lane highway, with some urban turns at the start and finish. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.3
Heavy support downtown, with 4-5 sightings in the first 1.6 km (1 mi) of the run. A visitor called the crowd very large and loud. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
No detailed feedback. Standard aid with downtown crowds. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.1
Moss-draped Greenfield Lake, the Riverwalk and a finish by Battleship North Carolina. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.0
Shaded lake sections and cool air help. A 2024 pair faded after mile 8 (13 km (8.1 mi)). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.5
Described as rolling, with a few early hills and cobbles downtown. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Mid-October highs of 18-22 °C (64-72 °F) and lows of 6-8 °C (43-46 °F). 2022 reached 28 °C (83 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
Hurricane season: 2018 was cancelled and the 2016 bike was shortened. Otherwise cool and predictable. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Beach channel start, a tree-lined lake and a historic riverfront, but a plain highway bike. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
T2 and the finish are a short walk apart and the run passes spectators often. The swim start and T1 are hard to reach. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Near sea level, about 10 m (33 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.2
The race sold out about five months ahead in 2026, with about 7,000 visitors in 2024. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
No pricing complaints found. Athletes used Airbnbs near the finish. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
Downtown lodging is walkable to T2, the finish and the first shuttle. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.4
Small regional airport about 13 km (8 mi) away. Many athletes drive in. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.5
Point-to-point with two shuttles, separate T1 and T2, and wake-ups around 3:45 a.m. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Historic downtown Wilmington on the riverfront. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach to downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 17 October 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 3,000 athletes
- First held
- 2006
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Banks Channel at Wrightsville Beach (Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway), Hanover Seaside Club to Seapath Yacht Club (tidal channel)
- Water temperature
- 20–22 °C (68–72 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- shaded sections around Greenfield Lake
- Air temperature
- 7–21 °C (45–70 °F)
- Humidity
- low to moderate in October
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Wilmington International (ILM), 13 km (8 mi) away
- Where to stay
- downtown Wilmington near T2 and finish, Wrightsville Beach (T1 and swim)
- Booking
- Race sells out months ahead (about 7,000 visitors in 2024). Slowtwitch posters stayed in Airbnbs or hotels walking distance from the finish and T2 and could walk to the first shuttle. Airport distance approximate general knowledge.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Two reviews, 4.5/5 average: a 2024 first-timer praised organization and the current-assisted swim; a 2021 reviewer called the swim very fast and scenic and recommended the race but saw too much illegal drafting on the bike. Difficulty 2/5.
“Fast swim with current.”
- Triple Threat LifeRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
Couple's 2024 report: low-40s F (about 5 C) swim start, strong current and wind chop, headwind first 30 miles (48 km (29.8 mi)) then tailwind, crowded bike with drafting packs, a shaded lake run, and demanding split-transition shuttles. Recommends it for first timers and PRs.
- Slowtwitch forumforum · Positive
Logistics thread: shuttles well organized and plentiful, spectators easiest at T2 and finish, north wind head then tail, a metal-grate drawbridge that is sketchy if wet, chilly mornings, and a flat, fast, highway-heavy bike.
- WECTRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Local recap of 2023: thousands of athletes, a very large and loud crowd per one visiting athlete, Luke Creger 4:03:13 and Devon Dabney 4:35:12 fastest.
- StarNews via AOLRaced 2024 · article · Positive
2024 recap: 2,679 starters, revamped run returning to the original Beach2Battleship finish with a view of the battleship; Jackson 3:59:33 with a 2:08:12 bike.
Show 3 more
- StarNews via AOLRaced 2026 · article · Positive
2026 preview: record 3,500 registered, sold out five months ahead; swim ranked No. 3 in North America (2024 awards); run ranked fifth-best 70.3 run in the world; two laps around Greenfield Lake.
- Port City DailyRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
2025 preview: about 3,000 athletes and more than 7,000 visitors, detailed closures including US 421 7 a.m.-2 p.m. and downtown streets; quotes a 52-mile bike, conflicting with the 56-mile figure elsewhere.
- Wilmington and Beaches CVBRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Tourism-bureau overview: flat 56-mile (90 km (55.9 mi)) bike across two counties, incoming-tide swim voted best in North America in 2022, run through spectator-friendly shaded Greenfield Lake area, about 3,000 athletes.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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