IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon
Salem, United States · July · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Fast downriver swim: athletes report 23 minutes against a usual 32-34
- Flat-to-rolling bike through wine country on nice roads
- Race director communication, organisation and volunteers praised
- Shaded park run and dry July climate
Watch out for
- First 200 m (656 ft) of the swim are shallow, with a steep bank and sun glare later
- About 3-4 mi (5-6 km (3.1–3.7 mi)) of gravel and sand on the run trail
- Few hotels in Salem; some stay in Portland about 75 km (47 mi) away
- Cars passed close on parts of the bike in 2023
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
Three RaceRaves reviews average 4.7 and Slowtwitch posters recommend it strongly. Salem as a town gets mixed comments. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.4
Race director communication and volunteers drew praise. Reviewers asked for more transition bathrooms and better traffic control. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.1
Fast downriver swim, flat-to-rolling bike and shaded run. First-time reviewers rated the difficulty 3 out of 5. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAmong the fastest4.5
Lionel Sanders won in 3:33:37 in 2023. Athletes report a 23-minute swim against a usual 32-34, with a flat bike and run. · Medium confidence
- Course easeModerate3.5
Flat and fast, but heat later in the day and gravel on the run. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.6
River temperature is not documented. July water is typically cool to mild, but wetsuit rules were not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.4
No temperature found and athletes mention neither cold nor heat. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
The current helps rather than roughens the swim. Shallow start and sun glare were noted. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.3
Downriver and described as downright easy, though the entry is shallow and the second half faces the sun. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Fun, fast river swim. A steep bank slows the start and there is a long walk to transition. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Mostly nice roads, with railroad crossings marked and staffed. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.2
A 2023 reviewer had cars pass closely. Closures downtown are in place. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Vineyards, wine country and farmland. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.8
No wind complaints in a valley setting. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.2
Flat to rolling on nice roads, with one or two punchy hills per a 2022 reviewer. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.0
Athletes describe it as flat to rolling with few climbs. No gain figure has been published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
Blind downhill turns, with railroad crossings marked and staffed. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.8
A reviewer found run spectator support limited. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Reviewers praised aid stations and volunteers. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Minto-Brown Island Park nature preserve. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Shaded, but about 3-4 mi (5-6 km (3.1–3.7 mi)) of gravel and sand slowed some athletes. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.2
Flat in town and park. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Cool morning start near 17 °C (62 °F), warming to about 28 °C (82 °F) by noon, with low humidity. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.3
Dry Oregon July. One poster said July is usually not too hot. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Willamette River parks and wine country. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Finish at Riverfront Park, but the out-and-back run limits viewing. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Salem sits at about 47 m (155 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 early2.8
Athletes say Salem has few places to stay. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
No price data. Some athletes stay in Portland. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
The swim starts about 1.6 km (1 mi) upriver of transition. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.5
Portland airport is about 80 km (50 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Point-to-point swim with a walk or shuttle to transition. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
One poster called Salem nothing to write home about, though coffee is decent and Portland is near. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Salem, Oregon, United States
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 18 July 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 2,500 athletes
- First held
- 2021
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Willamette River, Minto-Brown Island Park to Riverfront Park (river)
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Ankeny Hill area
- Run shade
- Much of Minto-Brown trail is shaded
- Air temperature
- 12–32 °C (54–90 °F)
- Humidity
- Low
- Altitude
- 47 m (155 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Portland International (PDX), 80 km (50 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Salem, Portland (drive in)
- Booking
- Limited hotels in Salem; some athletes stay in Portland and drive about 45 minutes.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2021 · forum · Positive
Called the swim downright easy, the bike rolling to flat and the run mostly flat; weather was cool and July is usually not too hot. Suggests staying in Portland.
“downright easy”
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2021 · forum · Positive
Praised the race director's communication and helpful volunteers. River current strong and fun, steep bank slowed the start and sun interfered in the second half. Bike mostly flat with nice roads; run had roughly 2 mi (3 km (1.9 mi)) of sand and small rocks.
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2021 · forum · Positive
Swam 23 minutes versus a normal 32-34. Bike scenic and rolling with vineyards. Run flat and shaded but about 3-4 mi (5-6 km (3.1–3.7 mi)) of gravel; strongly recommends the race.
“Stupid fast”
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2021 · forum · Mixed
Based on hearsay: expects flat fast courses, no humidity and highs late in the day. Calls Salem nothing to write home about and suggests Portland, Eugene or the coast.
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
First-timer rated production and scenery 5 of 5 and difficulty 3; said it is well organised and good for the 50-state chase.
“Its well organized and great place to race.”
Show 4 more
- RaceRavesRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Praised the fast swim and volunteers; warned the first 200 m (656 ft) are shallow; wanted more transition bathrooms and better traffic control with cars passing closely; liked run shade but disliked multi-loop format.
“the first 200 m are very shallow”
- RaceRavesRaced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Fastest swim ever with downriver current; bike scenic and flat with one or two punchy hills; run shaded with strong aid but limited spectators.
“The fastest swim ever! Downhill lol”
- Run OregonRaced 2021 · blog · Positive
Race preview describing the downriver swim to Riverfront Park, the out-and-back bike toward Ankeny and a run through shaded Minto-Brown park.
- Salem ReporterRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Notes nearly 150 local residents racing, 6:15 a.m. start, 62 F (17 C) at the start and about 82 F (28 C) by noon.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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