IRONMAN 70.3 Waco
Waco, United States · November · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Finish across the historic Waco Suspension Bridge
- Fast, redesigned 90 km (56 mi) bike with good traffic control
- Strong volunteers and a welcoming town
- Easy drive from Dallas, about 145 km (90 mi)
Watch out for
- River swim can be cancelled in floods (2018) and has poor water quality
- Steep Cameron Park run hills and heat up to 34 °C (93 °F)
- About 1.6 km (1 mi) walk from transition to the swim start
- Bumpy patches and no-passing stretches on the early bike course
- Most detailed reports date from 2018-19
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 satisfactionLoved3.6
Early reports praise the expo, volunteers, fast bike and bridge finish; swim complaints and a brutal hilly run hold it back. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Volunteers, parking and traffic control are praised; the 2018 swim was cancelled for flooding and swim-start markings were poor. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.2
Billed as beginner friendly, but river current, a 1.6 km (1 mi) walk to the swim start and steep run hills add difficulty. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
The bike was redesigned for speed in 2023, but the hilly run and heat cost time; the 2024 men's winner went 4:08:38. · Medium confidence
- Course easeTough2.8
Fast bike, but a hilly run through Cameron Park and heat make the second half hard. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.9
The river averages about 18 °C (65 °F) and wetsuits were allowed in 2019; Waco's late-season date adds some uncertainty. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.3
Average 18 °C (65 °F) is cool but fine; river water quality was criticised. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.2
Brazos current and debris; the 2018 swim was cancelled after flooding, and one athlete reported swimming into the flow. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
Point-to-point river swim with dawn sighting trouble, poor start markings, contact and crowding. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.7
Athletes cited poor water quality, crowding and a long walk to the start. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Older roads had bumpy patches and chip seal; the 2023 route promised a smoother surface. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.1
Several athletes report good traffic control, with a few short no-passing sections. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.3
Rural Central Texas roads past Lake Waco and wetlands; pleasant, not spectacular. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
One 2019 racer rated the wind rough; otherwise rarely mentioned. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.0
Redesigned in 2023 for a smoother, faster course; early reports show fast splits, around 2:19 in 2018. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.5
No elevation figure is published; reports range from flat with rollers to a steady climb in the first 32 km (20 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
The old route had some turns; the redesigned course is described as straighter. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
The town welcomed athletes, and the riverfront run and bridge finish draw spectators. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.1
Volunteers praised and aid stations stayed stocked on the second loop. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Riverside, historic bridges, Cameron Park trees and a Suspension Bridge finish. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.3
Steep hills plus Texas heat; one athlete ran about 5 minutes faster at another 70.3. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly2.0
Cameron Park has steep climbs and descents that most walked; several called it among the toughest 70.3 runs. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.0
Highs can reach 34 °C (93 °F), and the October 2025 race hit the low 90s °F (about 33 °C (91 °F)). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
The 2018 swim was cancelled for flooding, and other years brought heat or wind. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.5
Pleasant riverfront and bridge, offset by a muddy river and a rural bike course. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Run loops and the bridge finish allow repeat viewing; the swim start is remote. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
Waco sits near 150 m (490 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Mid-size city; the 2024 race sold out for the first time with about 2,700 registered. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Cheaper hotels are available outside town. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
The swim start is about 1.6 km (1 mi) from transition; hotels near the village cost more than those out of town. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Waco has a regional airport, but many fly into Dallas and drive about 145 km (90 mi). · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Point-to-point swim, a bib-order start and a long walk from transition to the swim start. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Magnolia Market and local restaurants are praised. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Waco, Texas, United States
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 14 November 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 2,700 athletes
- First held
- 2018
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Brazos River, Pecan Bottom Park to Indian Springs Park (river)
- Water temperature
- 16–20 °C (61–68 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal in 2019; check current rules
- Swim start
- time-trial/rolling by bib
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Steady climb in first 32 km (20 mi) per local coverage
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Partly shaded in Cameron Park
- Air temperature
- 18–34 °C (64–93 °F)
- Altitude
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Waco Regional (ACT); Dallas (DFW)
- Where to stay
- Downtown / Magnolia area, Near race village
- Booking
- 2024 was the first sellout (about 2,700 registered).
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch thread: Waco 70.3 reviewsRaced 2018 · forum · Positive
Over a dozen posters reviewed the inaugural race after the swim was cancelled: bike fast with good traffic control and bumpy patches, a brutal hilly run, great volunteers and expo. Several called it a big upgrade over the old Austin race.
- Cyclizing race reportRaced 2019 · blog · Positive
Describes a swim against the current with poor water quality and sighting trouble, a fast flat bike, and steep run hills near the swim start. Finished just over 5 hours and loved the bridge finish.
“quite a finish line experience”
- TriZone, 2023 bike course updateRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Reports the 2023 bike redesign in response to athlete feedback, aimed at a smoother, faster course. The race director said the team heard and listened.
- KWTX, 2024 sellout previewRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Race director said 2,700 athletes registered, the first sellout in six years; course billed as fast and beginner friendly with a bridge finish.
- Baylor LariatRaced 2019 · article · Mixed
Local coverage notes wind on the bike and the notorious Cameron Park run hills that make the race hard.
Show 2 more
- Waco Tribune-Herald 2025 galleryRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
Photo collection of the 5 Oct 2025 race: heat climbed into the low 90s F (about 33 C) and the run finished across the Suspension Bridge.
- RaceRaves race pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Lists 18 C (65 F) average water, a straighter, smoother, faster bike after improvements, and a rolling two-loop run. No athlete ratings yet.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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