IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities
Richland, United States · September · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Downriver Columbia swim at about 21 °C (70 °F) with a current boost
- Wine-country bike with views over Badger Canyon
- Flat river-trail run with shade and strong spectator support
- Efficient logistics: shuttles and a single-bag transition
Watch out for
- Over 300 m (1,000 ft) of climbing in the first 24 km (15 mi)
- Gusty crosswinds or headwinds reported in 2025
- Wildfire smoke and rain are possible in late September
- Young race (2024) with few detailed reports
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 satisfactionLoved4.0
Posters from 2024-25 praise the fast swim, beautiful bike, flat run and community; a 2026 first-timer rated scenery and production top marks. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Smooth shuttles and check-in, 1,000+ volunteers and a single-bag transition; a small expo and portable-toilet queues drew notes. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
The downriver swim is easy, but 300 m (985 ft) of climbing in the first 24 km (15 mi) and crosswinds make the bike harder. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.7
The current gives roughly a 10 minute swim boost and the run is flat, but the bike has about 550 m (1,800 ft) and wind. · Medium confidence
- Course easeTough3.2
Rolling bike with early climbs and wind, then a flat run. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
The river averages about 21 °C (70 °F), and about 2,800 athletes wore wetsuits in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureIdeal4.5
Average 21 °C (70 °F) Columbia River, in the comfortable range. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
A current of over 1.6 km (1 mi)/h (1 mph) helps, with some zig-zagging at the first buoys. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
Point-to-point downriver swim; straightforward with a current. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Fast and well supported with a rolling start, though one first-timer found it less fast than hoped. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.7
Wine-country and neighbourhood roads with no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.9
Rural roads with traffic notices; riders reported no problems with cars. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.3
Wine country, Badger Canyon and river views; reviewers call it beautiful. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind2.6
Gusty crosswinds in 2025, and a headwind slowed one 4:44 finisher. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.2
Rolling, with early hills, sharp 90-degree turns and wind that slowed some riders in 2025. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.3
About 550 m (1,800 ft) over 90 km (56 mi), with roughly 300 m (1,000 ft) in the first 24 km (15 mi). · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.3
Sharp 90-degree turns on descents make speed hard to hold, and rain slowed descents in 2025. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.9
Many spectators and cheering along a flat, spectator-friendly run. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
Well supported by 1,000+ volunteers, though portable-toilet lines cost one racer time. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Riverside paths and parks. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.2
Flat and plenty of shade, with some footing to watch. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.4
About 109 m (358 ft) of gain on a flat river trail. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
Typical conditions run 11-21 °C (52-70 °F): cool, with occasional rain. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Posters raise wildfire smoke risk, and 2025 brought rain. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
River, desert hills and wine country. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Compact venue with river-run viewing. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Richland sits near 120 m (390 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
3,000 athletes in a mid-size metro, and the race sells out. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Pricing looks normal; little evidence either way. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Host hotel and shuttles from off-site parking; the swim is at Howard Amon and the finish at Columbia Point. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.8
Tri-Cities airport is nearby. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Single-bag transition, morning clothes drop and shuttles. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Wineries and local restaurants. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Richland, Washington, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 19 September 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 3,000 athletes
- First held
- 2024
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 1:10, Bike 5:30 after last swimmer enters the water
- Swim venue
- Columbia River, Howard Amon Park to Columbia Point Marina Park (river)
- Water temperature
- 19–22 °C (66–72 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal (2024: c.2,800 wetsuited)
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 550 m (1,800 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Badger Mountain; Webber Canyon Road
- Run climbing
- 109 m (360 ft)
- Run shade
- plenty
- Air temperature
- 11–21 °C (52–70 °F)
- Altitude
- 120 m (395 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Tri-Cities (PSC)
- Where to stay
- Richland near Howard Amon Park, Host hotel
- Booking
- 3,000-athlete sellout.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch thread: Anybody done the Tri Cities 70.3?Raced 2025 · forum · Positive
Five posters: fast downriver swim, moderately hilly bike with c.550 m (1,800 ft) and crosswinds or headwinds, flat run; one compares it to a lite Coeur d'Alene. Praise for venue, shuttles and spectators.
“a 'lite version' of Coeur d'Alene”
- Mostly Water Substack: Back to the FutureRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
Account of the inaugural 2024 race: about 2,800 wetsuited starters, current over 1 mph, flat river run, and strong local support.
- Yahoo/Tri-City Herald previewRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Preview: 3,000 amateurs, 1,000+ volunteers, 70 minute swim cutoff, bike through Badger Mountain and Webber Canyon.
- Slowtwitch thread: 70.3 Washington Tri-CitiesRaced 2023 · forum · Mixed
Pre-announcement debate on a downriver swim, smoke risk and late-September weather; some critics call it easier tourist racing.
- RaceRaves race page, elvin.alemanPRRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
First-timer: swim less fast than hoped, bike the hardest leg but with a worthwhile view, run the favourite with a PB. Rated difficulty 4, scenery 5, production 5.
Show 2 more
- Visit Tri-Cities race pageRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Official local description: 1.2 mi (1.9 km (1.2 mi)) downriver swim, rolling 56 mi (90 km (55.9 mi)) wine-country bike, flat river run, Columbia Point finish.
- RaceCenter listingRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Listing confirming course and centralized venue with easy race logistics.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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