IRONMAN Tallinn

Race news: Remi Conte won in 8:08 despite a Level 2 storm warning; record 4,300 entrants across full and 70.3; fog delayed the swim; rain from the second run lap; swim was at Harku for the first time.

Course recon: Harku lake swim very cold, bike straightforward with two 25 m (82 ft) climbs, average-surface rural roads, sharp turns on flat ground; August cool and rainy.

University group growing from about 10 to nearly 100 participants; finishers called the full distance doable, impressive in scale, and worth the cost at the finish line.

Finished in 9:44. Swim was a single clear lap in Lake Harku with visible buoys. Calls the bike much harder than its flat reputation: headwinds, storm weather, undulations and a rough back section. Run was four hilly-feeling laps; volunteers and marshals excellent.

“Very tough bike! NOT EASY AT ALL!”

Rolling-start lake swim with easy navigation, fast flat two-loop bike but wind and rain made it miserable. Run is four undulating laps with a long cobbled stretch from dismount to racking. Pre-race comms on time, free shuttles between split transitions, good feed stations and post-race food. Praised the host race hotel as the event hub.

“the Race Hotel was excellent and the hub of everything”

Swim was moved to a lake after cold-water issues in the Baltic; some sediment but full distance swum. Closed, flat, fast bike unless an easterly brings head and cross winds. Run is honest with three short hills and about 1.8 km (1.1 mi) of cobbles in the old town with lively crowds. Great pre-race communication, easy airport trip, free split-transition shuttles.

“Really well organised and easy to get to race.”

Inaugural year: sea swim around 15 °C (59 °F) in a protected area with little current, booties allowed, small red buoys hard to spot. Very fast bike with some rolling hills, cold storm, easy-to-miss turnaround sign. Four 10 km (6.2 mi) run laps with three hills and a short cobbled section; ice ran short early at aid. Central location 15 minutes from airport, small expo, excellent aid, finish with burgers and beer.

“super convenient due to central location”

13th full-distance finisher (11:11) recommends Tallinn as a predictable, fast PR course. Reports cool 18-22 °C (64-72 °F) weather, good surfaces, well-policed drafting, 15-20 km (9.3–12.4 mi)/h (9-12 mph) crosswinds on the western leg, loud city-centre crowds and meticulous organisation; suggests staying in Pirita/Kadriorg or Old Town. Caution: his lap counts (2 bike, 2 run), 19 °C (66 °F) Harku swim and elevation (about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) / 3,280 ft) conflict with other sources, so treat course specifics as unverified.

“a fast, well-run, athlete-friendly race”

Five-time iron-distance finisher chasing a sub-4 marathon PR. Rolling start gave a calm swim, though wind made the sea choppy mid-swim for her; near-flat bike where holding aero for 180 km (112 mi) is its own challenge; run praised for Tallinn Bay views and the most energetic volunteers she has met. Content gathered via search summaries because the page blocked direct fetch.

70.3 (not full) report. Algae in Lake Harku forced a swim move to the sea within three days and organisers rebuilt T1, bike start and shuttles smoothly. Hot (up to 32 °C (90 °F) / 90 °F) and windy, a much tougher day than expected. Cheap Ubers, short flight, airport close to centre; stayed at Tallink City Hotel, finish in a suburban shopping-centre car park.