Where does Ironman Wales take place?

Ironman Wales takes place in Tenby, Wales, UK.

What distances does Ironman Wales offer?

Entry options include: Ironman.

How is Ironman Wales rated by runners?

Ironman Wales has an average rating of 4.75 out of 5 from 36 verified participant reviews on Racecheck.

What is Ironman Wales like?

Based on participant reviews, runners describe it as: Large Festival Atmosphere (100% of reviews), Hilly (83% of reviews), Hilly (83% of reviews), Sea (100% of reviews).

Ironman Wales reviews

Name: Ironman Wales
Start: 2026-09-13
End: 2026-09-13
Location: Tenby, Wales, UK
Rating: 4.75

Swanscity J.

4.2

· 2023 Ironman ·

Warning for weaker swimmers competing in future Ironman Wales. This information is not given in the race safety briefings!!!!! As such I was not prepared for what was ahead. The first 10 Ironman wales events the swim has been in a clockwise direction with the current. In 2022 i...

Warning for weaker swimmers competing in future Ironman Wales. This information is not given in the race safety briefings!!!!! As such I was not prepared for what was ahead. The first 10 Ironman wales events the swim has been in a clockwise direction with the current. In 2022 in severe storm conditions I completed the swim in 1hour 40 min. In 2023 Ironman decided under the guise of safety to change the swim direction to anti clockwise which is against the current. This surely makes the swim more dangerous not safer as you are being forced out to sea and fatiguing a lot quicker. The race starts at 7am while the tide is coming in, the first swim lap I completed in 50mins, by the time I started the 2nd lap on the back straight the tide had fully turned and was pushing me out to sea. Battling against the current to get back on the swim line I was fatiguing. The second lap took me 1hr 40 min. Where the swim distance should have been 4100 yards I completed the swim covering 5500 yards . The current had pushed me 1400 yards off the swim line. Situated in my selected start pen (1hr 30min) it took me 15 minutes after the start to get in the water. The situation now for future events and this is being widely discussed amongst club athletes is not to go in your selected pen but to get as close to the start line as possible to get in the water as soon as possible to give you a better chance of missing the tide turning on the second lap. Thus creating another dangerous situation. Hopefully learning from incidents in past Ironman events Ironman Wales will see sense and reverse the swim direction to make it safer for everyone.

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Mathew H.

4.7

· 2022 Ironman ·

Having been convinced to give IMW a go by my wife and colleagues in 2019 this was a long time coming. Despite being plagued by illness during preparation this definitely lived up to its' hype and very worthwhile

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Matthew D.

4.8

· 2022 Ironman ·

Came back again to beat previous time. Still a great event, with the most amazing support lining the whole course from morning to night. Rained a bit this year but still plenty of people out cheering you on. Such as good feeling around the whole course. It's very a tough ...

Came back again to beat previous time. Still a great event, with the most amazing support lining the whole course from morning to night. Rained a bit this year but still plenty of people out cheering you on. Such as good feeling around the whole course. It's very a tough course, and a very rough swim, very hilly bike, and hilly run. Well recommended

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James P.

4.8

· 2022 Ironman ·

A long time coming! Been planning to make this my first Ironman since watching in 2017 and amongst injuries and COVID it’s taken until now to finally take on “The Dragon”! Despite the weather making the bike tougher than usual and the sea the choppiest I’ve ever been a part of I ...

A long time coming! Been planning to make this my first Ironman since watching in 2017 and amongst injuries and COVID it’s taken until now to finally take on “The Dragon”! Despite the weather making the bike tougher than usual and the sea the choppiest I’ve ever been a part of I loved every second of this incredible event and beautiful course! The atmosphere is unlike any other and the feeling of crossing that line is something I’ll remember forever! The only 2 negatives I can have is that aid stations didn’t really have any variety with the snacks other than bananas and the sponsored gels (no salty snacks!). The final negative was that the special needs bags which you could put extra bits in to pick up around the course were limited numbers so by Saturday when I registered there weren’t any available. However this doesn’t take away what an amazing event this was made even better by a brilliant medal and T-shirt!

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Rob A.

4.9

· 2022 Ironman ·

This was my 12th Ironman Triathlon and I was told it was up there as one of the toughest in then world, but wow, that was brutal. Tough sea swim as the chop got up, the bike had 2,450m elevation and the run 500m, so it was a really tough course and worthy of that title! The su...

This was my 12th Ironman Triathlon and I was told it was up there as one of the toughest in then world, but wow, that was brutal. Tough sea swim as the chop got up, the bike had 2,450m elevation and the run 500m, so it was a really tough course and worthy of that title! The support in Tenby was amazing just as expected and they even cheered when the rain came in! Definitely recommended if you want a tough challenge and you're up for 'slaying the dragon!'.

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Matthew D.

4.9

· 2019 Long ·

Amazing atmosphere, people line the beach and streets from 5am til dark. Such as buzz around the whole course. It's very challenging with a busy sea swim, very hilly bike, and hilly run. Not a PB course, but great day out all the same.

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Hélène R.

4.6

· 2019 Long ·

My second time in Tenby for the Ironman and it didn't disappoint. Stunning location, incredible support - second to none. The Welsh people really know how to cheer you on! The volunteers are awesome, the course is challenging and the overall experience is memorable. Too bad i...

My second time in Tenby for the Ironman and it didn't disappoint. Stunning location, incredible support - second to none. The Welsh people really know how to cheer you on! The volunteers are awesome, the course is challenging and the overall experience is memorable. Too bad it has already sold out for 2020!

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Gaz P.

4.9

· 2019 Long ·

An outstanding race from start to finish. The whole of Tenby comes out to support the athletes. Before 5am on race day, people are out in the dark, setting up chairs, spots on the course to watch, burger vans, cafe's, coffee places, the whole place is alive until the early ho...

An outstanding race from start to finish. The whole of Tenby comes out to support the athletes. Before 5am on race day, people are out in the dark, setting up chairs, spots on the course to watch, burger vans, cafe's, coffee places, the whole place is alive until the early hours the following morning! It's insane! As an athlete, you feel 10 feet higher. The feeling being in the town is amazing!

Don't get me wrong, this is one of the toughest Ironman races you can do! Challenging sea swim, very tough hilly bike course and a brutal hilly rolling run course! But it's an honest course, you need to be able to keep the momentum in your bike speed to keep a good average and make it to T2. T1 also includes a 1 km run from the beach to transition. Amazing support from start to finish. Really great signage throughout and amazing volunteers helping from the moment you arrive in Tenby to the moment you cross that line.

If you do one Ironman, do this one. Just an amazing experience, event and achievement!.

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Christopher J.

4.6

· 2019 Long ·

Wow, what can I say? The weather was 100% perfect the sea was like a mill pond. I was slower than I'd planned on the swim but still finished quicker than last year so can't really complain. Transition was faster too and I have to compliment the volunteers. I had ...

Wow, what can I say? The weather was 100% perfect the sea was like a mill pond.

I was slower than I'd planned on the swim but still finished quicker than last year so can't really complain.

Transition was faster too and I have to compliment the volunteers.

I had a good bike aside from the congestion at New Hedges which caused me to crash. Hopefully next year they will address this with barriers. Aside from the crash I had a great ride and managed to knock an hour off ladt year.

I was slower in T2 than last year but that because I wasn't under as much pressure.

I got on the run and it was painful, on the crash I'd hurt my ankle and knee and now it was catching up with me. Still I was able to run downhill but unfortunately I had to walk up the hills. I still managed to knock an hr off last year.

The support along the course is incredible and I can't wait to do it all again next year.

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Damien M.

4.8

· 2019 Long ·

If you are procrastinating over booking this event just BOOK IT NOW!!! Best decision I have ever made (apart from marrying my wife of course!) from start to finish it was unforgettable. The registration was so easy, all the volunteers there knew exactly what they were doing which...

If you are procrastinating over booking this event just BOOK IT NOW!!! Best decision I have ever made (apart from marrying my wife of course!) from start to finish it was unforgettable. The registration was so easy, all the volunteers there knew exactly what they were doing which made it really nice and out you at ease. I registered on the Friday so I had time to get my bags organised for Saturday racking so I was a bit quieter and the expo wasn’t completely empty. Make sure you spend as much time as you can in Tenby and around the town as the atmosphere builds from Friday onwards and is electric.

Once registered there is a briefing, it’s all stuff you have read in the athlete guide but still worth going along to.

Racking on the Saturday was nice and simple. Athletes only as usually so good chat and banter all around, seems that every welsh participant knew each other so if your not local you’ll have to brave it into conversations! Transition is a really simple set up.

Morning of the race was really good, Simone drop off for bike and run special needs then off to the swim start with your trusty pink bag. Hang this up on the racking with you number and DO NOT forget your pink bag. Instant DQ if you do.

The swim was hard, I struggled to find a good line and struggled with the current but it was calm sea and a beautiful sun rise as you weee swimming. The national anthem being sung before you enter by all of the specs tor’s will send shivers down your spine it is amazing. The trip to T1 is a long one, 1km run starting up a zigzag walk from the beach but again atmosphere is everything so soak it up. The bike course is hard! You need to train up hills till they become flats, but the scenery is great!! Support around the course is brilliant from the locals so soak it up!!!

Moving onto the run this is where the fun happens! I have done so so many races and never have I experienced a marathon like it, I was out there for 5 hours + and the crowd felt like I was playing at Wembley! Everyone is so behind you and they do not stop cheering when it gets late, they just get more enthusiastic!

The aid stations on the run were good, food choices was crackers to Doritos which was odd but I wasn’t personally that bothered by the food choices, there was a choice of flat coke, water, red bull or iso at each station and the aid stations are everywhere!

I cannot recommend this event enough!!!!

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Ironman Wales