Two weeks to go until thousands take to Tenby for Ironman Wales

In just over two weeks, thousands of athletes will descend on Tenby and its surrounding area to compete in Ironman Wales.

The race which takes place on Sunday, September 13, will feature 3,000 age group athletes racing alongside professional male and female athletes competing for a share of the $100,000 prize pool and a slot at the 2027 Ironman World Championship.

Whilst many of the athletes racing come from the UK, athletes are also travelling from countries such as the US, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Former winner of the race and British athlete Nikki Bartlett is back to retain her crown at Ironman Wales this year but will face stiff competition from the likes of Diede Diederiks and Merle Brunnée.

The male race also features the likes of Dylan Magnien, Henrik Goesch and Cameron Wurf who are set to put on a show for the raucous Welsh crowds.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday will be a short shakeout run for any registered athletes, giving them the chance to familiarise themselves with the course before the big day.

This will be followed by a sold-out Ironkidsrace for kids aged 3-15 taking place on Saturday, giving kids the chance to experience the famous red-carpet finish under the Mdot arch.

ronman Wales on Sunday then kicks off with a two-loop 2.4-mile (3.8 km) swim course that starts at the famous North Beach in front of the seaside town’s picturesque harbour.

Crazy crowds along the long run up the ‘zig zag’ ramp and into transition will make this a once in a lifetime experience for any athlete.

The race the continues with a two-loop 112-mile (180.2 km) bike course taking athletes through the scenic countryside of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park past the numerous castles and iconic landmarks – even one that is home to one of the Harry Potter movies!

Of course, once again the gruelling ‘Heartbreak Hill’ out of Saundersfoot, will form part of the route.

The run course is then a four-loop 26.2-mile (42.2 km) course and a ‘you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it’ kind of experience.

The medieval town walls and picturesque beachfront in Tenby are sure to be lined with tens of thousands of spectators that will push athletes all the way to the finish line.

Amongst the age group athletes racing are some incredible people with amazing stories and reasons as to why they’ve decided to take on this challenge.

Age group athlete Emily Bond will be taking on the fourth of her five UK races this season as she continues ‘Operation Ironwoman’ in her bid to become the first woman to complete all UK races in one season.

Emily is an endurance athlete, Aerospace Engineering PhD student, and mindset coach. She’s aiming to raise £10,000 for charity.

Another notable athlete racing is Sean Conway, known for completing 105 Ironman distance triathlons in 105 days, without competing in an official Ironman race.

Ironman Wales will be his first taste of the real thing.

Also taking to the start line will be former professional Welsh and British Lions rugby player Shane Williams, back to take on the famous race once again.

Entries for Ironman Wales 2027 will be available exclusively at this year’s race from Friday, September 11 to 14; before opening for general registration on Thursday, September 17.