WILMINGTON — Ironman 70.3 North Carolina is returning to the coast on Saturday, Oct. 25, bringing thousands of athletes to compete in a swim, bike and run course snaking from the beach to downtown.
Sold-out, the event will welcome roughly 3,000 athletes and more than 7,000 visitors.
The swim portion consists of a 1.2-mile course, launching from Hanover Seaside Club to Seapath Yacht Club with a transition area at Wrightsville Beach Park. Following will be a 52-mile bike course from the beach, crossing the Cape Fear River into the rural countryside, and heading back downtown. The final course is a 13.2-mile run from downtown, with views of of the USS North Carolina, around Greenfield Lake Park, and back again to finish at Water Street.
The city’s amenities at Greenfield Lake Park will be affected by the race, with limited parking near Greenfield Lake and the main lot by the tennis courts (1739 Burnett Blvd.) will be closed.
Streets also will be impacted from Wrightsville Beach to downtown Wilmington to Highway 421 toward Pender County.
Below streets are closed from Oct. 23, 8 a.m., until Oct. 25, 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted:
- Water Street from Market to Princess streets
- Princess Street half block from Water to Front streets
- Hanover Street between N. Front and N. 2nd (closes Oct. 24, 8 a.m., through the 25)
On race day, below streets and exits also will be closed at varied times:
- 3 a.m. – 3 p.m. — N. Second Street from N. Front to Brunswick streets and Brunswick Street from Third to N Front streets
- 5 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Hanover Street from N. Front to Nutt streets, and Front Street southbound from Brunswick to Red Cross streets, and Front Street northbound, from Red Cross to N. Third Street (Harnett to N. Third streets remain open for local traffic)
- 5:15 a.m. – 10 a.m. — Causeway Drive from Waynick Boulevard on Wrightsville Beach to the drawbridge
- 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — All roads intersecting Eastwood Road and Martin Luther K Boulevard
- 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Highway 76 eastbound ramp to 421 northbound (detour to CF Memorial Bridge)
- 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Front Street southbound from N. Third to Brunswick streets
- 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. — I-140 Exits onto 421 north and south and ramp from 421 north and south
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Front Street southbound) from N Third to Dawson streets, and S. Front Street northbound from S. Third and Burnett streets to Dawson Street
- 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. — S. Third Street southbound at Wooster Street
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. — S. 3rd Street from Carolina Beach to Greenfield streets
Motorists should expect delays at other streets, also at staggered times throughout Saturday:
- 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Eastwood Road and Military Cut-Off Intersection, College Road southbound, from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Racine Drive, Market Street eastbound from College Road to MLK, MLK eastbound from MacRae Street to College Road with one lane open
- 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Highway 421, north and southbound, to I-140-Isabel Holmes Bridge
- 8 a.m. – noon — Hwy 210 West from 421 to Brinson Road will be local traffic only
- 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Highway 421 from 210 to Highway 53 and Highway 421 and Corporate Drive/Cowpen’s Landing Flashing Traffic Signal, be alert for cyclists
- 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Westbound access to Water Street will be metered at cross streets along Front Street unless otherwise mentioned
See more about the traffic impacts here.
The Ironman 70.3 North Carolina has been taking place for 16 years and is award-winning, taking #3 Best Swim Course, #3 Best Run Course in North America in the Athletes’ Choice Awards and #5 Best Globally.
“We plan to showcase everything that Wilmington and our surrounding area have to offer,” Sami Winter, race director for Ironman 70.3 North Carolina, said in a release. “From the awe-inspiring sunrises at Wrightsville Beach to the beautiful moss-filled trees at Greenfield Lake, our course highlights so many features of southeastern North Carolina. We look forward to welcoming athletes from all over the world as our Volunteer Team has over 1200 volunteers ready. Our local community truly shines in welcoming these athletes and bringing true southern hospitality to this event.”
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