Ironman Wales fever has reached Tenby once again, with thousands of athletes descending on Pembrokeshire ahead of the weekend, ready to ‘face the dragon’ for the spectacular sporting event on Sunday.
Preceding the race start at 7.30am will no doubt be another moment that sends shivers down the spine, when Ironman competitors stand at the ready on Tenby’s iconic North Beach for the swim, along with thousands of spectators, absorbing a rousing ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ to kick-off the event - which is a spectacle in itself!
Once the 2.3mile swim gets underway, just over 2,800 athletes that have registered for 2024, will be hoping to make it onto the next stage once out of the water, to make the long run up the ‘zig zag’ stairs and into transition, which is a once in a lifetime experience for any triathlete, before taking on a 112mile bike ride around the county’s coastal areas and countryside.
The gruelling 26.2mile marathon run will finish the triathlon, with the predicted last finisher time for the line along the Esplanade at around 1am this year.
Tenby’s Mayor, Cllr Dai Morgan will be on hand at the finish line congratulating finishers and giving out their medals as they complete the challenge.
The event organisers have listed some notable names due to take part this year, including former professional Welsh and British Lions rugby star Shane Williams, who is looking to complete another edition of Ironman Wales to add to his collection.
Ricky Davies
Another former professional rugby player taking part, ex-Llanelli Scarlets & Bordeaux-Begles’s Ricky Davies - has only learned to swim in the past 12 months to accomplish his goal of becoming an Ironman!
Laura Whitaker who was diagnosed with Ushers Syndrome type 2 when she was 19, which means she is hard of hearing and blind - is also aiming to complete her first ever Ironman triathlon having completed Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire last year.
Social media influencer Kellie Branagan who promotes female triathlon racing is aiming to take on Ironman Wales for the first time too, having completed Ironman UK in 2023.
Steve Owen is an above knee amputee, after sustaining injuries in Afghanistan. He has done a lot that’s tested his physical ability, but this will be the pinnacle of all challenges.
There will be full and partial road closures in and around the south of the County for the event on September 22; with restrictions also in place in Tenby town centre on the Saturday when the Ironkids event takes place.
Full information outlining road closures and alternative routes available across the course is available on the Ironman website at: www.ironman.com/im-wales-course to help residents plan their travel ahead of the event.
The A40 and A477 will remain open and are unaffected to facilitate access east-west throughout the event. Emergency services will maintain full access.