Mid-March 2026

Introduction

The Puerto Rico Ironman 70.3 was held on March 15, 2026. It brought in about 1,000 competitors from Puerto Rico, the United States, and several South American countries.

Ironman Group managed the event. They run events around the world. For example, there were Ironman 70.3 events in San Juan, Dallas, and Hengqin, China, all on March 15. You can visit their website here.

If the Puerto Rico event is any indication, the Ironman Group representatives work closely with the local government and tourist agencies. They must also coordinate with local hotels, airlines, and government agencies. The Puerto Rico event seems to have ample volunteers and seems generally well run.

The Event

The Ironman 70.3 consists of three events. The first is a 1.2 mile swim, starting and ending in the Condado Lagoon. The water temperature will be about 78 F so it should be comfortable for the swimmers. The athletes then transition to the bike event, a 56 mile ride to Dorado and back. The route is quite level but the wind could be a factor. The riders will ride to Dorado with a tail wind but ride into the wind on their way back. They finish with a half marathon, two laps into Old San Juan and back. The run course is listed as hilly for the 13.2 miles.

The participants are timed for each event, and also for the time to transition from the swim to the bike, and then the bike to the run. Placings are determined by total elapsed time.

Preparations

Event preparations begin several days in advance of the event. Portable toilets were installed. by Wednesday afternoon. These are placed where the athletes are starting the run, the final of the three legs of the Ironman, and other sites along the course.

By Friday morning, a ramp is installed to get swimmers out of the water and over a wall which is, I think, a remnant of a defense line for the walled city of San Juan.

Volunteers will help the swimmers up the ramp and over the wall. The yellow tape is apparently to prevent curious tourists from testing the water.

By Saturday afternoon, all the temporary fencing is installed and all the event signage placed.

The athletes will use this sidewalk to take their bikes from the paddock to the start of the bike ride, and then again as they end their ride and transition to the run.

This is where the bike ride begins. Athletes cannot mount their bikes until they cross the Mount line.

On Saturday afternoon, participants is take their bikes to the transition area. They will be left overnight, under guard. I live in one of the buildings in the background so much of the event is in my front yard.

As they enter, the athletes get their timing device – a transmitter they wear on their left ankle.

A contestant with her bike in the transition area. I overheard her as she asked the man to take her picture. I did them one better- I have a picture of both of them.

The Start

The start of the swim leg begins at 6:45 AM, just about sunrise. The athletes gather in groups according to their estimated times for the 1.2 mile swim. Three swimmers enter the water every five seconds – this avoids a group start.

This sign is for the second group of swimmers – the first group is for under 25 minutes.

The athletes exhibit various moods before the start – some seemingly anxious, some looking for friends and family, some ready to get started. Here are some of my photos as they waited to start the swim leg.

The Swim

While the Start is relatively easy to photograph, I have a hard time with the swim. I usually see an orange or blue head and splashing water. Here are a few to give you a feeling to the event.

The swimmers enter on the left and swim east. They make a U-turn and head back west. Volunteers in kayaks keep the swimmers on course and provide assistance as needed. There are sometimes manatees in the lagoon. I wonder what they make of the 1,000 or so swimmers.

Three swimmers are nearing the end of the course.

The athletes use the ramp to leave the water and end the swim. I assume the timing device, on their left ankle, recorded the start and now the end of the swim leg and the beginning of the swim-bike transition.

The elite athletes finished the swim in just over 26 minutes.

The Swim-Bike Transition

The athletes travel about a quarter of a mile from the ramp to the paddock where their bikes are. Some family members wait near the ramp with running shoes at the ready.

Note the timing device on the left ankle of the second runner.

Some choose to run barefoot.

There is another change of footwear as the participants don their cycling cleats.

Three athletes head towards the Mount line.

The riders have to cross the Mount line before they can get on their bikes. I assume there is a timing device here to mark the end of the transition and the beginning of the bike ride. Note the puddles – a remnant of an early morning rain. It is about 8 AM. The puddles would soon dry under the morning sun.

It took most of the elite athletes just under five minutes to complete this transition. You can see the official results here.

The Bike Leg

As noted previously, the riders go west from San Juan to Dorado and then back again. I watch them as they leave and wait a bit for their return. Here is a rider at the very start of the bike leg.

The next two are accelerating just beyond the Mount line.

The riders go up a short hill as they leave Parc Escambron and get onto the city streets.

They make a left turn onto Avenida de la Constitucion and begin their ride out of San Juan and towards Dorado.

It takes about two hours for the elite athletes to finish the bike ride, time enough for a cup of good Puerto Rican coffee and a breakfast sandwich.

The returning bikers turn right off of Avenida de la Constitucion and head into Parc Escambron.

There is a tricky S-curve as they enter the park. The riders are warned to slow down by race volunteers.

The next two riders are heading towards the Dismount line. They will then transition to the run.

This rider is dismounting right at the line. I assume there is a timing device here to mark the end of the bike leg and the beginning of the bike-run transition.

The Bike Run Transition

This transition is pretty much the same as the earlier one. The riders rack their bicycle, don their running shoes, and begin the half marathon – two laps into and out of Old San Juan. The run course is considered hilly.

The runner below will pas through a gate and begin the run. Again, I suspect there is a timing device there.

The elite athletes do this transition in around two minutes.

The Run

This runner is at the very beginning of the half marathon.

The runner below is within 50 yards of the finish line. The last 100 yards or so of the course bring the athletes up a dirt trail to the top of a hillock overlooking the ocean.

Final Thoughts

As I noted earlier, I live across the street from Parc Escambron. I look forward to the event as it allows me a chance to practice my photography and editing skills. Like anyone else, I do have by biases, and my selection of images shows those. I find the start fun to photograph. The morning light is soft and flattering. As I noted before, the swim is difficult. I especially like the bike event. I can practice various techniques – speed shots, (slow shutter speed), action shots (fast shutter speed), etc. And I really hate to photograph the run. The sun is harsh, and the runners look like they are in agony.

Notes and Sources

The images are all mine. I use a Sony digital point and shoot camera with a modest Tamron zoom lens. I edit my images using first Adobe Camera Raw and then Photoshop.