Race Course

Starting Time

06:50am for PROs, 7:00am for Age Groups

Closing Time

12:00 (Midnight!)

Start Location

Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Ironman South Africa 2014

Please click on each course map image to download a high-res PDF of the particular discipline's map (swim course map coming soon)

3,8km Swim

The swim course will change slightly for the 2014 event. Athletes will swim two loops with a short beach run in between. The water temperature should be between 17 and 24.5 C°, therefore wetsuits should be allowed. If it is below 14 C°, then wetsuits are compulsory. You will be informed on race day if these rules apply.

LAP 1: Total distance 1500m

Athletes will swim 300m to the 1st Red buoy to be rounded on the LEFT. Athletes will then swim 500m to the Yellow buoy to be rounded on the LEFT. Swim 100m to Yellow buoy to be rounded on the LEFT. Athletes then swim 450m to the Red buoy to be rounded on the RIGHT. Swim the final 150m of Lap 1 to the beach. Athletes will run a short distance of 50m on the beach to start Lap 2.

LAP 2: Total distance 2300m

Athletes will swim 300m to the Red Buoy rounded on the LEFT. Swim 925m to the Red buoy rounded on the LEFT. Swim 100m to the Red buoy rounded on the LEFT. 825m to the Red buoy rounded on the RIGHT. Swim final 150m of Lap 2 to the beach.

The cut-off for the swim is 2 hours 20 minutes.

Pre-race final check-in will begin at 05h00 (approx. 2 hours before race start). Athletes will be required to cross over the mats at the swim start to ensure that we have an accurate count going into the water. Failure to cross these mats could result in disqualification. For those who wear glasses or hearing aids, please label them with your name and race number. Tables will be provided at the timing mats at the Swim Start area, where these can be handed in. These tables will be placed at the entrance to Transition where you can pick up your glasses / hearing aid after completing the swim. There will be showers at the end of the beach run. Wetsuits may be fully removed in the changing tents only. Public nudity is prohibited. Please take your bag to the bag drop-off zone outside the changing tent. (NB: It is your responsibility to ensure ALL equipment is placed in the bag and securely closed.)

The cut-off time for the swim is 09:20am for Age Group athletes.

2 hours and 20 minutes (140 minutes), from race start.

180.2km Bike

From Transition at Hobie Beach, you cycle along the coast for 3km towards the city. Turn left up Walmer Boulevard. You will climb for 10km to reach the highest point of 183 metres above sea level, this is a gentle continuous climb. From here it is downhill to the 20km mark. Gentle rolling hills occur to the turn-around point at the 34km mark. It is then rolling hills all the way to the 40km mark where it is downhill to the coast. The route is then relatively flat along the coast back to Transition at 60km.

You need to complete three loops on race day.

The cut-off time for the bike is 17h30 – 10 hours and 30 minutes (630 mins.) from the race start. Please take note of the road closure cut-off at 15h30.

You are able to collect your bike and other gear at the Transition Area between 18h30 – 00h15.

Your bike will be checked out using your official race chip and chip belt. If you are unable to fetch your own bike for any reason, a family member or friend may collect it for you as long as they have the Bike Check-Out card, race chip, and chip belt. This card will be included in your Registration packs.

The cut-off time for the swim and bike is 5:30pm

10 hours and 30 minutes (630 minutes) from race start.

42.2km Run

The run will be a three loop course of 14.07km along Marine Drive. The run route is a very fast, flat route, with no hills, through the top gate of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and out through the bottom gate of the University, heading towards Transition. The route will be closed to civilian vehicles. Aid stations will be available, approximately 2km apart.

Many contestants will still be on the course after dark. We urge all of you to make yourselves as visible as possible. In
addition to the required hot spots on your shoes (heels and toes) and reflective tape on your shorts (front and back), we suggest you use additional reflective tape or other materials freely and judiciously to make yourself visible from both the front and the rear to the cars and other runners. Your safety and the safety of others is paramount!

The total cut-off time is 24:00am (midnight) – 17 hours after race start.