"See You on the Beach"

The Pembrokeshire seaside town of Tenby has been the home of Ironman Wales since 2011, and has quickly gained a reputation as one of the toughest Ironman courses in the world, as well as one of the best-supported events in the global IRONMAN calendar. Such is it’s reputation and appeal, it is the very first event in the yearly calendar that allows direct qualification to the annual Kona event for the following year, which takes place in the event’s native Hawaii.

The event itself, which has it’s origins back in 1978, consists of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) cycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, raced in that order. It was created to combine some of the toughest endurance competitions in the world, in an attempt to decide which competitors of each individual discipline were the fittest, and such has begun a tribal legacy, that has spawned a series of events in over 30 countries, with over 45 different Series events.

The town – and indeed the rest of South Pembrokeshire – is transformed by the event, embracing the culture, the competitors and the atmosphere that makes for a spine-tingling event, that begins early on the Tenby’s North Beach shore, with over 2,000 competitors entering the cold Carmarthen Bay waters.

Just like spaces for the event itself, accommodation places in Tenby and the South of Pembrokeshire are at a real premium, with competitors, families, and spectators all descending on the area en mass, to cheer, support or compete. If you’re planning to be in Tenby for the event, don’t delay and book your self-catering apartment or cottage close by straight away.