Wrightsville Beach · channel swim
Follow the channel without chasing the clock.
An incoming tide helps everyone in the channel, so settle into your own rhythm rather than racing the rolling start.
Seed honestly. Settle into rhythm.
Race Finder IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina.
Race Intelligence · Wilmington, United States
IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina.
Your best day in Wilmington.
The latest published 2026 course used a point-to-point channel swim, a flat ride to Wilmington and two run loops. The 2027 date and route await organiser announcement.
Wilmington, a pier over the water.
- Course
- Swim 1.9 km · Bike 90 km · Run 21.1 km
- Historical air
- 12–25°C
Your day in Wilmington
What could you race?
I’m Tom, the coach behind Sense Endurance Coaching. Tell me where you are now and I’ll show you what a strong day in Wilmington could look like.
This prediction uses · 1.9 km swim · 90 km bike · 21.1 km run
The course behind your race
Let a quick swim stay a quick swim.
The 2026 course guide described an incoming tide through the Wrightsville Beach channel, followed by the Cape Fear crossing and two trips around Greenfield Lake. Treat that route as prior-edition context until the organiser publishes the 2027 date and course.
Beach to countryside · opening bike
Start your own plan after the tide-assisted swim.
A flat, fast point-to-point course invites riding above plan from the first mile. Hold your target watts.
Watch the watts, not the speed. Fuel early.
Towards Wilmington · remaining bike
Finish the ride with your run routine ready.
Finish your nutrition before crossing the Cape Fear River into town. Two lollipop run loops still need the energy you save on the bike.
Stay aero. Finish planned nutrition.
Greenfield Lake · first run loop
Use the shaded section to settle, not surge.
Let the first shaded loop around Greenfield Lake feel easy, not fast.
Easy first aid station. Check posture.
Historic Wilmington · second loop and finish
Build towards the riverfront only when form holds.
Only progress once the first loop has held together, saving something for the finish across from the USS North Carolina.
Stay tall. Choose the last move late.
What to check in race week
The 2027 date and course are awaiting announcement. Once the organiser publishes them, confirm swim entry and exit, transition transport, the Cape Fear crossing and the Greenfield Lake route before planning race week.
Forecast statusToo early for a forecast
A race-day forecast is not meaningful yet; check back closer to the event.
- Temperature
- 11.9–24.9°CDew point centred on 13.4°C
- Wind and gusts
- 12.1 km/hGusts up to 39.2 km/hPrevailing direction NNW
- Rain likelihood
- Up to 55%Wet-surface uncertainty retained
Historical baseline, 2019–2025 · Open-Meteo historical archive · Updated 2026-09-13.Historical comparison only. This is not a forecast for 2026.
Race-week email is available once the organiser confirms the event date.
Prepare for Wilmington
Build the legs.
Practise the decisions.
A finish range gives you something to work towards. The preparation is specific to this race: Training has to make a flat point-to-point ride patient and the second Greenfield Lake loop as well fuelled as the first.
I’m Tom. With Sense Endurance Coaching, I’ll build that preparation around your life, follow how you respond and adjust the work as you get closer to Wilmington.
Explore coachingTrisutto certified80/20 Endurance certifiedBrett Sutton’s Coach the Coach programme
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