IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities Race Recap: A Coach's Take on the Swim, Bike and Run
First, let me say this: I loved this race.
The energy when you arrive. The location and whole weekend experience. The race director and the Tri-Cities team have done a fantastic job.
I rank it right up there with IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon, my home race. Oregon sold out in about three days for next year. After racing Washington on September 20, I don't think this one stays a secret for long either.
Here's my recap, leg by leg, plus what I'd tell you if you're thinking about racing it in 2027.
Richland, right on the river
The race is based at Columbia Point Marina Park in Richland. It sits on a harbor that opens onto the Columbia River. Hotels and restaurants are close by, so you can walk almost everywhere.
Race weekend had great food trucks and even a beer garden at the expo. It felt like a community event, not just a race. That energy carries you right into race morning.
Pre-race: you can swim the whole course
I got there Friday. The race-day buoy line was already out.
That means you can pre-swim the entire course. Lots of people were doing it, and swim groups were everywhere. We had our own Fuel The Finish swim group, and we'll do it again next year.
If open water makes you nervous, this is a big deal. By race morning, you've already been there done it. That is a huge confidence boost.
The swim: a big river and clean water
The swim is 1.2 miles, point to point, down the Columbia River. You start upriver at Howard Amon Park and swim back toward the marina.
The Columbia is much bigger than the Willamette, where we swim at Oregon 70.3. So you don't feel the current as much, and it isn't as fast. From what I hear, that changes year to year, depending on how much water they're letting through the dams upstream.
Here's why I loved it anyway. The river is so wide that I could get to the outside and stay in the current as much as the course allowed. I had zero contact with another swimmer until I came into the finish.
No fighting for space, no getting swum over. I just got to enjoy the swim. That's rare in a 70.3.
Transition: grass
Transition is in a grass field. It's soft and comfortable to run on. Small thing, but you notice it.
The bike: couple punchy climbs, fun descents, room to grind
I think I like this bike course better than Oregon's. I don't have to choose. I love both. But this one was a blast.
Around mile 10 there's a steep, punchy climb. It reminded me of the hill I ride up at the end of almost every ride here in Bend, so I enjoyed it. At the top, you get an amazing view of the whole area.
Then come some fun downhills with hairpin turns at the bottom. More than once I thought, "Oh no, I have to slow down. This is too much fun!" Respect those turns. Brake before the corner, not in it.
The second half has long straightaways. That's where I got in my zone and just ground it out, in a good way. I finished the ride feeling great about how much I enjoyed it and how I rode.
The 56 miles are one loop, with about 2,000 feet of climbing based on athletes' ride files. It rolls, it isn't flat. Great road condition, and wide roads making it easy to pass or be passed by other riders with plenty of space.
The run: sunny, flat and lots of room
Now the run. I like the Oregon run better. On race day this one was in the sun, and a lot of it felt exposed.
That said, it's flat. And it's one lap, out and back along the Riverfront Trail, not a double loop like Oregon. So you don't get much run traffic. The path is wide, and when you're off the path, you're on wide roads. There's space to run your own race.
Fun fact: athletes voted this the best run course in the world in the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Athletes' Choice Awards. So I'm in the minority here, that's a good sign for you.
The finish: you can see it coming
You can see the finish from about a mile away. The last mile is the same path you walk to get to the swim start. You know exactly where you are and how close you are.
That's motivating. It's a great course to finish strong.
Washington vs. Oregon
5 tips if you're racing Washington in 2027
Arrive by Friday and pre-swim. The buoys go out early. Swim the course Friday afternoon or Saturday. Feel the current, water temp, and pick your sighting marks.
Swim wide or inside. The river is wide. Find open water and stay in the current where the course lets you.
Train the climb and the descents. Add short, steep hill repeats to your rides. Practice braking before tight turns at speed.
Fuel on the straightaways. The flat second half is the easiest place to eat and drink. Train with what's on course: in 2026 that was Precision Fuel & Hydration's PH 1000 drink and Maurten gels. If they don't sit well in training, carry your own.
Plan for sun on the run. Hat, sunscreen, sodium and cold water at every aid station. Run the first 3 miles slower than you feel. Then use that last mile, finish in sight, to empty the tank.
Late September in Richland is usually dry, with average highs in the high 70s. But plan for anything. In 2025, athletes raced through wind and rain.
Who this race is for
If this is your first 70.3, it's a great pick. You can pre-swim the whole course. The river gives you room. Transition is on grass. The run is one lap, and you can see the finish from a mile out. A lot of the race-day stress is gone before you start.
It reminds me of my athlete Chris. He was 58, hadn't run in over 25 years, and picked a 70.3 as his first triathlon. He finished in 5:14, 16 minutes under his goal. In his words: "I had no idea how to properly train and didn't realize how much strength training would help my running, swimming and cycling."
If you're chasing a PR, this course rewards two things: pacing the climb without burning a match, and fueling on the bike so you can handle the sun and finish strong on the run.
The long game
Races like this are why we train. Not just for one finish time, but to keep showing up to great events, with great people, for years.
I'll be back. So will the Fuel The Finish swim group practice swimming the course Friday afternoon.
Racing Washington, or your first 70.3, in 2027? If you want coaching built around your life, with strength, fueling and race-day strategy included, let's talk.
https://fuelthefinish.com/ironman-strong
- Coach Joe Beckerley
