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Triathlon Atlas

Half distance · 8 May 2027

IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast

Panama City Beach, United States

The race at a glance

Official race website
Circuit
IRONMAN
Distance
Middle distance
Terrain
Road
Swim
1.9 km
Bike
90 km
Run
21.1 km
Date
8 May 2027
Registration
Open
Swim venue
Ocean
Average water temperature
24 °C
Bike profile
Flat
Bike elevation gain
229 m
Run profile
Flat
Run elevation gain
41 m
High air temperature
29 °C
Low air temperature
22 °C
Overall cut-off
8 h 30 min
Entry fee, from
$480
Altitude
0 m
First edition
1983
Swim start
Rolling start

Edition history

20269 May 2026Held
202510 May 2025Held
202411 May 2024Held
202313 May 2023Held
20227 May 2022Held
202115 May 2021Held
20207 Nov 2020Held
201911 May 2019Held
201812 May 2018Held
201713 May 2017Held

How the day is laid out

The swim is held in the ocean. An average of 24 °C is warm. Wetsuit use is commonly restricted above this point, and the swim becomes a question of heat more than of cold.

The bike leg is labelled flat.

The run is labelled flat.

A flat bike followed by a flat run is the most predictable combination on the calendar. It removes climbing and the descents that come with it, so power output stays constant for the whole bike leg and wind becomes the main variable.

Expect air between 22 °C and 29 °C on race day. A spread of 7 degrees across the day matters as much as the peak, because what you wear at the swim exit is rarely what you want at the far end of the bike.

A Gulf swim with currents, and a price that rises with demand

The swim is one clockwise lap in the Gulf of Mexico. ironman.com warns that strong currents, riptides and occasional marine life are possible, and that a universal flag system is used locally. Its Historical weather table gives the water at 26 °C in 2024 and 24 °C in 2026, with no reading for 2025.

On 2 November 2026, general entry was US$480 before processing fees. ironman.com states that pricing is inventory-based and rises automatically as slots fill.

Source: ironman.com, read on 2 November 2026.

Against the calendar

Where this race sits among the others

Ranks are computed across every race of the same distance.

  • Average water temperature

    24 °C · median 21 °C

    The 35th warmest of the 128 middle-distance races with a figure, across every circuit.

  • High air temperature

    29 °C · median 25 °C

    The 40th hottest of the 152 middle-distance races with a figure, across every circuit.

  • Bike elevation gain

    229 m · median 569 m

    The 16th flattest of the 105 middle-distance races with a figure, across every circuit.

43

races of this distance pair a flat bike with a flat run, out of 159. 53 share the bike profile alone.

32

races across every distance fall in May, out of 354.

68

races are held in North America. 9 of them in the same month as this one.

Questions about this race

When is IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast 2027?
IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast is held on 8 May 2027 in Panama City Beach, United States. Registration is open on the official race page.
Is a wetsuit allowed at IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast?
Most likely. The average water temperature is 24 °C, below the 24.5 °C limit up to which wetsuits are allowed for age-group athletes. The official call is made on race morning.
What is the cut-off at IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast?
The course closes 8 h 30 min after the start. Intermediate cut-offs after the swim and the bike are in the athlete guide.
How hard is IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast?
The bike course climbs about 229 m, the 16th flattest of 105 half-distance races with a figure. The bike is labelled flat and the run flat. Expect highs of about 29 °C on race day.
How much is the entry fee for IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast?
Entries start at US$480 for an individual age-group entry, before service fees. Prices rise by tier as the race fills.

Where to stay

Hotels and rentals around the race venue, for the nights around race day.

Suggested stay: 6 May 2027 to 9 May 2027

The map is provided by Stay22. Bookings are made with the provider.

Races of the same distance in the same region

Entries are handled by the organiser

Registration and the athlete guide are on the official race page.

Open the official race page