Wings of FireAn authentic Chesapeake town on Maryland’s storied Eastern Shore, lies the historic IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman. A big race for a small town, experience Cambridge’s history and charm while enjoying the vibrant art scene, local restaurants and breweries, fresh seafood, and family-friendly adventures. With over 25 years of racing, …
MORE
Wings of Fire
An authentic Chesapeake town on Maryland’s storied Eastern Shore, lies the historic IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman. A big race for a small town, experience Cambridge’s history and charm while enjoying the vibrant art scene, local restaurants and breweries, fresh seafood, and family-friendly adventures. With over 25 years of racing, get ready to soar towards the finish as you chase your PR or complete your first IRONMAN 70.3.
Kick-off with a 1.2-mile protected open water swim through the Choptank River and a 56-mile flat bike through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, allowing athletes to test their cadence while taking in scenic vistas. Athletes can widen their stride during the 13.1-mile flat run until they hit the iconic finish line lined with cheering spectators at Gerry Boyle Park. No matter the goal, every moment of race day prepares you for something bigger down the road.
IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman is your proving ground to take on more.
Swim
The swim takes place in the brackish waters of the Choptank River. Swim start and finish are at Gerry Boyle Park where athletes will enter the water via the small beach and swim a counterclockwise rectangle to the exit the boat ramp. The river has a tidal current and this year athletes will be swimming against the tidal current on the outbound leg and with the tidal current on the inbound leg.
Bike
The one-loop bike course has only 330 ft of elevation gain so athletes can expect a truly flat ride. Once out of town, the course winds through country roads and the beautiful Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. While there are no hills to contend with, the winds blowing across open fields and marshland can be just as challenging.
Run
The IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman Run course is a 2x out-and-back along the Choptank River and through the peaceful residential streets of Cambridge with an updated loop through the scenic Algonquin neighborhood. The usually quiet streets will transform with cheering spectators along the route.
Swim: RIVER
Bike: FLAT
Run: FLAT
High Air Temp: 84 °F / 29 °C
Low Air Temp: 65 °F / 18 °C
Avg Water Temp: 74 °F / 23 °C
Airport: BWI
LESS
Everyone should do the Ironman Eagleman
First thing's first in the world of Ironman... course is everything. I pick my Ironman based on what the course difficulty is so I'm sure to match the course difficulty … MORE
First thing’s first in the world of Ironman… course is everything. I pick my Ironman based on what the course difficulty is so I’m sure to match the course difficulty with my fitness level and ability. Every triathlete needs to experience Eagleman. Here’s why:
1. The water was pristine. Hate swimming in mucky lake water? Me too. The Choptank River (on the Eastern Shore of Maryland) was pristine. It was a great phased in-water start. Awesome experience swimming in a bay. Beautiful scenery to kickoff a 70.3.
2. The bike was fast and flat in the most beautiful preserved farmland of Cambridge, Maryland. A 1-loop course always makes for an interesting and enjoyable ride. My only gripe with the bike was that 1 or 2 more aid stations would have been helpful. I like to stay uber hydrated on the bike so I’m ready to run.
3. The run was HOT so beware. The course is infamous for the hot run since the race is in June. BUT… the residents of Cambridge set up sprinklers and hoses to keep you cool throughout the run. The support from the community is astounding and you feel that most on the run since you run through town and through neighborhoods. Great fuel support on the run course.
It’s a great course to set a PR, great course for a first-timer, and great course that I would do over and over again.
Next up in 2015… Ironman Maryland. The full 140.3. Cambridge, MD likes Ironman so much they added a full Ironman to their plate as well.