Your guide to Ironman Wisconsin 2024: Course, race and spectator info for the Madison triathlon

Ironman Wisconsin, the famous 140.6-mile triathlon, returns to Madison on Sunday.

In the 22nd installment of the event, endurance athletes will swim through Lake Monona, bike through hilly farmlands in and around Verona, and finish a marathon just past Capitol Square.

Ironman Wisconsin is one in a series of over 170 triathlons, including over 40 full Ironman events, put on worldwide by the Ironman brand. 

Earlier this year, the Madison course won a top-five Global Ironman Athletes’ Choice Award when it was voted the third-best overall Ironman race in a post-race survey given to athletes at over 40 Ironman triathlons across the world in 2023.

Its Lake Monona swim route was named the athlete-favorite swim of all Ironman races worldwide, and Ironman Wisconsin was voted the No. 1 Ironman race in North America for 2023, based on overall event satisfaction.

Ironman Wisconsin also hosts an Ironman 70.3 triathlon the day before the full-distance event; this is often known as a “half Ironman.” It will follow a similar, though obviously shorter, route to Sunday’s 140.6-mile race.

Planning to watch Ironman Wisconsin, or perhaps even compete in the ultra-distance event? Here’s what you need to know:

When is Ironman Wisconsin 2024?

Ironman Wisconsin 2024 is Sunday, Sept. 8. The swim, the first of the three events in the triathlon, begins at 7 a.m., according to the race weekend schedule. Athletes have 17 hours to finish the three-stage event from the time they cross the timing mat at the swim start. There are additional time cut-offs for each portion of the race; more information can be found in the Athlete Guide.

Ironman Wisconsin’s Ironman 70.3 race is Saturday, Sept. 7. The swim starts at 7 a.m., according to the race weekend schedule. Athletes have 8 hours and 30 minutes to finish the triathlon from the time they cross the timing mat at the swim start. There are additional time cut-offs for each portion of the race; more information can be found in the 70.3 Athlete Guide.

Where can I watch Ironman Wisconsin?

Everyone is welcome to watch Ironman Wisconsin from various spots along the course. According to the race website, these are the best spots to watch the race:

• Swim: Ironman recommends you watch the swim from the Monona Terrace for a panoramic view or from the Capital City Trail along the waterfront.
• Bike: The bike course passes through downtown Madison twice, allowing for easy viewing. A map of the bike route can be found online. The 140.6-mile race also offers a free shuttle service for spectators to Verona, where you can catch even more of the bike portion. Shuttle services run Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the corner of Washington and Pinckney Streets in downtown Madison. More information can be found in the online spectator guide.
• Run: The two-loop run course goes through downtown Madison, and there are many viewing areas throughout downtown. The finish line is on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. between East Doty and West Wilson streets.

Ironman also offers VIP spectator packages for purchase that include catered meals, private restrooms and athlete perks. You can find more information or purchase a package here: ironman.com/im-wisconsin-supporters.

Ironman Wisconsin 2024 athlete tracking

You can track Ironman athletes in real-time on race day using the Ironman Tracker Mobile App. The free app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

How long is an Ironman?

The full Ironman distance is 140.6 miles, consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike, followed by a marathon ― a 26.2-mile run. The ultra-endurance race is widely recognized as one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.

Ironman Wisconsin and other Ironman races also hold an Ironman 70.3 race, also known as a “half Ironman” because it’s half the distance of an Ironman. Ironman 70.3 races consist of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile half marathon run.

Most full Ironman races have a time limit of 16 or 17 hours to complete the race. The average time to finish an Ironman is 12 hours and 38 minutes for men and 13 hours and 35 minutes for women, according to triathlon coach Ryan Jones with TRIGearLab.

Where does the Ironman Wisconsin course go?

The Ironman Wisconsin 140.6-mile course begins with a two-loop, 2.4-mile swim in Lake Monona, near the Helix parking ramp at the Monona Terrace. Following the swim, athletes make their way up the Helix to change and prepare their gear for the bike portion. This is known as a transition, or T1.

After T1, athletes ride down the Helix and head southwest from downtown Madison to the hilly, two-loop portion of the 112-mile bike course. This looped portion rides through farmlands in Verona, Mount Horeb, Cross Plains and the surrounding area.

T2 occurs back at the Monona Terrace, where athletes exchange bike gear for running gear and begin the 26.2-mile run. The run course travels along iconic Madison landmarks ― including Lake Mendota, State Street and the turf at Camp Randall ― before finishing just past the Capitol Square.

Turn-by-turn directions for the bike and run courses can be found online.

How hard is Ironman Wisconsin?

The Ironman Wisconsin bike course is categorized by Ironman as “hilly.” Ironman categorizes courses as either “flat,” “rolling” or “hilly.”

Ironman has called the course “challenging,” and ACTIVE.com calls it “notoriously difficult.” According to ACTIVE.com, the total elevation gain on the course is 4,120 feet.

Where can I find the Ironman Wisconsin results?

Ironman Wisconsin results can be found here: ironman.com/im-wisconsin-results.

Ironman Wisconsin 70.3 results can be found here: ironman.com/im703-wisconsin-results.

More: Madison’s Ironman Wisconsin voted the best Ironman triathlon in the U.S. by athletes

More: Lori Nickel: This Wisconsin woman is America’s fastest female Ironman