Tempe Triathlon 70.3

The half-iron distance asks a particular question: can you hold race pace for five-plus hours across three disciplines? In Tempe, the course adds its own follow-up questions. The 1.9km swim sends you into cool still lake waters at 17°C — cool enough to want a wetsuit, warm enough to swim without panic. It's long enough that a poor start costs real time, short enough that strong swimmers can build a genuine lead. The 90km bike is the defining leg: 712m of elevation gain across a seriously hilly course that separates those who trained for this specific distance from those who just showed up fit. Ninety kilometres of climbing changes the race equation entirely. The 21.1km run rolls through Tempe, adding 106m of climbing to legs already tested by the bike. The undulations are psychological as much as physical — each rise feels larger than it is when you've been racing for four hours. A half-iron course that doesn't apologise for its difficulty — and neither should you for choosing it.