Puerto Princesa braces for full Ironman 70.3 field

Around 1,400 athletes are expected to sign up when picturesque Puerto Princesa in Palawan hosts the IRONMAN 70.3 on Nov. 13 as the event continues its expansion in Asia.

The 1.9-kilometer (1.2-mile) swim course from the Puerto Princesa Bay Walk Park will serve as the kickoff event, with the field next tackling a challenging 90-km (56-mile) three-loop scenic bike ride from the southern part of Puerto Princesa to the Iwahig Bridge.

The closing 21.1-km (13.1-mile) run will be held along the bay to the city center all the way to the finish line at the Ramon Mitra Jr. Sports Complex.

“We are excited to grow our portfolio of races in Asia. We are always on the lookout to create new race experiences that allow our athletes to compete in unique destinations, while pursuing their best performance,” said Jeff Edwards, managing director of Asia for the IRONMAN Group.

The city is home to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one the “new” seven wonders of nature and a Unesco World Heritage site that contains a full “mountain-to-sea” ecosystem. The highly urbanized city also sits beside one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines, making it a premier tourist and ecological destination—and a great place for triathlon racing.