Back by popular demand for 2024, Ironman Chattanooga returns to Tennessee’s Scenic City on September 29. As one of the most unique and beautiful courses, Ironman Chattanooga delivers stunning views amidst a semi-challenging course.
Ironman Chattanooga at a Glance
| When | September 29, 2024 |
| Swim | 2.4-Mile Point-to-Point River Swim |
| Bike | 116 Miles of Rolling Hills; 2 Laps |
| Run | 26.2-Mile Rolling Riverside Run; 2.25 Laps |
| Qualifying Slots | IRONMAN World Championship |
| More Info | IRONMAN.com | Facebook |
Ironman Chattanooga Course Recon
The Ironman Chattanooga course consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 116-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run, offering a slightly longer bike to make up for a current-assisted, point-to-point swim.
Swim
Ironman Chattanooga 2024 kicks off in the Tennessee River as a point-to-point downstream swim. Athletes form a line and jump off a dock, with 3 to 4 athletes starting at a time. The PR-setting river swim has been voted the Global Athletes’ Choice for Best Overall Swim in 2022.
Athletes should be prepared for both wetsuit and swim skin options, as the water temperature during the race is expected to be in the mid-70s, making wetsuits a race-time decision.
Bike
The bike course is 116 miles long, which is slightly longer than the usual 112-mile Ironman bike course. It is a two-loop course that crosses into North Georgia, offering incredible views of Lookout Mountain and historic Chickamauga. The course is open to traffic and features mainly rolling hills with very few steep sections
The elevation profile of the Ironman Chattanooga bike course is challenging, with several rolling hills and average gradients reaching between 4-5%. Athletes experience the Tennesee countryside for a very scenic ride.
Run
The Ironman Chattanooga run course is a two-loop course that offers a mix of challenging hills and flat, shaded sections. Athletes will complete 2.25 laps of the course and there will be aid stations at approximately every mile.
Be prepared for a quarter-mile climb at a 4% gradient immediately out of transition. The first section of the marathon is on the Amnicola Highway, which has no tree cover. Once athletes make the turn back towards town onto the Tennessee Riverwalk, the course becomes fast, flat, and mostly shaded.
Have You Done Ironman Chattanooga?
To help first-time athletes prepare for Ironman Chattanooga, we’ll soon be adding short race reports to this page.
If you’ve done Ironman Chattanooga in the past and would like to share your experience, send us a message summarizing your race.