Race review: IRONMAN Tallinn

IRONMAN Tallinn will celebrate it’s 10 year anniversary in 2025. Known as a race that’s created ‘by triathletes, for triathletes’, and with it’s flat course profile, it’s become a popular race among first timers and experienced IRONMAN racers alike over the last decade.

Tallinn was a fairly last minute addition to my 2024 race calendar, but it’s actually a race that’s been on my bucket list ever since I raced the ETU Standard Distance age group championships in Tartu in 2018. I loved Estonia, and I was keen to use doing another triathlon there as an excuse to return.

I entered IRONMAN Tallinn just before I headed out to Germany to race Challenge Roth in July. I’d had my eye on ‘doing the double’ and racing two full distance races fairly close together for most of the year, but I wanted to wait until I’d made it through the bulk of my Roth training before pulling the trigger, just in case I picked up any injuries. Recovery after Roth went well, and I was able to jump back into training – so I headed to Tallinn on the hunt for a new IRONMAN PR, with a sub-4hr marathon in my sights. Read on to find out how it went, and to get my honest opinion on everything from the course and organisation, to Tallinn as a race-cation destination.

IRONMAN Tallinn Course

Before we dive into some of the finer details like logistics and travel. Let’s start with the most important element when you’re choosing which race to do: the course. IRONMAN Tallinn has become a popular choice with those targeting a fast time, thanks to the near-pan flat course profile. But that doesn’t mean this is a race where you’ll get an easy ride. The wind plays a factor, and holding your TT position for 180km straight can in some ways be just as tough as taking on hills.

This is a race that I’d say is just as suited to first timers as it is to experienced racers. If you’re heading to Tallinn to attempt your first IRONMAN, the course and the slick organisation make it beginner friendly. And if like me, you’ve got a few full distance races under your belt, the flat course profile means you can roll the dice and go for a new personal best time.

Swim course

When I was choosing my late season Iron-distance race, I was stuck between Tallinn and IRONMAN Portugal. And ultimately chose Tallinn because of the lake swim. Not having to worry about choppy sea conditions takes one variable out of the equation when you’re heading to the start line with a PB time in mind. So you can imagine the slight melt down I had in the airport while I was waiting for my flight to Estonia when an email flashed up saying the swim had been moved from Lake Harku to the Baltic Sea!

My own nervousness aside, this was objectively a pretty incredible move from the team behind IRONMAN Tallinn. The water quality in the lake had been compromised by algae. And where many race organisers would take the easy route, throw their hands up and say ‘oh well, never mind, a duathlon it is then’. The team in Estonia went all in on making sure their competitors got to complete a full swim, bike and run. That’s good to know if you’re targeting Tallinn as your first Ironman race and being able to truly say you’ve “done an Ironman” is important to you. We’ll dive into the organisation and logistics later, but given they had to completely move the location of T1, I have to give the IRONMAN Tallinn team some major kudos for how seamless the swim change was.

Swimming in the Baltic Sea

The team have made the move back to a sea swim permanent, so if you’re looking at this race for 2025 – you’ll be getting in the Baltic, not Lake Harku.

The first thing you need to know is that the sea off Stroomi Beach is super shallow. So if the thought of lurking ocean creatures down below in a dark abyss is giving you the creeps – rest assured, the water is crystal clear and you can always see the bottom. It’s also probably the least salty sea water I’ve ever swum in. I’m used to great salty mouthfuls of the North Sea making me feel sick for hours afterwards on the rare occasion I brave a sea swim near where I live in the UK. So it’s good to know that you’re not going to get out of the swim feeling like you’ve inhaled the contents of a salt shaker.

My main concern was jellyfish: I’m terrified of those weird blobby creatures. And I’m not going to lie. There was a lot of them. But they were the small kind that don’t sting and, objectively, nothing to be afraid of. We’ll call it exposure therapy! Once I’d got over the initial ‘ick’ I just accepted that I’d be sharing the water with them. So again, that’s one less thing to worry about if the sea swim is deterring you from this race.

For the full distance race, the course is two laps with an Aussie exit on a platform constructed some 150m out from the shore. You’ll walk out to that platform to start your race (told you it was shallow!), with a rolling start based on self-seeded swim times. Once you’ve completed your two laps, you’ll have a run through knee high (or ankle high, if you’re not as vertically challenged as I am) water back to shore. The wind picked up halfway through the swim on race day, and as a result the water did get really quite choppy. I struggled a bit with this, mainly because I’d done all my open water swimming in lakes and rivers, so my sea swimming skills were totally rusty. We’re not talking IRONMAN Wales monster waves though, and in hindsight if I’d known I had a sea swim to contend with and I’d done more sea swimming in training I probably wouldn’t have been that bothered. Like I said, it’s pretty shallow so you’re never that far from being able to put your feet on the ground.

info-circle IRONMAN Tallinn swim course insider tips

Do plenty of sea swimming in training so you know how to adjust your stroke and sighting if conditions are choppy.

Practice running out of the water – get good at this and you can make up significant time on race day.

The water temperature can change quite quickly – pack kit for both cold and warm water.

Don’t worry about the jellyfish, they’re small and friendly!

There are changing facilities at Stroomi Beach, so it’s easy to recce the course before the race.

IRONMAN Tallinn swim course rating

Swim start: 8/10
The rolling start reduced the ‘washing machine’ effect, which made for a stress-free start. I’ve knocked a couple of points off because we had to be in our start pens for quite a long time before we were allowed to enter the water. And then we were stood in the water waiting to get on the start platform for a little while too, which meant I got quite cold before I started.

Water quality: 10/10
The water was crystal clear and felt really clean – a treat compared to the murky brown waters of the North Sea in the UK!

Beginner friendly: 6/10
The water can get cold quite quickly and because it’s shallow, as soon as the wind picks up – the waves follow suit. This could prove tricky for weaker swimmers, and potentially makes this a more challenging swim. Though with some practice in training, it should still be achievable for most.

Overall swim course rating: 8/10

Bike course

On paper a flat, 3-lap bike course might sound like it has the potential to be boring. But the bike course at IRONMAN Tallinn is seriously fun. You get to explore some of the green countryside outside of Tallinn, but you also pass by T2 a couple of times which is a prime spot to see your support crew. The road surface is smooth and with little in the way of hills to contend with you can enjoy getting into a rhythm and picking up some speed.

As mentioned, the course is extremely flat. Once you wind your way back towards Rocca Al Mare from Stroomi Beach, you’ll have a stretch of slight uphill after you pass by T2. This is where the bulk of the elevation per lap comes from. Ignore your average pace here – especially if there’s a headwind – and know that it soon flattens out. You also get a nice, long slight downhill at the end of each lap, and if you’re lucky you’ll get a tail wind here too which has you absolutely flying. So much fun!

There’s little in the way of technicality on the bike course at IRONMAN Tallinn, which is part of why it’s so beginner friendly. You’ve got a U-turn at the end of the lap near T2. It’s not particularly tight, but it could catch you out if you come in too fast so just be aware.

Be prepared to battle the wind

Smooth roads, no hills – am I making this bike course sound like too much of a breeze? The main foe you’ve got to contend with here is the wind. The flat, coastal environment means the wind can get pretty fierce. For context – I actually ended up going 1 minute slower on the bike in Tallinn compared to the significantly hillier course at Challenge Roth a few weeks earlier, all thanks to the wind!

TRI247’s Jenny Lucas-Hill on the bike course at IRONMAN Tallinn 2024

Along with strong headwinds making certain parts of the course feel quite slow going. There were also sections with gusty cross winds that tried to nudge you across the road if you weren’t paying attention. However, I run a fairly deep section rim on my front wheel, and a disc cover on my back wheel, and other than a couple of hairy moments when I had one hand off the bars to refill my bottles, the cross wind was manageable. You’ve just got to stay calm and relaxed. If you get nervous riding in the wind, it’s well worth practicing in all conditions in training so you know how to handle your bike in a cross wind.

Aerodynamics are really important on this course if you want to get the best possible time. If you haven’t got a triathlon/TT bike, I’d say it’s well worth considering getting clip-on aero bars for your road bike. You’ll be grateful for them if you get a strong headwind.

info-circle IRONMAN Tallinn bike course insider tips

Be prepared for windy conditions – dial in your aero bike set up and practice riding in a cross wind.

Do plenty of training in your TT position so you can hold it for long periods of time and still run well off the bike.

Check the wind direction on race morning so you know where on the course you’ll have a cross wind. Get any ‘admin’ like refilling bottles done before these sections so you can have both hands on the bars.

Stick to your race plan – don’t over do it riding too hard into the headwind. Trust that you’ll make up time when you get a tail wind.

IRONMAN Tallinn bike course rating

Road surface: 9/10
Very little in the way of potholes or rough roads to contend with.

Course layout: 8/10
Some might not like the 3-lap format, but I enjoyed it and there are enough turns that you’re never sat going in one straight line for any length of time.

Aid stations: 7/10
There are plenty of aid stations on the course, but I’d have liked to have seen a few more ‘hot spots’ with music and atmosphere. The buzz from passing by T2 was a good pick-me-up though.

Draft-busting: 10/10
Flat courses can lend themselves to big packs of drafters. I can only speak to my experience, but from what I saw the referees were out in force and the penalty tent was suitably full after lap one to suggest that draft rules were being well enforced. As they should be! This felt like a really honest race.

Overall bike course rating: 8.5/10
You’re not going to have the ‘wow’ moments from the scenery like you might get at one of the alpine races (I’m looking at you, IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See!) but the countryside is still pretty and overall I had a blast on this bike course. Flat, fast, without resorting to boring straight out and backs. And it sets you up perfectly to have plenty left in the tank for the marathon.

Run course

I enjoyed the run course at IRONMAN Tallinn way more than I expected. After heading out of T2, you quickly found yourself running through beautiful green spaces on your way out to Stroomi Beach. And the atmosphere on the run was amazing. The layout of the course meant spectators could quite easily get around to multiple locations on each lap, so there was plenty of support the whole way round. The volunteers at this race are probably the most friendly, energetic and welcoming I’ve ever experienced, and that theme continued on the run. A particular shout out to the ladies who were on the aid station at the turnaround point at Stroomi – you really brought the party atmosphere!

IRONMAN Tallinn run course

The marathon course at Tallinn is also one of the flattest courses I’ve raced, which makes it ideal for going for a PB Ironman marathon time. Just save some energy for the slight up hill at the end of each lap back towards Rocca Al Mare. It’s not steep, but by the final lap it starts to pinch a bit.

There are plenty of aid stations along the course. But it’s worth knowing that if you plan to have a special needs bag, it’s kept in a separate area slightly off the course – i.e. they’re not just on a table so you can run by and grab it without stopping. Consider if it’s worth the time you’ll lose going to fetch it, or if you can carry everything you need with you in your tri suit pockets.

Between the atmosphere and the four lap structure, the kilometres flew by. My main aim for this race was to finally get a sub-4hr marathon split, and I made my way across the finish line with 4 minutes to spare. Thanks, Tallinn!

IRONMAN Tallinn run course ratings

Atmosphere: 10/10
Plenty of spectators and energetic volunteers meant there was no shortage of atmosphere out on the course.

Course: 9/10
Four laps go by far quicker than you’d expect and the green spaces offer plenty of shade and nice scenery.

Aid stations: 9/10
Plenty on offer to keep you fuelled and hydrated – just check where the special needs bags will be located and make a judgement call if it’s worth losing the time.

Overall rating: 9/10
Up there with one of my favourite Iron distance marathon courses – though getting a PR time might be giving me rose tinted glasses!

Organisation and race logistics

Once you’ve found a race with a course that sounds appealing, the next major consideration is how easy it’ll be to get there, and how well organised the event will be. Given that IRONMAN Tallinn is renowned for being a race that’s created ‘by triathletes, for triathletes’ I had high hopes for the organisation. And thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. 10 years of putting on this race means that IRONMAN Tallinn is a well-oiled machine.

Getting to Tallinn

Getting to Tallinn was relatively easy from the UK – we were able to get a direct flight from London Luton which was only a few hours long. The flight was packed with triathletes, which meant the ground crew had to play a serious game of Tetris to get all the bike boxes into the hold. As ever when travelling with a bike, it’s worth getting to the airport early to ensure your trusty steed makes it aboard the plane. Tallinn airport seemed very well prepared for the influx of oversized luggage, and once we landed I was quickly reunited with my bike.

The airport is only a couple of miles away from the city centre. We hired a car, but in all honesty we could have quite easily got by just using public transport. It’s really easy to get around in the city, and you get a QR code for free public transport during race week. You can also hire e-scooters and e-bikes pretty much anywhere you go using the Bolt app – I enjoyed scooting around the city sightseeing and spectating the 70.3 the day after my race.

Pre-race admin and logistics: check-in, briefings and bike racking

Getting to the main race HQ was easy – it’s based inside the Rocca Al Mare shopping centre, so there’s an abundance of parking if you’ve hired a car and plenty of public transport options if you’re not staying close by. Race check-in was stress-free and well organised, without any long queues. Always appreciated when you’re trying to stay off your feet in the days before an IRONMAN.

The race briefing was held in person a stone’s throw from check-in, at the Unibet Arena. I’ve already mentioned the last minute swim venue change – all the information was communicated efficiently and there were opportunities to ask questions at the briefing, too. As much as online briefings can be more time efficient, I think it’s good for first timers in particular to have the opportunity to speak to the organisers in person and ask any questions.

Bike racking was at the new T1 location at Stroomi Beach. I’d say this was about a 15 minute drive away from Rocca Al Mare. Again, plenty of parking if you’re driving and there were shuttle buses arranged by the organisers too. The transition area was easy to navigate and checking in was smooth and efficient. This race has a split transition, so you hand your run bag in when you rack your bike – i.e. the day before the race.

Overall I found all the pre-race logistics as stress-free as they can be when you’re all jazzed up with nerves. And particularly considering the team had been forced to deal with a complete change of swim location – everything was incredibly well-organised.

Race morning and transition zones

As mentioned, T1 had a straight forward lay out and it was easy enough to find your bike – from memory, there were coloured flags on the end of each rack as well as the numbers so you had a few points of reference. If you’ve done a big race before, you’ll know how stressful the toilet queues can be! Thankfully, there were more than enough portable toilets both in T1 where the bikes were racked and down by the swim start. Lots of toilet roll available too – if you know, you know.

You’ve got a few minutes’ walk from T1 to the swim start, so leave yourself enough time. They’d put carpet down for this so if you didn’t have flip flops you didn’t have to get sore feet before you’d even started. As mentioned, the swim start was well managed – but be prepared to wait a little while in the start pens before you get into the water. If mass starts and congested swims make you nervous, rest assured you’ll enjoy the calm and controlled start at Tallinn.

T2 was a well-oiled machine. There were bike catchers at the dismount line which made for speedy transitions, and plenty of space to sit down and put your run gear on.

Post-race

Once you’ve crossed the finish line, the post-race area is in the Unibet Arena. What’s really nice about this race is that you’ve got a proper changing room, hot showers and a sauna to look forward to after you’ve finished. Don’t underestimate how much of a treat this will feel after 140.6 miles of swim-bike-run!

The finish zone wasn’t too busy when I finished, which meant I didn’t have to queue for a shower and it was easy to find a free table to get some post-race food on board. You’re also right near the shopping centre which has heaps of restaurants, so while the food options in the finish area were a bit limited, it was easy to get whatever you were craving.

Expo and awards ceremony

The expo was the only area where I felt like this race fell a little short compared to other IRONMAN events I’ve done. There was the IRONMAN Gear store itself, where you could pick up all the usual race swag. But if you’re expecting the usual exhibition hall full of brands showcasing new kit/bikes, with PRO athlete meet or greets – you might be disappointed. There were a couple of brands with small stands, and a cool triathlon exhibition. But aside from that it was relatively low key. That being said, with 2025 being the 10 year anniversary it may well be that things are stepped up a notch! It also meant there wasn’t the FOMO-induced pressure to spend ages walking around a packed expo when you’re supposed to be resting up before the race. Silver linings!

The awards ceremony took place back in the Unibet Arena where the race briefing was held, which meant we were able to see the top finishers in the IRONMAN Pro Series 70.3 race cross the line before heading in for the awards and slot allocation.

Location: Is Tallinn a good race-cation destination?

That’s all the essentials about the race covered, but what about Tallinn itself as a place to visit? I have to say, I think this city is such a hidden gem. We only had one day after the race to explore, but in hindsight I wish we’d stayed a little longer because I feel like we barely scratched the surface.

Tallinn old town is a must visit.

You’ve got the old town which is all cobbled streets and medieval architecture. I had previously wondered why the marathon course didn’t go into the old town – but having walked up and down those hilly streets, I’m glad for the sake of my quads that it didn’t. It’s seriously stunning though, and you get incredible views over the city. There’s also lots of really nice cafes – don’t leave Tallinn without having at least one cinnamon bun.

The hustle and bustle of the modern area of the city feels like a world apart from the old town, but in reality it’s just a street or two over. And then you’ve also got the ultra-cool districts like Telliskivi Creative City, which is worth a trip just to see the street art. Plus the coast just a stone’s throw away from the city, too. In many ways, Tallinn felt a bit like Copenhagen’s cool, laidback cousin. A city of contrasts, with something for everyone. I’d definitely like to go back for a city break to see more of Tallinn, so I’d highly recommend giving yourself a few extra days to enjoy it after the race.

The verdict: Is IRONMAN Tallinn a race worth doing?

If you’re looking for a race that’s both beginner friendly, but packed with PB potential for experienced racers I’d definitely recommend considering IRONMAN Tallinn. The course is fast and flat, without being boring. The race weekend logistics are as stress-free as possible. And the race is incredibly well organised. Falling at the end of August, it also works well from a timing perspective because you’ve got almost all summer to tick off all your big training sessions. IRONMAN Tallinn is the ideal way to finish off your race season. I’d certainly consider going back again!

Location: 10/10

Course: 8/10

Organisation: 10/10

Overall rating: 9/10

Find out more about IRONMAN Tallinn, including course maps and World Championship qualification times, in our dedicated race guide.