IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman is a big race for a small town. This half Ironman distance race is one of the longest running Ironman sanctioned 70.3 events, with triathletes competing since 1996.
This is a race that draws competitors from not just across the USA but from around the world. Over the years, some of the most famous triathletes, as well as age group athletes, like ourselves.
We have been racing Eagleman on a regular basis since 2009. Tim and I have done it multiple times, and Tyler raced here for his first time in 2024, qualifying for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
You’ll see us racing here again in 2025.
From our multiple experiences, we will share with you what it is like to race Eagleman, plus lots of helpful tips when it comes to where to stay and where to eat.
So, Why Race Eagleman?
What keeps attracting athletes to Eagleman? The swim in the warm waters of the Choptank River, the flat bike course through the Blackwater Refuge, and a flat run course through the residential areas around Cambridge, Maryland. It is a scenic course and triathletes love the fact that it is fast and flat.
One of the best things about Eagleman is the field of professional athletes that compete in this race. Craig Alexander, Mirinda Carfrae, TJ Tollackson, and Andy Potts are just a few of the legendary athletes who have raced here.
What is it Really Like?
The 1.2 mile swim in the Choptank River is warm, usually about 75°F (24°C). There have been several years in recent history when the water was so warm that it was not wetsuit legal. There is not much of a current on the swim, since it takes place in a somewhat protected cove in the river. You can track the water temperature here.
Jellyfish are rarely an issue. Jellyfish typically don’t show up until July or August. I do remember one race, around 2010, when there were jellyfish in the water, but again, this is unusual (it’s more of an issue for IRONMAN Maryland, which is held in September).
The bike course is notoriously windy. Yes, it is a flat 56 miles, but expect to have long stretches where the wind will be in your face. These winds make the bike course more challenging than many first time triathletes racing Eagleman expect it to be.
The run is 13.1 miles with very little shade. The normal temperature for Cambridge in mid-June is 85°F (29°C). I do not know what it is about race weekend, but temperatures almost always seem to spike into the low to mid 90’s (34°C). Most athletes will be running at midday, during the worst heat of the day.
Takeaway: Expect Eagleman to be hot and windy. Because of these conditions, the race can be deceptively challenging.
Weekend Race Schedule
IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman takes place during the second weekend in June. As early as Friday afternoon athletes can check-in for the race at Gerry Boyle Park.
Mandatory bike check-in is on Saturday between the hours of 10 am to 4:30 pm at Gerry Boyle Park.
The Eagleman race takes place on Sunday morning, with athletes dropping their gear off at transition during the early morning hours. In 2024, the race officially began at 6:00 am, which was earlier than past years. The transition area opened at 4:45 am and closed at 5:50 am, which is very early. Because of this, it is best to stay in a hotel as close as possible to transition, to get as much sleep as possible.
You can see the full schedule here.
Photos From Race Day
Sunrise on the Choptank River.
Aerial View of Transition (photo from 2010 although not much has changed since then).
Transition before the start of the race.
Awaiting the start of the race.
Swim start.
Final stretch of the swim.
Patrick McKeon, professional triathlete, in transition.
Female pro triathletes.
Cody Beals returning to transition. Cody was the winner of the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman.
Finish line.
Professional Triathletes at Eagleman
These photos were taken in 2012. Tim was competing. I was registered for the race but had to sit out because one month prior I broke my left hand while mountain biking in Peru. Sitting on the sidelines had its advantages…I got to photograph the awesome field of professional triathletes in this year’s race.
Mirinda Carfrae. She was the Ironman World Champion in 2013 and 2014.
Pro bikes in transition.
TJ Tollackson
Craig Alexander
Craig Alexander, winner of Eagleman 2012.
Tim, Julie & Tyler at Eagleman
We may not be professional triathletes, but we love the sport and we keep coming back to this race (even though it is always on the weekend of our wedding anniversary…what better way to celebrate?!)
Tim in 2016
Julie in 2009
Tyler in 2024
Where to Stay
Before we get into exactly where to stay, it is very important to know that hotels in the area sell out far in advance of race weekend. Cambridge is a small town, with a limited number of hotels, so if you wait to make a hotel reservation, you could end up staying in Easton or St. Michael’s, which is over 30 minutes from transition, or Salisbury, which is even farther away.
In 2024, when doing our hotel search in February, the closest hotel we could get was a 50-minute drive from transition. Closer to race day, rooms opened up at the Hyatt Regency, so ultimately we ended up staying here, but it was not cheap.
Cambridge, Maryland
Distance to Gerry Boyle Park (transition): 4 miles, about a 10-minute drive
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa, and Marina. This is the best place to stay, given its close location to transition and the fact that Ironman sets up a block of rooms with a special rate. In the past, the hotel has required a 2 night stay to get one of these rooms, but check the room details to see if this has changed. For many people on a budget, this is not the most economical of places, but if you are looking for a nice place to stay, this is your best bet.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you were not able to get a room at the Hyatt, and would like to stay there, then as a last resort start checking availability at least 3 days before your arrival date. The Hyatt cancellation policy is 3 days prior to a stay, so anyone cancelling their reservation at the last minute would provide an opportunity for someone else to make a booking. In 2024, we checked the morning 3 days prior to our arrival date and it was still sold out. We checked again that afternoon and a bunch of rooms had opened up. So, we were able to grab the rooms we needed and be much closer to the event, saving us valuable time in the morning. But don’t rely on this strategy, and make sure you have accommodations elsewhere that can be cancelled without a penalty if you get lucky and are able to switch to the Hyatt.
Comfort Inn and Suites. Budget friendly, highly rated hotel in Cambridge.
Mill Street Inn. This bed and breakfast gets fantastic reviews on Trip Advisor and is within walking distance of Great Marsh Park.
If everything above is sold out, also in Cambridge are the Days Inn & Suites and the Cambridge Inn, but these get terrible review scores.
Easton, Maryland
Distance to Gerry Boyle Park (transition): 17 miles, about a 25-minute drive
Easton is 16 miles away (30 minute drive) from Cambridge. If you are late reserving a hotel for the race, there are still usually plenty of options here. Plus, Easton has the largest selection of restaurants in the area.
Holiday Inn Express Easton. This is where we stayed in 2016. We were able to reserve a room here just days before Eagleman. The hotel was clean, quiet, and comfortable and breakfast was served at 4 am on race day. They had tons of bananas, bottles of water, granola bars, bagels, and a large assortment of typical breakfast food. We would stay here again.
Other hotels in Easton include the Best Western Plus Easton Inn and Suites, the Hampton Inn Easton, the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Easton, and the Econo Lodge Easton (but this one gets dismal reviews).
Also in Easton is The Tidewater Inn, an upscale hotel, and the Hummingbird Inn.
Oxford, Maryland
Distance to Gerry Boyle Park (transition): 18 miles, about a 25-minute drive
Sandaway Waterfront Lodging. Located in Oxford, Maryland, it is a 25 minute drive to Cambridge. Sandaway is a beautiful place to stay, located right on the Choptank River. We stayed here in 2012 and really enjoyed it here, although being in Easton was more convenient.
Robert Morris Inn. We stayed here in 2010 and had a bad experience. In our room, the air conditioner barely worked and was incredibly loud. Due to the noise and the hot night, Tim and I had a very difficult time getting a good night’s sleep.
St. Michaels, Maryland
St. Michaels is getting a bit far away from Cambridge, but for those who want to race but also see a beautiful part of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay, it may be worth the extra distance to stay here. From St. Michaels, it is 26 miles (40 minutes) to get to Cambridge.
If Those Don’t Work…
If you can’t find available rooms at those hotels, then you can search farther out. Salisbury and Kent Island could have hotel availability and they are both about 45 minutes from transition. Make a refundable reservation and check back with the closer hotels for cancellations as race day approaches.
Where to Eat
Cambridge
Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar. This restaurant serves fantastic pizza and pasta dishes, good for a prerace carb loading meal or a post-race refuel.
Carmela’s Cucina. This is a tiny, Italian restaurant that serves decent food. Reservations are highly recommended…we ate here Saturday afternoon and they were turning people away.
RAR Brewing. This is a popular artisan beer pub. This may not be the best pick for a pre-race meal but it may be worth a visit on Sunday afternoon!
Easton
The Wardroom. We had our pre-race dinner here in 2024. This small, gourmet bistro serves a variety of pasta dishes. Serving sizes are a bit small, so Tyler and Tim ended up sharing an extra pasta dish, but the food is delicious. With its excellent wine selections, this may be better post-race.
Out of the Fire. A restaurant that serves a little bit of everything and gets awesome reviews.
Scossa Restaurant. The place to get your Italian fix.
IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman Website
To register for the race, get detailed course information, and more, visit the official IRONMAN website.
Are you racing Eagleman? Do you have any questions about traveling to Cambridge, how to prepare for Eagleman, or want to learn more about the race? If so, feel free to email us or comment below!
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