Countdown to a weekend of sport begins with the Ironman 'stage' now being set up

The countdown to Ironman is underway.

Organisers are setting up on Victoria Square this morning (Wednesday, June 26).

The 70.3-mile event takes place in the borough this Sunday.

The event was previously double the length – with a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile ride, and 26.2-mile run.

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Specialist police officers are set to be patrolling across three days, from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30.

The festivities will open with a Night Run event on Friday – described as a chance for family, friends, and those just wanting a fun run through Bolton to get involved.

The run starts at 7pm with a 5km and 10km option, and will finish in Victoria Square.

On Saturday, up to 6,000 children aged three to 15 will run in ‘Ironkids’ – with distances ranging from 500m for those in preschool, nursery, and reception, to one kilometre for those aged from school years one to five, and one-and-a-half kilometres for those aged from school years six to 11.

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The main event, the IRONMAN 70.3 consists of a triathlon, with a 1.2-mile (1.9km) swim taking place in the Pennington Flash Nature reserve, followed by a 56-mile (90km) bike leg loop between the reservoir, Horwich, and Bolton town centre.

The competition then completes with a 13.1-mile run with a loop through Queen’s Park and Heaton, finishing on Victoria Square.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.