Inside look at the 2026 Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley triathlon

More than 1,600 took part in Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley North American Championship, a triathlon that covers 70.3 miles of swimming, cycling and running in Centre and Clinton counties.

This was the fourth iteration of Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley, but the stakes were even higher this year. Because it also served as the North American Championship, some professionals traveled internationally for this race — as end-of-season prizes include the Pro Series Champion title, a share of the $1.7 million prize purse and a spot in the World Championship in France.

Participants, which included local amateurs and international professionals, first swam 1.2 miles at Foster Sayers Reservoir at Bald Eagle State Park. They then cycled for 56 miles through central Pennsylvania’s rolling hills before ending with a 13.1-mile run on Penn State’s campus.

Here’s a closer look at the triathlon from beginning to end:

Cecile McWilliams

Centre Daily Times

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Cecile McWilliams is a summer intern for the Centre Daily Times. She graduated from Princeton with a degree in Spanish in 2026.