Race Report: Carl Powell at Ironman Switzerland Thun

5 July 2026 – Thun, Switzerland

Coach’s Introduction

Carl went into Ironman Switzerland with a clear goal: break 12 hours on a challenging, hilly Ironman course. Preparation hadn’t been completely straightforward, with a calf injury around nine weeks before the race followed by some knee pain, which meant we had to manage his running carefully through the final part of the build.

Despite that disruption, Carl arrived in Thun fit, prepared and ready to race. A difficult swim and some problems with his bike nutrition made the day harder than planned, but he managed the race well, produced a run he was particularly pleased with and achieved that sub-12-hour target.

Here’s Carl’s experience of Ironman Switzerland Thun, including his thoughts on the course, logistics and why he rates it as one of the best Ironman events he’s done.

Carl’s Ironman Switzerland Race Report

Getting to Thun

I travelled from the UK by campervan using the Eurotunnel and made the journey part of the whole Ironman experience. We stopped overnight in Folkestone and France before spending three nights in Thun for the race.

I try to travel to my European races this way whenever I can. Flying can take up a surprising amount of time once you include getting to the airport, travelling with the bike and everything else involved. Driving gives you the opportunity to stop in places you’d probably never otherwise visit. Some of those stops became part of the experience in their own right.

Our accommodation in Thun was around a 10-minute drive from the race start. I’d booked it in advance and the Airbnb host was really helpful, with good communication throughout. There wasn’t a huge amount of reasonably priced accommodation immediately around the start, so staying a short drive away worked well.

Race Parking & Transport

Athletes use the designated Ironman parking area and then take a shuttle bus to the event. The shuttle journey takes around 10–15 minutes and buses were frequent, so getting to the venue was straightforward.

Getting back afterwards was slightly less enjoyable. The shuttles were understandably busy and waiting around in the heat immediately after completing an Ironman isn’t the easiest way to finish the day!

Registration & Pre-Race Experience

Registration was very easy. The volunteers were excellent and seemed almost as excited about the event as the athletes, which really added to the experience.

Pre-race communication was good and what I’ve come to expect from an Ironman event. The race pack was good too, while the expo was the usual Ironman experience — plenty there, although I’ve accepted by now that the merchandise isn’t going to be cheap!

The atmosphere was already good on Friday, but it went up another level on Saturday as more athletes arrived and the race venue became busier.

Training & Race-Day Goal

I felt fit and prepared going into the race and had one main target: go under 12 hours on what I knew was going to be a challenging course.

The biggest difficulty during the build had been staying healthy. Around nine weeks before the race I picked up a calf injury and then suffered some knee pain, so my running volume wasn’t what it would normally have been.

Lawrence managed the training around those problems and we got to race day in a position where I felt ready to take on the race.

Race Morning

I would normally have liked a short swim as part of my warm-up, but the water in Thun was cold and there was still around half an hour until the start. I don’t deal particularly well with the cold, so I decided there wasn’t much benefit in getting into the water and then standing around getting cold again before racing.

Going through the final transition checks I was a mixture of calm, prepared and bricking it — probably a fairly normal combination before an Ironman!

By the time I reached the swim start, the mindset was simple: I’m here now, let’s have some fun.

Swim

The swim was probably the part of the race I was most disappointed with.

Lake Thun was very cold and surprisingly choppy for a lake swim. The chop made sighting difficult and I found the swim more congested than I normally experience, which made it harder to settle into the rhythm I wanted.

From an organisational point of view, though, it was excellent. The course and procedures were clearly explained, safety provision was good, and the swim uses different locations for the entry and exit, which makes it slightly different from some Ironman swims but worked well.

Transition 1

T1 went well. I had a relatively low race number, which meant my equipment was conveniently positioned towards the front and made getting through transition nice and straightforward.

Bike

The Ironman Switzerland bike course is tough. It’s hilly, with a couple of flatter sections, but there’s no getting away from the amount of climbing involved.

The upside is that the road surfaces were excellent and the scenery is incredible. Those were two of the real highlights of the bike for me and a big part of what makes this event so memorable.

I think I paced the bike reasonably well, but nutrition was where I made my biggest mistake of the day. Conditions were hot and I drank too much water. I then struggled to take in the nutrition I’d planned and became increasingly frustrated that I wasn’t eating enough.

By the final climb I was struggling and started wondering whether I’d overdone things. Knowing I hadn’t followed my planned nutrition made that harder mentally because it was something I knew I’d brought upon myself.

The course itself was very well managed. There are some sections on open roads, so you need to stay aware of traffic, but signage was good and there were plenty of volunteers around the course. I also saw more race officials on motorbikes than I have at many other events.

Drafting is something that frustrates me and there was certainly some happening, but the officials appeared to be actively policing it. I saw plenty of athletes in the penalty tents.

Feed stations were well positioned and the volunteers were helpful throughout. Overall, despite my own nutrition problems, it’s an excellent bike course.

Transition 2

T2 was straightforward again. Having the lower race number certainly made both transitions that little bit easier.

Run

After the problems I’d had with nutrition on the bike, I wasn’t entirely sure what the marathon was going to look like. I thought there was a real possibility that the run would simply become a case of survival.

Instead, it became one of the parts of the race I was happiest with.

As usual, I started the first mile a little too quickly, but recognised it early and backed off. From there I stuck to the pacing plan. The pace was slightly slower than I’d originally hoped for, but I felt good for most of the run and, importantly, I still felt good towards the end.

Given the disrupted running we’d had during the build and how I’d felt towards the end of the bike, I was really pleased with how the marathon unfolded.

The run course is mainly flat but has a bit of everything underfoot, including tarmac, gravel, a running track and a bridge. The crowds were brilliant. There was music, fancy dress and plenty of enthusiastic — and occasionally slightly crazy — support around the course.

The volunteers and spectators really help make the run. After the relative solitude of sections of the bike course, there are far more people around and the atmosphere gives you a real lift.

The Finish

Crossing the finish line brought a mixture of relief and happiness.

I’d come to Switzerland wanting to break 12 hours on a difficult Ironman course and I’d achieved it. After the injury problems during the build, a challenging swim and getting my bike nutrition wrong, being able to put together a strong enough run to achieve the goal made it particularly satisfying.

The finish-line atmosphere was crazy and loud — exactly what you want at the end of an Ironman. The recovery area was very good too, with plenty of food and drink options available.

What Went Well?

The run was probably the biggest positive for me. I didn’t expect it to turn out as well as it did and at one stage thought it might become a survival exercise. Instead, I controlled the early pace, stuck to the plan and still felt reasonably good towards the end.

What Didn’t Go to Plan?

The biggest mistake was my nutrition on the bike. Drinking too much water in the hot conditions left me struggling to take in the nutrition I’d planned. That was my own doing and made the latter stages of the bike harder than they needed to be.

What Would I Do Differently?

I’d do more outdoor swimming before the race, particularly to be better prepared for cold and difficult conditions. And, if I get the choice, I’d obviously prefer to arrive at the start line without the injury problems that affected my running preparation this time!

Course & On-the-Day Logistics

Swim

• Cold water and unexpectedly choppy conditions
• Sighting was more difficult than expected
• More congestion than I normally experience
• Well-organised start and finish procedures
• Good safety provision
• Different swim entry and exit locations

Bike

• Challenging and hilly course with some flatter sections
• Excellent road surfaces
• Outstanding scenery
• Some open-road sections require extra awareness
• Clear signage and plenty of volunteers
• Good feed stations
• Strong presence from race officials

Run

• Predominantly flat
• Mixed surfaces including tarmac, gravel and running track
• Excellent crowd support
• Great atmosphere with music and enthusiastic spectators
• Strong volunteer support throughout

Ratings

Would I Recommend Ironman Switzerland?

Definitely. It’s worth making the trip for the scenery alone. Thun is up there with the best race locations I’ve visited, and when you add the atmosphere, volunteers and people around the event, it has to be one of the best Ironman races I’ve done.

If you’re considering it, go and give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Tips for Future Ironman Switzerland Athletes

• Prepare for a tough bike course. The climbing is a significant part of the race.
• Get some open-water swimming done. Lake Thun can be cold and conditions aren’t necessarily going to be calm.
• Stick to your nutrition plan. Hot conditions can change how you feel, but don’t let that lead to unnecessary over-drinking.
• Consider staying slightly outside the immediate race area. Accommodation close to the start can be expensive.
• Driving from the UK can be part of the adventure. Breaking the journey up gives you the chance to see places you’d otherwise miss.
• Budget accordingly. Switzerland isn’t cheap, particularly for accommodation and everyday purchases.

Switzerland’s cost was probably the only real downside for me. Be prepared to spend a little more than you would at some other European races, but I would absolutely do it again. Thun is a beautiful place and Ironman Switzerland is an outstanding event.