IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne returns to St Kilda for another edition of the half-distance triathlon, with the event village and race weekend activities centred on St Kilda Sea Baths. Athletes start with a 1.9km swim in Port Phillip Bay beneath St Kilda Pier, before a 90km two-lap ride along the closed Beach Road and a 21.1km run finishing in front of the crowds at Catani Gardens. The race weekend runs from Friday through to Sunday's race day, drawing competitors from across the IRONMAN Oceania circuit alongside plenty of first-time half-distance athletes. Spectators are as much a part of the event as the athletes, with St Kilda Sea Baths' restaurants and cafés — including Republica, Beachcomber and Captain Baxter — offering front-row views of the course throughout the day. Road closures apply along the route, so anyone planning to watch or get around St Kilda that weekend should check the event's traffic information in advance. It's one of the bigger sporting weekends on St Kilda's calendar, bringing a genuine buzz to the foreshore.