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.