Ironman Triathlon Championships

Ironman Triathlon Championships

Saturday nearest the full moon in October

This extraordinarily grueling international athletic contest has been held since 1978 in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island. It consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle race, and, for the final leg, a standard 26.2-mile marathon run. Close to 2,000 stout-hearted men and women participate, preceding the races with a Thursday night party in which they stoke up on carbohydrates. Originally, contestants swam, biked, and ran for the fun and challenge of the event, but cash prizes are now awarded at a banquet the day after the triathlon.
The event is scheduled for the Saturday nearest the full moon in October so that more beach is exposed at low tide, and there is more light from the moon at night. This is the original, but no longer the toughest such contest: double ironmen now challenge triathletes.

CONTACTS:
World Triathlon Corporation
43309 US. Hwy. 19 N.
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
727-942-4767; fax: 727-942-1987
www.ironman.com

Celebration days: Oct 8, 2011; Oct 27, 2012; Oct 12, 2013; Oct 4, 2014; Oct 24, 2015