Ironman, the Ultimate Journey of Endurance

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Category: Other-sports

Published on Sunday, 12 February 2012 14:42

Written by Adminitrators

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As the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka and the very first 5150 in Asia approaches, Sri Lankan’s and Indians are gearing up to experience the ultimate brand in endurance sport.

Ironman continues to venture into new Asian locations with destination races in beautiful places allowing athletes from all over the world a chance to experience new cultures while participating in an Ironman race. For the local community the presence of such a brand is helping raise awareness and increase growth of triathlon to greater heights.

70.3 success has been embraced in Singapore, the Philippines, Phuket, Thailand and Taiwan, to name a few. Entries are increasing year by year and the countries triathlon community is booming as a result of the races’ presence on the respected countries triathlon calender.

It is now the turn of Sri Lanka and neighbouring India to embrace the Ironman spirit.

With the addition of the first 5150 event in Asia, a shorter distance to the 70.3, it is the perfect opportunity for newbies to have a taste of the Ironman brand this February 19th 2012.

So how did it all start? How was Ironman born?

The brand is steeped in history, rich in tales of inspirational courage that depict the capabilities of the heart, mind and body. We are not just talking about the elite finesse of the sports professional athletes. Triathlon is the only sport in the world where an age group athlete can stand side by side and race alongside the very best in the world.

This is one of the true magical attractions of the sport.

The Ironman requirement of swimming 3.8 km, biking 180 km and then running 42 km is a challenge that more and more people; husbands, fathers, wives, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers of all shapes and sizes are embarking on around the world. Participating in an Ironman event is a club many yearn to enter. A stamp of approval, a moment in time and an experience a triathlete will proudly remember for the rest of their life. The journey first started in 1978 “during the awards ceremony for a Hawaii running race. A debate ensued among competitors about who is more fit - the swimmer, the runner or other athletes.

One of the participants, Navy Commander John Collins and his wife Judy, dreamt up a race to settle the argument. They proposed combining three existing races together, to be completed in succession: the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (112 miles, originally a two-day event) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles).

“Whoever finishes first we’ll call the Ironman,” said Collins.

Two years later in 1980 Collins gave ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” permission to film the event. The angle of their coverage was so intensely dramatic, and brought Ironman worldwide recognition. The event drew 106 men and two women. Dave Scott, a 26-year-old masters swim coach from Davis, Calif., wins the event in 9:24:33. Dave Scott went on to win the Ironman World Championship a record 6 times.

About the Ironman 70.3 Series

Since its inception in 2006, the Ironman 70.3 series has become the fastest growing triathlon series in the world. Events around the world qualify athletes for the Ironman World Championship 70.3. It consists of a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike and a 21 km run. The special attraction of the 70.3 distance is that it is long enough to challenge the athlete but short enough for age groupers to be able to participate in numerous events in one year without upsetting the balance of other commitments in their lives. Training for a full Ironman race takes a minimum of 6 months dedication and requires a very supportive understanding family, friends and workplace. Training for a 70.3 (half the distance) requires less time, depending on the athletes goals an average of 8-10 hours a week is possible.

About the 5150 Series

5150 is an International distance triathlon consisting of a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run. Launched in 2011 it is the largest international distance triathlon series in the world and is the first non-drafting international race series of its kind. For more details and to register for Ironman Sri Lanka 70.3 or the 5150 go to the official website www.IronmanSrilanka.com at www.ironmansrilanka.com.

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