Media Inquiries
Journalists covering the event for media purposes are asked to submit a media credential application, which are made available on www.ironman.com approximately one month before an event. Applications can be accessed by clicking the ‘Media Related Downloads’ link in the ‘Media Center’ section of Ironman’s official Web site, www.ironman.com. Additional questions for a specific event may be directed to the person indicated below:
2010 Media Credential Application: E-mail Confirmation
Race |
Date |
Point of Contact |
|
Rohto Ironman 70.3 California |
March 27 |
Blair LaHaye |
|
Ironman 70.3 Texas & Lone Star Sprint/Olympic |
April 24/25 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Ford Ironman St. George |
May 1 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Rohto Ironman 70.3 Florida |
May 16 |
Catie Case |
|
Ironman 70.3 Mooseman & Mooseman Olympic |
June 5/6 |
Catie Case |
|
Ironman 70.3 Boise |
June 12 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Boulder Sprint Triathlon |
June 20 |
Barry Siff |
|
Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene |
June 27 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Boulder Peak Triathlon |
July 11 |
Barry Siff |
|
Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island |
July 11 |
Catie Case |
|
Ironman 70.3 Racine |
July 18 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Ford Ironman Lake Placid |
July 25 |
Helen Manning |
|
Rohto Ironman 70.3 Boulder |
Aug 8 |
Catie Case |
|
Ironman 70.3 Timberman & Timberman Sprint |
Aug 21/22 |
Catie Case |
|
Ford Ironman Louisville |
Aug 29 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Ford Ironman Wisconsin |
Sept 12 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Ford Ironman World Championship |
Oct 9 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Ironman 70.3 Longhorn |
Oct 17 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Ford Ironman Florida |
Nov 6 |
Jessica Weidensall |
|
Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 |
Nov 13 |
Jessica Weidensall, Catie Case |
|
Ford Ironman Arizona |
Nov 21 |
TBD |
TBD |
Contact Information:
Blair LaHaye – blair@ironman.com or 813-868-5940
Jessica Weidensall – Jessica@ironman.com or 813-868-5940
Helen Manning – Helen@ironman.com or 905-415-8484
Catie Case – catie@ironman.com or 813-868-5940
Media Credentials
Journalists covering the event for media purposes are asked to submit a media credential application, which are made available on www.ironman.com approximately one month before an event. Applications can be accessed by clicking the ‘Media Related Downloads’ link in the ‘Media Center’ section of Ironman’s official Web site, www.ironman.com. No media credentials will be issued without a letter of assignment from a credible news organization. NO exceptions.
Course access via boats and motorcycles are limited at all Ironman events.
Media access to courses at these events will be severely limited due to continued safety concerns. Media members who do not receive official course access or media credentials and are seen shooting in an unauthorized capacity will be banned from future Ironman event coverage. All media members are to use good judgment and sportsmanlike conduct when interfacing with volunteers, athletes, fellow journalists, Ironman staff, local authorities, etc. throughout event week and on race day.
World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) owns the exclusive worldwide broadcast rights to Ironman events. Worldwide broadcast rights to the event are licensed domestically and internationally by WTC. Camera crews without proper accreditation will not be granted access to the Ironman course or its environs. By applying for and receiving television broadcast/media credentials, the licensee agrees that all footage of an Ironman event will be utilized solely by the licensee for the purpose of legitimate news/sports broadcasting at or around the time of the event. Further, all licensees shall agree that said footage will not be used for any commercial purpose or in any other medium outlet, other than specified, without the written consent of World Triathlon Corporation (WTC).
Please e-mail the appropriate PR contact above for further details or if you feel you require course access to cover the event.
SPECIAL NOTE: DOCUMENTARIES
Access to Ironman events for documentary purposes will be severely limited. Any documentary plans should be made at least one year in advance of actual shooting date. Also note that no complementary entries will be given for documentary purposes.
World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) owns the exclusive worldwide broadcast and television rights to Ironman events and will charge a rights’ fee to any documentary filmmaker as deemed applicable.
Using footage for non-news related purposes is prohibited without written consent from the World Triathlon Corporation.
Ironman reserves the right to deny any request, at any time for documentary rights at any event.
SPECIAL NOTE: COMMERCIAL USAGE
Commercial usage of photography or video from Ironman events is strictly prohibited without written consent from World Triathlon Corporation.
Improper usage of photography or video for commercial purposes will result in a ban on media accreditation at future Ironman events and may lead to legal action. If you have any usage questions, please call beforehand.
Press Conferences
Pre-race: Typically, Ironman hosts a pre-race press conference two days before any of the full Ironman events (usually at 11 a.m.). The pre-race press conference features the top professional contenders, as well as interesting age groupers (amateurs) competing. Call for more details in regard to the pre-race press conference for your event.
Post-race: Top finishers and other athletes will be available for interviews in the Media Tent or a designated area (behind the finish line) following their finishing the race. We ask that you please be patient with post-race interviews, as many athletes will need a break due to the strenuous nature of Ironman competition. Athletes will be made available as soon as they are ready and able following the event.
Media Room
Each event will have a media room or tent (depending on the event/venue), which will have computers and various information available on athletes competing as well as on the event itself. The room is available to all media before, during and after the race. Ironman will offer live race day coverage for all events at www.ironman.com.
Ironman.com coverage allows you the opportunity to follow your athletes throughout the entire day and is accessible from the media room/tent.
General Ironman Information
What is Ironman?
Ironman is one of the most challenging events in the world of sport and also one of the most inspiring. Ironman features a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a complete marathon (26.2 miles) all in succession. Athletes have 17 hours to complete the event (from the 7 a.m. start until midnight).
What is Ironman 70.3?
As the fastest growing distance in triathlon, Ironman 70.3 has garnered immense attention and has witnessed tremendous success since its 2006 introduction. Ironman 70.3 features a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run all in succession. Athletes have 8 hours and 30 minutes to complete the event.
Ironman History
While stationed near San Diego in the mid-1970s, John Collins and wife, Judy, participated in multi-sport workouts designed to break up the monotony of constant run training.
During an awards banquet in 1977 for a Hawaii running race, a lively discussion about the creation of a major endurance event in Hawaii occurred. To challenge athletes who had already seen success at a local biathlon (swim/run), the first “Hawaiian IRON MAN Triathlon” was born.
As the conversation continued, Collins began playing with the idea of combining the three toughest endurance races on the island into one race. He decided to issue a challenge. He proposed combining the 2.4-mile Waikiki Roughwater Swim with 112 miles of the Around-Oahu Bike Race (originally a two-day event and 114 miles), followed by a 26.2-mile run on the same course as the Honolulu Marathon. The event was unveiled at the Waikiki Swim Club Awards Banquet in late 1977. “The gun will go off about 7 a.m., the clock will keep running and whoever finishes first we’ll call the Ironman,” Collins recalls.
On Feb. 18, 1978, 15 competitors, including Collins, came to the shores of Waikiki to take on the Ironman challenge. Prior to racing, each received three sheets of paper listing a few rules and a course description. Handwritten on the last page was this exhortation: “Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life!”
Who would have predicted this exchange of bravado would be the foundation for what is now the world’s most recognized endurance event and the global benchmark for testing one’s personal limits?
Judy Collins, who originally planned to participate in the inaugural event, was forced to withdraw just days before. John Collins and 11 others finished the entire course. Gordon Haller, a taxi cab driver and fitness enthusiast, crossed the finish line first in 11 hours, 46 minutes and 58 seconds to become the “original” Ironman. Collins finished the race in a little over 17 hours.
Having lost only $25 on that first race, Collins agreed to organize a second event in 1979. Unfortunately, bad weather postponed the race one day, and more than half of the race-field dropped out; this left only 15 to race for the second straight year. Among the remaining 15 athletes was Lyn Lemaire, a cyclist from Boston, Mass. The first female finisher maintained second place for much of the race before finishing fifth overall. The winning time of 11:15:46, posted by Californian Tom Warren, improved upon Haller’s first-year mark, and Warren became a minor celebrity when he and the race received exposure in Sports Illustrated.
This larger-than-life depiction of the race in Sports Illustrated generated what Collins remembers as a “shoebox full of hundreds of letters from athletes around the world who wanted to do the race.” ABC Sports called Collins asking his permission to film the 1980 event. Collins agreed as long as ABC brought its own crew and the filming bore him no expense.
Ironically, Collins transferred out of Hawaii just as his baby hit the big time in 1980. He turned the event over to the owners of a local health club. No money changed hands, but Collins did receive assurance that he or his family could race for free any year that they wanted, and that “they would save In 1981, Valerie Silk took over supervision of the race and made the key decision to move the Ironman from the tranquil shores of Waikiki to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Along the Kona Coast, black lava rock dominates the panorama. Against this backdrop, athletes would cover 140.6 miles by sea, bike and foot while battling “ho’ o mumuku” crosswinds of 45 mph, 95 degree temperatures and a scorching sun. The Ironman Triathlon became the benchmark against which all extreme sporting challenges would be measured.
ABC’s broadcasts on “Wide World of Sports” in 1980 and 1981 continued to generate interest from athletes, but Ironman’s signature moment would come the following year.
With the men’s championship title already claimed, ABC’s cameras zeroed in on the women’s leader. A college student from San Diego, Julie Moss’ lifeguarding background helped her stay among the early women’s leaders. After a strong bike, she found herself with a sizeable lead in the run. Her energy levels started to dip in the last five miles, however, and another San Diego competitor, Kathleen McCartney, began to cut into Moss’ lead. Moss managed to hang on, sometimes appearing like a punch-drunk fighter as she moved toward the finish line. But with a little more than 20 yards to go, her legs gave out and she fell to the ground. She attempted to get up, but her legs wouldn’t hold her. Rather than give up, she crawled. Race officials and spectators gathered around her, visibly concerned for her well being, as well as amazed by her courage. Although McCartney passed her, Moss won the hearts of those on-hand and millions who later saw her determined effort on television. ABC’s Jim McKay, among the most experienced sports broadcasters in history, called it the most inspiring sports moment he had ever witnessed.
Instantly, competing in the Ironman became such a hot ticket that organizers instituted a qualifying system to keep the race field more manageable.
By any measure, the Ironman presents the ultimate test of body, mind and spirit for professional and amateur athletes. And as the Ironman Triathlon has emerged into the mainstream, the Ironman experience continually transcends pure sport. It centers on the dedication, courage and perseverance exhibited by athletes who demonstrate the Ironman mantra that “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.™”
The Races
Here is a brief summary of the 2010 Ironman USA races:
Rohto Ironman 70.3 California
Rohto Ironman 70.3 California is the kick-off event to the US Ironman season. Taking place in Oceanside, Calif., on March 27, 2010, Rohto Ironman 70.3 California will see more than 2,000 athletes from around the world. Athletes will enjoy the calm protection of the swim course in Oceanside Harbor, the challenge of a one-loop bike course that includes the coastal beauty of San Clemente State Park and the challenging inland hills of Camp Pendleton and a flat two-loop run through the coastal neighborhoods of Oceanside. A total of 28 slots for the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship and 50 slots for the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 will be awarded to top age group and pro finishers.
Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas
Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas, formerly known as Ironman 70.3 Lone Star, will take place on April 25, 2010, on historic Galveston Island, along the Texas gulf coast. Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa & Convention Center, situated among 242 lush, tropical acres, will play host to athletes from around the world. The swim takes place in Offats Bayou and the bike and run course takes athletes through Galveston Island, along the Texas coastline and over San Luis pass. A total of 50 slots for the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 will be awarded to top age group and pro finishers.
Ford Ironman St. George
The inaugural Ford Ironman St. George is set to take place in St. George, Utah, on May 1, 2010. The swim will be held at Sand Hollow Reservoir and the bike and run course offers spectacular views of downtown St. George, Snow Canyon and Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. A total of 72 slots for the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship will be awarded to top age group and pro finishers.
Rohto Ironman 70.3 Florida
Celebrating its seventh race in 2010, Rohto Ironman 70.3 Florida is set for May 16, 2010, at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Fla. Athletes will enjoy the calm protection of the fresh water swim course in Bay Lake at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the challenge of a one-loop bike course that includes the famous World Drive in Walt Disney World Resort and the scenic beauty of Orange County and a three-loop run course through Disney’s Wilderness Trails and Roadways. Rohto Ironman 70.3 Florida offers 75 slots to the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3.
Ironman 70.3 Mooseman
Set in Newfound, N.H., on June 6, 2010, Ironman 70.3 Mooseman will offer athletes one of the most scenic courses in the U.S. The swim will utilize the pristine, fresh waters of Newfound Lake. A picturesque bike course will include rolling hills and views of sprawling farmland, quaint villages and the Newfound Lake shoreline. The run course, which passes by the majestic Granite Ledges, will be an out-and-back format with rolling hills similar to the bike course. A total of 50 slots for the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 will be awarded to top age group and pro finishers.
Ironman 70.3 Boise
Ironman 70.3 Boise, taking place in Boise, Idaho, on June 12, 2010, is a favorite among first-time Ironman athletes. The swim will be held in Lucky Peak Reservoir and the bike and run course takes athletes along the Boise Greenbelt and finishes in downtown Boise. Athletes will compete for 50 slots to the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3.
Boulder Sprint, Presented by Amica
The 5430 Sprint Triathlon, Presented by Amica, is set to take place on Sunday, June 20, 2010 in Boulder, Colo. The 750-meter (1/2) mile swim will be in the pristine Boulder Reservoir. The 17.2-mile bike course is mostly flat and fast. The 5k (3.1-mile) run course will follow the internal Reservoir Road toward the famous Dams on the East Side.
Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene
Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene, set in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on June 27, 2010, starts off with a two-loop swim in beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene. The bike course takes athletes through rural northern Idaho and the run course, known for its spectator support, is the highlight of the race. Athletes will compete for 72 slots to the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship. .
Boulder Peak
The Boulder Peak Triathlon will take place on Sunday, July 11, 2010 in Boulder, Colo. The 1500-meter swim will take place in the Boulder Reservoir, located 3 miles northeast of Boulder. Wetsuits will be allowed in the 68-72 degree water. The 42 kilometer bike leg is a course that has a little of everything as it winds through north Boulder County. The 10-kilometer run course is a flat and fast, out and back jaunt.
Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island
Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island is set in Providence, R.I., on July 11, 2010. The course will utilize a variety of Providence's scenic areas, including Narragansett, the picturesque communities along State Road 102 and downtown Providence. Athletes will end their journey with a finish-line celebration against a backdrop of The State House. Athletes will compete for 50 slots to the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3.
Ironman 70.3 Racine
Formerly the Spirit of Racine Triathlon, Ironman 70.3 Racine will take place on July 18, 2010, in Racine, Wisc. Athletes will experience a 1.2-mile swim along North Beach in pristine Lake Michigan. Athletes will continue with a 56-mile bike through the rolling countryside of Racine County and a flat 13.1-mile run through the Racine Zoo and surrounding Lake Michigan coastline. A total of 50 slots for the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 will be awarded to top professional and age group finishers.
Ford Ironman Lake Placid
Entering its twelfth year in 2010, Ford Ironman Lake Placid is the second-oldest Ironman in continental North America (behind Subaru Ironman Canada) and is one of the most popular triathlon events in the sport. The 2010 event, set for July 25, sold out for general entry in a matter of minutes. The unique course features the transition zone and finish line area located on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval. Ford Ironman Lake Placid offers a beautiful swim in Mirror Lake, a challenging bike course through the Adirondacks and an equally challenging marathon course. Athletes will compete for 72 slots to the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship.
Rohto Ironman 70.3 Boulder
Rohto Ironman 70.3 Boulder will be held on Aug. 8, 2010, in Boulder, Colo. The race, the first Ironman 70.3 event in the area, will bring spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, a challenging course and strong volunteer support. An active community, with proximity to the University of Colorado at Boulder, the race will see enthusiastic spectators along the 70.3 miles. Athletes will compete for 50 slots to the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3.
Ironman 70.3 Timberman
Ironman 70.3 Timberman will be held in Gilford, N.H., on Aug. 22, 2010. The one-loop, freshwater swim will be in Lake Winnipesaukee. The scenic, one-loop bike course has plenty of rolling hills and several challenging hills ranging from 3 percent to 9 percent grade. The run is a scenic, two-loop course that travels along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee and offers spectacular views of the majestic White Mountains. Athletes will compete for 50 slots to the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3.
Ford Ironman Louisville
Ford Ironman Louisville will be held on Aug. 29, 2010 in Louisville, Ky. The race will take nearly 3,000 athletes along a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run on a course that will utilize a variety of Louisville’s scenic areas, including Waterfront Park, Oldham and Henry Counties and the city of LaGrange. Athletes will end their journey with a finish line celebration at Fourth Street Live!. Athletes will compete for 72 slots to the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship.
Ford Ironman Wisconsin
Taking place in the city of Madison and neighboring Dane County on September 12, 2010, Ford Ironman Wisconsin is the first qualifier for the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship. The event features upward of 50,000 spectators lining the distinctive course through Wisconsin farmland and the downtown streets of Madison. The finish line is the most recognizable of all the US Ironman events; it is located in front of the Wisconsin state capitol building in the heart of Madison. Athletes will compete for 72 slots to the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship.
Ford Ironman World Championship
More than 170,000 athletes compete annually in Ironman/Ironman 70.3 Qualifying Series events worldwide to earn one of approximately 1,700 spots at the Ford Ironman World Championship starting line. Taking place in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Oct. 9, 2010, athletes ranging in age from 18 to 80 years will attempt the 2.4-mile Pacific Ocean swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon in a classic battle of human motivation versus sweltering heat and mental and physical fatigue. Along the Kona Coast, black lava rock dominates the panorama. Against this backdrop, athletes cover 140.6 miles by sea, bike and foot while battling “ho’ o mumuku” crosswinds of 45 mph, 95 degree temperatures and a scorching sun. The top 10 pros and the top age group athletes will automatically qualify for the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship.
Ironman 70.3 Austin
Ironman 70.3 Austin will take place on Oct. 17, 2010, in Austin, Texas. The one-loop freshwater swim will be held in Decker Lake. Athletes will enjoy the scenic one-loop bike course through rolling Texas farmland, sprawling ranches, cedar-covered vistas and sunflower fields. The two-loop run course will take athletes through Walter E. Long Park and along the shores of Decker Lake. Athletes will compete for 50 slots to the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3.
Ford Ironman Florida
Ford Ironman Florida, held on Nov. 7, 2010, in Panama City Beach, Fla., is one of the most well known races on the Ironman circuit as it has been around for more than 10 years. The two-loop swim takes place in the Gulf of Mexico. The bike and run course are flat and fast. Utilizing the stunning beaches of Panama City Beach, Ford Ironman Florida offers a great opportunity for athletes to “get their feet wet” in Ironman events. Athletes will compete for 65 slots to the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship.
Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3
Ironman's newest event property, the Ironman 70.3 Series, culminates with its world championship in Clearwater, Fla. More than 1,800 domestic and international competitors will earn the right to compete in the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 by qualifying at one of the 41 Ironman 70.3 events held around the world. The course starts and finishes at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. Each age group winner in Clearwater will qualify for the 2011 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 event.
Ford Ironman Arizona
Ford Ironman Arizona, set in Tempe, Ariz., on Nov. 21, 2010, kicks off with a single-loop swim in Tempe Town Lake, followed by a challenging bike course through the Sonoran Dessert and finishes with a run around Tempe Town Lake and Papago Park. Athletes will compete for 65 slots to the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship.