The Ironman triathlon is a globally known test of athleticism, originating in Hawaii in 1978 but held in numerous cities around the world today. Sunday, August 3rd, Boulder will be a proud host to its own Ironman event. Ironman hopes that everyone will come out and show support for the athletes, and has therefore planned the event routes and locations with the spectator in mind.
For anyone unfamiliar, the Boulder Ironman triathlon consists of three sports (swimming, cycling, and running) and takes up to 17 hours to complete—all without breaks.
The first event is a one-lap, 2.4 mile swim, which will take place in the Boulder Reservoir. Anyone wishing to view the swim will be required to ride in the provided shuttles originating from Boulder High School (1604 Arapahoe Ave). Shuttles are free for all and will run round-trip starting at 4:00 AM and ending at 10:00 AM. The race itself begins at 7:00 AM, and the mandatory swim cut off time is at 9:20 AM. View a map of the swim course here.
Wheelchair accessible buses will be available for those who may need extra assistance to get to the Res. Ironman does encourage, however, that strollers be left behind in your vehicle when possible. If you must bring a stroller, please ensure that it is able to collapse quickly and easily.
Next event: a 112-mile bicycle race. There are many places to watch along the course route, but Ironman recommends the area at the intersection of County Road 6 and County Road 7. The cyclists will pass through this intersection twice, and this point is easily accessible from the shuttle bus drop-off point at the High School. The cycling event will run until its mandatory cut off time of 5:30 PM. You can find a map of the bicycle route here.
Finally, the race concludes with a 26.2-mile marathon. The race will follow the Boulder Creek Trail (see race map here), with the finish line just off the Pearl Street Mall. There will be a variety of street entertainers and great food all along the Mall area. The marathon will end at its mandatory cutoff time at midnight. Even if you aren’t spending the day watching the whole Ironman event, you should definitely come for the last hour or so—it’s going to be a big party as everyone finishes!
The Ironman is a time-honored tradition that tests both stamina and perseverance. Everyone who finishes within the time limits becomes an official ironman—a title to be proud of. If you’d like to get in on the action instead of watching it, you can get your six-month training guide here and start preparing for next year’s competition!