IRONMAN Extends Race Partnership with Boulder for Additional Two Years

BOULDER, Colo./TAMPA, Fla. (August 2, 2016) – IRONMAN, the City of Boulder and the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today they have agreed to extend their partnership for an additional two years with the continuation of the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Boulder and IRONMAN^® Boulder triathlons in 2017 and 2018. This agreement will move IRONMAN Boulder to a June race date and the IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder back to its historic date in August.

“Boulder is an incredible city with a dedicated and growing triathlon community. These races continue the rich history of triathlon in Boulder and we are pleased to be a part of that,” said Jeff Edwards, Vice President of North American Operations for IRONMAN. “We are thrilled to build on the foundation that has been established with the city as we continue to shape the future of IRONMAN in Boulder.”

Nestled at the foot of the Flatirons, Boulder is a wildly popular home-base and vacation destination for triathletes. The city’s health-conscious culture, near-perfect weather and breathtaking natural environment provides a sensational venue for athletes and spectators.

“The city’s relationship with IRONMAN further solidifies Boulder’s space as a high altitude sporting venue,” said Mary Ann Mahoney, Executive Director of The Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are excited about the new race schedule and the potential to increase our draw for regional, national and international visitors.”

The Blueprint for Athletes IRONMAN Boulder triathlon will take place June 11, 2017 and IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder will be held on August 5, 2017. The date change establishes a race in which both professional and age-group triathletes can now compete at a full-distance IRONMAN race in North America during the month of June.

“The City of Boulder is excited to continue its partnership with IRONMAN,” added Boulder City Manager, Jane Brautigam. “We look forward to the next two years and to further solidifying the relationship between IRONMAN, race participants and our community.”

In addition, for the first time, IRONMAN will pursue a Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport at the 2016 Blueprint for Athletes IRONMAN Boulder event. IRONMAN elected to work towards a Council certification by prioritizing socially and environmentally responsible efforts in the planning and execution of the event. To achieve certification, IRONMAN is working with Waste Management to adhere to principles set forth in five sustainability categories of the Council’s certification standards: Planning, Procurement, Resource Management, Access and Equity, and Community Legacy.

One of more than 40 events in the global IRONMAN Series, the Blueprint for Athletes IRONMAN Boulder triathlon first took place in 2014 and features a beautiful course that has quickly become a staple in the IRONMAN triathlon circuit. Blueprint for Athletes IRONMAN Boulder athletes begin their day with a 2.4-mile, one-loop swim in the calm waters of the Boulder Reservoir. Participants then continue on a challenging 112-mile, multi-loop bike course within Boulder County featuring amazing mountain views with a handful of climbs while also providing fast and flat sections. The 26.2-mile run course is two loops and features a well-shaded path with plenty of spectator viewing points before taking athletes over Arapahoe Road to the finish line.

IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder, historically an athlete favorite, provides athletes a scenic and challenging course. Participants begin their journey with a 1.2-mile swim in the Boulder Reservoir, followed by a fast and flowing 56-mile bike course through North Boulder County. The two-loop, 13.1-mile run course begins and ends at the Boulder Reservoir.

For more information, please visit http://ift.tt/2aLRra1 for the IRONMAN event and http://ift.tt/2aLRra1 70.3 for the IRONMAN 70.3 event. Athlete inquiries may be directed to boulder@ironman.com and boulder70.3@ironman.com. For media inquiries, please email press@ironman.com.

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About IRONMAN

A Wanda Sports Holdings company, IRONMAN operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, Iron Girl^®, IRONKIDS^®, six of nine International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the UCI Velothon Majors Series, mountain bike races, premier marathons and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than 680,000 participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN^® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN^® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 260 events across 42 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About City of Boulder

Located approximately 30 miles northwest of Denver at an elevation of 5,430 feet, the City of Boulder is home to 103,840 residents and the state’s largest institution of higher learning, the University of Colorado. Boulder is a world-class destination with over 300 miles of public hiking and biking facilities. Its spectacular scenery includes more than 45,000 acres of open space. Boulder is a home-rule municipality that is self-governed under the Constitution of the State of Colorado.

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