It’s that time again...

Official Ironman website
Official Ironman website for the day of the event

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It all began at an Awards Ceremony for a relay running race in Honolulu in 1977. A group of local athletes discussed the idea of an endurance triathlon and combining three major events that already existed on the island. John Collins suggested combining them and making it a single-day event. Later that evening, Collins took the stage announcing the event and that “whoever finishes first, we will call him the IRONMAN.” It has since become triathlon’s Super Bowl, Wimbledon, World Series, World Cup, and Tour de France all rolled into one. What makes this event so unique is that “average” people get to compete alongside the best in the world.

It is owned and organized by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford. It is the annual culmination of a series of Ironman triathlon qualification races held throughout the world. From 1978 through 1980 the race was held on the island of Oahu, the course combining that of three events already held there: the Waikiki Rough water Swim (2.4 mi./3.86 km), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 mi./185.07 km, originally a two-day event), and the Honolulu Marathon. In order to link the end of the bike stage to the start of the marathon course, the bike stage was reduced by 3 miles. In 1981 the race was moved to the less urbanized Big Island, keeping the distances the same: a 2.4 miles (3.86 km) open water swim in Kailua-Kona Bay, a 112 miles (180.25 km) bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hawi and back, and a marathon (26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run along the coast of the Big Island from Keauhou to Keahole Point and back to Kailua-Kona, finishing on Ali’i Drive.

Out of the tens of thousands that either win by lottery (and not skill) or by qualifying in races around the world, just 1800 unique individuals will be “going iron,” this year.

Of all the thousands of triathelons worldwide, this is the one that defines the sport.

Note:  The ReallyHawaiian.com team will be covering this event with the official Ironman Press Core.  Look for updates on our BLOG.