Ironman 70.3 triathlon brings swim, run and bike competitors to Boulder
The 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder triathlon has moved to a new date on the calendar beginning this year. Seen as a staple in Colorado and on the IRONMAN calendar since 2002, the long-standing event will now take place on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Winners go to the World Championship in August 2023 in Lahti, Finland. It is a “swim, bike, and run” race. The race takes place from the Diagonal (Hwy 119) towards Foothills Hwy (Hwy 36), including the Boulder Reservoir. Heavy traffic will affect many roads, and it is suggested you avoid them; but, if you must travel during that time, you have to allow 3 feet of space between you and a bicyclist.
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170+ TRIATHLONS NATIONWIDE
Ironman 70.3 World Championship
An Ironman 70.3, also known as a Half Ironman, is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). The “70.3” refers to the total distance in miles (113.0 km) covered in the race, consisting of a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim, a 56-mile (90 km) bike ride, and a 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run. Each distance of the swim, bike, and run segments is half the distance of that segment in an Ironman Triathlon. The Ironman 70.3 series culminates each year with a World Championship competition, for which competitors qualify during the 70.3 series in the 12 months prior to the championship race. In addition to the World Championship race, Ironman 70.3 championship competitions are also held for the European, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America regions.
The time needed by an athlete to complete a 70.3 distance event varies from race to race and can be influenced by external factors. These factors include the terrain and the total elevation gained and lost on the course, weather conditions, and course conditions. Finish times range from sub-four-hour completion times by elite level athletes to the imposed race cut off, which is commonly 8 hours and 30 minutes after the start time. (This description is courtesy of Wikipedia)
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Below is a text description of the Boulder “courses.” To see a map version, click HERE.
SWIM:
Athletes will enter Boulder Reservoir from the east boat ramp. The swim course is counterclockwise. Athletes will exit at the west boat ramp before heading towards transition.
NEW + IMPROVED 2023 Bike Course
The new and improved bike course will have athletes experience a two-loop, fast, rolling bike course. From the Diagonal towards Foothills Hwy (Hwy 36) athletes will have some short rollers until they make a right onto rural St. Vrain Rd. towards 75th St. At that point it’s downhill and fast. Once you find your way back onto Diagonal Highway, continue past the Reservoir gates for Lap 2, it’s one more loop of the above rollers and fast descents. ATHLETES WILL RIDE THE FULL LENGTH OF THE DIAGONAL ONE LAST TIME before turning up 51st St. towards the Boulder Reservoir. Once they enter the main gates of the Res, it’s a sprint towards transition!
NEW + IMPROVED 2023 Run Course:
This course will showcase all the views along Boulder Reservoir with this 2-loop counter clockwise run. From transition, athletes will head east towards the Boulder Reservoir dam, head north along the trail, hop out onto 63rd for a small section and then a left on Monarch Rd for a nice hard packed dirt road full of downhill rollers. After Monarch, athletes head south on 55th (also packed dirt) where some of the best runners in the world train daily. Take a left back into the Boulder north entrance, pass transition area and head out for a 2nd loop. This 2-loop run course will be fast, downhill rollers around the ‘Rez and along hard compact dirt roads.
