Posted: November 18, 2004

Triathlon: Ironman UK Doubles the Distance

Ironman UK Race organisers have announced that the first ever full distance official Ironman triathlon will be held in the UK on the 21st August 2005.

This will see the acclaimed endurance triathlon event, recently held at Sherborne Castle, make the leap from a half Ironman to the full distance version. 1500 athletes will now swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles and run a full marathon of 26.2 miles. The event will take the winners around 8 hours to complete - with age group athletes potentially crossing the finish line in anything up to 17 hours.

Through the inherent popularity of the event, the race organisers once again invited athletes to register their details through the event internet site and receive advance information regarding when the 2005 event would be, what distance it would be and when the entries were open. By registering their contact details such athletes also gained access to the on-line entry system some 24 hours before it went live to the rest of the world.

Within the first 24 hours of this pre registration being active, over 650 athletes had logged their details and expressed their interest in receiving advance information regarding the 2005 event. By the time pre-registration had closed some 1464 athletes had registered their details and were desperate to be the first to be able to enter the 2005 event.

When the 2005 event was launched and on-line entry was opened to those who had pre registered within 15 minutes of being open the first athletes were already booking their race slots. Before the first hour had passed, 130 slots had been filled and the first volunteers for the RACE-CREW were also signing up to help out with the 2005 event. 50 slots are being held back for local competitors, so if you haven't registered yet there is still the chance to race, even though the race is officially full for 2005.

The Half Ironman UK Race Director, Ron Thorne, will be once again co-ordinating the full Ironman UK race in 2005. He comments: “Through the post even research conducted and positive feedback from previous events, there was only one question on everyone’s lips: ‘When will the full Ironman be coming to the UK?’ It is now our pleasure to announce this is now just around the corner.”

“The Ironman triathlon generates images and emotions that are unsurpassed by any other sport on the planet … you may have thought the Half Ironman was tough.......imagine doubling the distance!”

The first ever full Ironman UK will also undoubtedly once again draw in the top elite field associated with the event, such as 2003 top British finisher elite athlete and member of the TRI UK Gatorade race team Richard Allen. He says: “The buzz of the Ironman has really taken hold in the UK and with the first ever full Ironman in the UK, this is set to continue. The 2003 and 2004 course was a lot tougher than many of the athletes expected and I‘m sure the new full distance Ironman course will provide yet another true test of body and spirit.”

Further information, news and developments about the 2005 IRONMAN UK Triathlon is all available on the race internet site www.ironmanuk.com and through the global Ironman site www.ironmanuk.com or by telephone through the race office on 08700 11 28 11 in the UK.