Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of Raleigh on Sunday for the state's first-ever officially sanctioned Ironman 70.3. It's half the distance of the traditional Ironman. Heat may be a factor as more than 2,700 athletes begin the race with a 1.2 mile swim in Jordan Lake, hop on their bikes for a 56 mile ride through the trails of Chatham County and then finish out the race on foot with a half marathon.
Race Director Brian Myrick says safety is the number one priority. Participants will be well taken care of and will cross the finish line in downtown Raleigh to great fanfare.
"Athletes can expect a tremendous amount of law enforcement and support out on the roads...very, very well supported aid stations," he says. "Just a very smooth run production and then a great finish. The finish line atmosphere is something that hasn't been able to be reproduced by many people out there."
Ironman 70.3 is a brand of the World Triathlon Corporation. The company puts on more than 100 events worldwide each year. Information on this Sunday's race can be found on their website.
