 Ironman is a triathlon where competitors swim 3.8KM, cycle 180KM and then run a full 42KM marathon!The event is run in several locations around the world, the most notable two being Hawaii and Lanzarote, which is acknowledged as being the toughest of them all. Ironman in Lanzarote is run by a huge team of staff and volunteers from Club La Santa and it has become Lanzarote's premier sporting event, with coverage from television, radio and newspapers. It started small here in 1992, when just 148 competitors entered the event. Last year there were more than 1200! This year the race will run on May 23rd and around 1300 will enter. One thing that makes the race special is that professional triathletes enter alongside many members of the general public, who simply want to challenge themselves. The prize purse totals $50,000 US. Here's a run down of how the event works here on Lanzarote: Swim Phase
The 1300 competitors start on the beach in Puerto del Carmen, towards the old town end of the main Playa Grande. The starting klaxon goes off at 7AM, and the swimmers all charge into the sea. It's often chaotic at the start, with swimmers ploughing over others in their rush to get ahead. It soon settles into a rhythm as the entrants plough up and down in the ocean about 50 meters of shore, covering the 3.8KM total of this phase. As soon as they pass the finish line, they run ashore and head for the start / finish area to quickly change into their cycling gear. The clock doesn't stop on the changeovers, so every second counts! As soon as they are ready they grab their bikes and head onto Phase two Cycle Phase
The cycle phase is amazing to watch and takes place on public roads, with normal traffic! Competitors head out of Puerto del Carmen, through Yaiza and into the Timanfaya reserve. From there they go through Tinajo to La Santa and up to Teguise, from where they cut back to Los Valles, Haria and the Mirador del Rio. The cycle phase is the part that makes Lanzarote's Ironman so hard, as there is a total climb of over 2500 meters, and it is almost always accompanied by our strong trade winds and burning sun. After the Mirador, they head back on the long home leg along the coast, coming through Arrieta, Mala and Guatiza before jinking inland to San Bartolomé, then flying through Masdache, La Geria before turning south to Tias and back into Puerto del Carmen. Once again, the entrants change clothes ready for the final phase. Marathon Phase
This is the last part of Ironman - after having swum 3.8KM, then cycled 180KM, the competitors now simply have to run a 42KM marathon! This takes place on "The Strip" in Puerto del Carmen, which will be closed for the day. They run from the start finish line to Matagorda and back - four times! Finish The Winner will cross the line at around 4.00PM, having been going for nine hours. The event cut off time is midnight, and you can be sure that there will still be competitors on the course at that time. It's quite moving hanging around until late to see people staggering in and watching the look on their faces which says "I've done it! " You may also be interested in: 1/ Interview with Lanzarote Ironman 2009 competitor, Gordon Hutton
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