IRONMAN 70.3 St. George set for May 5
By David Cordero
The red rocks and unforgiving terrain of the region will beckon more than 2,500 athletes to the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George, set for May 5. Thousands of triathletes, ranging from first-time participants to professional world champions, attack the IRONMAN 70.3 St. George race with gusto while simultaneously enthralled by the natural visual delights surrounding them.
The race itself begins at 7 a.m. at Sand Hollow State Park. After completing the 1.2-mile swim in the reservoir, athletes will take on a challenging 56-mile bike course followed by a 13.1-mile run ending in the heart of downtown on Main Street between Tabernacle Street and 100 South. Everyone is invited to greet and cheer for the athletes as they cross the finish line.
“The quality of triathletes participating in our race is superb,” said Kevin Lewis, director of the St. George Tourism Office. “You will be blown away by the dynamic abilities they possess, This is the ninth consecutive year St. George has hosted an IRONMAN event, and each year it continues to get better.”
Many of the pro athletes come to this race looking for something to conquer. Sebastien Kienle, a superstar on the circuit who has logged second- and third-place finishes in St. George and who has captured one IRONMAN and two IRONMAN 70.3 crowns, still seeks to slay the St. George beast.
“I think people come here because they want to be challenged,” Kienle said. “They like the tough course. It’s probably not a course where everybody sets a personal record, but that’s not what it’s all about. I think the experience you’ll have here you won’t find in other races.”
The popularity of the St. George IRONMAN 70.3 race continues to grow. IRONMAN 70.3 released its “Athletes Choice Awards” based off post-race athlete surveys, and the St. George race ranked in the top 10 in two categories. The St. George race was tied for second in the “Best Host City Experience” category and ranked fifth in the “Best Race Venue” category.
