(BIVN) – It is IRONMAN week on Hawaiʻi island, and triathletes from around the world have already gathered in Kona to participate in the iconic endurance event.
This year, the women and men will return to race together in Kona on a single day for the first time since 2019, before the pandemic complicated the planning of the event.
The IRONMAN World Championship will take place on Saturday, October 10th. Over 2,500 athletes from 85 countries and territories will compete in the big race, taking on a 2.3-mile swim (3.8km) in Kailua Bay, a 112-mile bike ride (180km) on Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, and a 26-mile marathon run (42.2 km).
Events will taking place in Kailua Village all week leading up to race day.
On Tuesday afternoon, local kids and visiting youth athletes took part in the IRONKIDS Keiki Dip-n-Dash. The young participants had an opportunity to experience the excitement of race firsthand.
Later in the day, athletes from around the world marched down Aliʻi Drive for the annual Parade of Nations tradition, said to be a celebration of “the international community that makes the IRONMAN World Championship a truly global event.”
