Iron distance triathlon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An Iron Distance Triathlon is a triathlon performed over the following distances:

3.8 km (2.4 mi) swimming
180 km (112 mi) bicycling
42.2 km (26.2 mi) running (the length of a standard marathon)

The historically first and most well known example is the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. The term "Ironman Triathlon" is trademarked by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), which runs a series of races under that name. The ITU organizes a series of alternative races called Long Distance Triathlons. The distances for these races are close to but slightly different from the specifications for the Ironman Triathlon. An event that covers the same distance as an Ironman Triathlon is referred to as an Iron Distance Triathlon. Dozens of these independent (non-WTC)events are held each year throughout the world. The independent iron-distance triathlons are not qualifiers for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon Championship race.

A variety of double, triple, quadruple, quintuple, and deca (10x) iron distance events are also held each year. In a deca iron distance event, for example, a 38 km swim is followed by an 1800 km bike race and a 422 km run. Astrid Benöhr holds the women's world records over the triple, quadruple and quintuple iron distances.

In 1998, a double deca triathlon (20x iron distance) was held in Monterrey, Mexico. The winner, Vidmantas Urbonas of Lithuania, completed the race in 437 hrs 21 min 40 sec.