Ironman 70.3 Race comes to Huntsville

IRONMAN 70.3 MUSKOKA OVERVIEW
Since its inception in 2006, the Ironman 70.3 series has become the fastest growing triathlon series in the world. Now there are 31 events around the world that qualify athletes for the annual Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida
Ironman 70.3 races consist of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56‐mile bike and a 13.1 mile run, which adds up to 70.3 miles (113.1 kms) of total racing. This event is also sometimes referred to as a ‘half Ironman’ as it covers half the total distance of a full Ironman race.

The Town of Huntsville and the Township of Lake of Bays are pleased to have been chosen as the second Canadian location to host an Ironman 70.3 triathlon. The other 70.3 location is in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. A full Ironman also takes place every August in Penticton, British Columbia.

Approximately 1800 athletes will be competing in the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Muskoka. This will be split between the age group categories ‐ where athletes compete according to age, ‐ and the professional category‐ where athletes compete for a purse. Men and women compete separately. Each category has several qualifying spots for the World Championships in Clearwater.

While most of the athletes participating are Canadian, many will be travelling from around the world to compete. The following is a list of countries which will be represented at this triathlon:
• Bermuda
• Cayman Islands
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Venezuela
Event Tourism‐Huntsville/Lake of Bays
The mission of the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Event Tourism Committee, administered by the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, is to attract and retain sport and cultural events during shoulder seasons, with minimal impact on the environment and local facilities.

Schedule of Events
Sunday, September 14th, 2008
Race Day: Ironman 70.3 Muskoka
Location: Deerhurst Resort and throughout Huntsville and Lake of Bays areas
• Transition Zone (Deerhurst) opens at 6:00 a.m.
• Body marking – Deerhurst Front Pavilion
• Race Start – 8:00 a.m.
• Interactive Race Zone ‐ Live results for race day coverage, which enables spectators to follow progress throughout the day
• Athlete Post Race Meal (Deerhurst)
• Awards ‐ 4:00 p.m. ‐ Waterhouse Ballroom (Deerhurst)
• Course closes at 4:30 p.m.
• Details: http://www.ironmanmuskoka.com/

Other Weekend Events
Downtown Ironman Festival – Saturday, September 13th
Location: Downtown Huntsville
• Street Festival (BIA)
• Athletes Forum (Algonquin Theatre)
Ironman 70.3 Muskoka, Pre‐race – Saturday, September 13th
Location: Deerhurst Resort
• Race Registration from 10:00 a.m. ‐ 2:00 p.m. – Tom Thomson Room
• Race Expo from 9:00 a.m. ‐ 5:00 p.m. ‐ Deerhurst Sport Facility (indoor tennis courts)
• Bike Check in from 10:00 a.m. ‐ 5:00 p.m. ‐ Deerhurst Resort main parking area
• Practice swims

Terry Fox Run – Saturday, September 13th
Location: Huntsville High School Parking lot
• Registration will begin at 2:00 p.m. Race begins at 3:00 p.m.
• Distance options include 10 km, 5 km and 1 km walk
• Race followed by BBQ from 4:00 ‐ 5:30 p.m.
• Details for pledging, registration can be found at http://www.terryfoxrun.ca/
• Promote online pledging to all Ironman athletes and visitors


Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com/ 800-363-6047