Ironman Triathlon

 3.85 km / 2.4 mi   swim
 180  km / 112 mi   bike
 42   km / 26  mi   run

The event is run all over the world with a special world championship in its original location of Hawaii, in the area of the Kona coast, on the "Big Island" of Hawaii.

History

In 1978 three US Marine soldiers stationed in Hawaii participated in a running race. During the awards ceremony they discussed which athlete would be more fit. One of the Marines, Navy Commander John Collins, suggests that it should be settled through a combination race between three existing competitions: the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (3.8 km), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (180 km, originally a two-day event) and the Honolulu Marathon (42.2 km). Collins came up with the title "Ironman" to apply to the one finishing first. Of the 15 men to start off the in early morning on February 18th, 1978, 12 completed the race and the world's first Ironman, Gordon Haller[?], completed in 11:46.58.

In 1979, with no further marketing efforts, the race gathers as many as 50 athletes the following year. The race, however, is postponed a day due to bad weather conditions--only 15 competitors start off the race Sunday morning. San Diego's 35 year-old Tom Warren[?] takes the win in 11:15.56 and thus beats the race record by half an hour. Lyn Lemaire[?], a championship cyclist from Boston, places sixth overall and becomes the first Ironwoman in the history.

Collins plans on changing the race into a relay event to draw more participants, but Sports Illustrateds journalist Barry McDermott[?], in the area to cover a golf tournament, discovers the race and writes a 10-page account of it. Through the next year hundreds of curious participants contact Collins; the Ironman's format remains unchanged.