Iron Man Triathlon Bikes, Swims and Runs into Panama City Beach This Weekend

The Iron Man Florida Triathlon is held every year at this time, and is one of Panama City Beach’s most exciting events, when athletes from all across the globe come to the Gulf Coast to test their levels of endurance on land and sea. Participants will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles, with the race kicking off on the beach behind the Boardwalk Beach Resort this coming Friday, November 6, 2010.

Both participants and spectators of the Triathlon are already arriving in town and gearing up for what will no doubt be another great year for this awe-inspiring event. Whether you want to know where it’s all happening so you can avoid the traffic diversions, or get right in the middle of the action, here’s a detailed schedule of what’s happening and where this weekend.

The Swim

The swim portion of Ironman Florida begins on the beach behind the Boardwalk Beach Resort. The course is a 2.4-mile two-loop swim. The first loop is rectangular in nature, with athletes actually exiting the water, and doing a turnaround on the beach. Upon re-entrance, athletes take a diagonal angle before reconnecting with the original portion of the swim course, continuing along the second loop until exiting the water at the completion of the swim. After exiting the water, athletes will run up the beach, running up the entrance steps to the Boardwalk, before continuing on to the transition area.

The Bike

Once athletes exit the transition area, they will begin the bike portion of the event by exiting through the bike/run start tower and heading west on South Thomas Drive. The bike portion of the event is extremely flat and fast, although wind can play a factor in the race. The rest of the one-loop course will be as follows:

• Start at the Boardwalk Beach Resort and go west on S. Thomas Drive to Front Beach Rd.
• Left on Front Beach Rd.
• Right on Hwy 79 North.
• Right on Hwy 20 East
• Right on Hwy 77 South
• Left on 388 East to turnaround
• Turnaround and go to Blue Springs Road
• Right on Blue Springs Road
• Left on Hwy 20 West
• Continue straight through Hwy 77 on Hwy 20
• Left on Hwy 79 South
• Right on Steelfield Road to turnaround
• Turnaround and go to Hwy 79 South
• Right on Hwy 79 South
• Left on Front Beach Rd.
• Right on S. Thomas Dr.
• Finish at the Boardwalk Beach Resort

The Run

Runners will take the following route during the marathon portion of the event. The marathon will feature a two-loop course, with the turnaround in front of the Spinnaker Beach Club. The run course will take the following route:

• Start at the Boardwalk Beach Resort and go west on S. Thomas Drive 1/10 of a mile.
• At turnaround go east on South Thomas Drive to Thomas Drive (continue east).
• Right on Joan Ave.
• Left on Surf Dr.
• Left on Utes
• Right on Beach Dr.
• Bear left on S. Lagoon Dr.
• Right on Mystic Dr
• Left on Hilltop.
• Left on Treasure Circle.
• Right on Beach Dr.
• Left on Irwin.
• Left on Thomas Dr.
• Right on Spyglass
• Bear east on Spyglass Dr.
• Left on Lookout Dr.
• Right on Thomas Dr. and go to the State Park.
• Go straight into the State Park and turn right on St Andrew’s Circle, continue counter- clockwise exiting the park.
• Return to the Boardwalk Beach Resort following the same route.
• Turnaround in front of the Boardwalk Beach Resort, repeat the entire run course.
• Go past the turnaround to finish line on S. Thomas Drive in front of the Boardwalk Beach Resort.
• Finish Line is in front of the Boardwalk Beach Resort.

The run course will have mile markers and aid stations approximately every mile. Traffic cones will be used to separate the runners from the traffic where necessary. The traffic cones will not block the flow of traffic.

Numerous signs will be used to inform the local traffic of the race in progress and racecourse volunteers will be used to keep runners on course.