June 24, 2024
– Inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon is scheduled for June 22, 2025
– General registration will open on July 1, 2024. in www.ironman.com/im703-rockford-illinois
ROCKFORD, Illinois / TAMPA, Florida. (June 24, 2024) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – IRONMAN, the world leader in long-distance triathlon, announced today that it will host its first event in the state of Illinois with the IRONMAN® 70.3® Rockford-Illinois triathlon in 2025, 2026. and 2027. The triathlon will debut on Sunday, June 22, 2025, with a swim, bike and run course that will take athletes through Rockford and the countryside north of the city.
Located in northern Illinois, Rockford offers a unique blend of outdoor recreation, culture and history making it the perfect location for a new Midwest IRONMAN 70.3 event. General registration opens on July 1, 2024 at www.ironman.com/im703-rockford-illinois.
“We are excited to bring this new IRONMAN 70.3 event to this beautiful and unique city in northern Illinois in 2025,” said Eric Atnip, race director of the IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon. “Rockford has proven to be an attractive Midwestern city destination with abundant outdoor recreation offerings. We are excited to partner with GoRockford to offer this exciting new option on the North American IRONMAN 70.3 Series circuit for our many dedicated athletes and new ones excited to compete in Illinois. “We can’t wait for athletes to come experience this welcoming community and see what makes Rockford so special.”
“IRONMAN 70.3 athletes strive to continually improve, to get better every day, to not settle for less than their personal best. The city of Rockford is like that too. Rockford is a city on the move and gaining speed all the time,” said John Groh, president and CEO of GoRockford, the city’s destination marketing organization. “We are delighted to partner with IRONMAN and look forward to welcoming their athletes and fans to our city.”
Commenting on the IRONMAN announcement, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said: “I am delighted that another internationally recognized company sees the value and appeal of Rockford. Companies like Hard Rock International, the Chicago Blackhawks and now IRONMAN are choosing our community for major events and investments. This says a lot about Rockford’s strength, appeal and reputation as a premier destination. IRONMAN, welcome to Rockford.”
“The IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon is a fantastic addition to our state’s sports tourism industry, providing a significant boost to the Rockford community and its local businesses,” said Daniel Thomas, deputy director of the Department of Commerce and Opportunity. Illinois Economic Commission (DCEO). ), Tourist Office. “This prestigious race was made possible by DCEO’s Tourism Incentive Grant Program, which aims to attract new out-of-state events to Illinois to increase tourism and highlight the state as a top sports travel destination. “We look forward to welcoming athletes and visitors from around the world to experience the charm and outdoor recreation that Rockford has to offer.”
Nicknamed “The Forest City,” Rockford is a medium-sized city located on the banks of the Rock River in northern Illinois. Rockford features a rich and pioneering sports history, a vibrant cultural scene, and architecturally distinct buildings and neighborhoods that are nestled in a beautiful natural setting with abundant parks, nature preserves, and four recreational rivers running through the area. Combined, these amenities make the city perfect to host the IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon. Just a 60-minute drive west of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, approximately 90 minutes from downtown Chicago and Milwaukee, and an hour south of Madison, Rockford offers the perfect summer oasis to escape city life. when athletes look for open paths to run on. and biking or open space to just relax.
About the course: The IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon will begin with a fast 1.2-mile swim in the Rock River that runs north-south through downtown Rockford. Athletes will enter the water near The Rock Guardians of Rockford, a popular public sculpture by Terese Agnew of four “Rockmen” standing guard over the city. Once out of the water, athletes will transition to the 56-mile single-loop bike course that will take them through and north of Rockford. Athletes will enjoy the surrounding hills and picturesque farmland as they pass through the picturesque town of Rockton. The 13.1-mile course will take runners from the Davis Park transition area on a two-loop course along the east and west banks of the Rock River. Athletes can expect views of the river, park greenways and picturesque neighborhoods on their way to the finish line in downtown Rockford, just a couple blocks from transition.
The 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon will offer qualifying spots for the 2025 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship race in Marbella, Spain.
For more information about the IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois 2025 triathlon, visit at www.ironman.com/im703-rockford-illinois. Athlete inquiries can be directed to Illinois70.3@ironman.com.
For more information on the IRONMAN® and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and event series, visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries can be directed to press@ironman.com. Rockford media inquiries can be directed to pam@kmkmedia.com.
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About GoRockford
GoRockford (Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) is responsible for promoting Rockford, Illinois and its surrounding region as an attractive tourist destination and enhancing the community’s public image as a dynamic place to visit, live and work. Through the impact of travel, GoRockford strengthens the region’s economic position and provides opportunities for people in their communities. For more information visit www.gorockford.com.
About the IRONMAN group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, IRONKIDS®, the Triathlon World Championships, premier racing events including Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series trail running events including UTMB® Canyons Endurance Runs™, UTMB Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ ® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the world’s largest operator of mass participation sports, offering participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s extensive offering. To deliver a complete athlete experience, the company’s portfolio also includes FulGaz® virtual cycling, the connected fitness app with the most realistic indoor riding experience aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Starting as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events in more than 55 countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a privately held family business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information visitwww.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.
About the trailer
Advance is a privately held family business that owns and invests in companies in media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the long-term value of our companies by promoting growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin and Pop. Together, these operating companies employ more than 14,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders of Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.
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