Inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford – Illinois Sells Out General Registration

January 28, 2025

- Over 2,700 registered athletes are expected to toe the line in Rockford, Illinois this June for the first edition of the IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford – Illinois Triathlon - IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 event availability across North America can be viewed at www.ironman.com/races

ROCKFORD, Ill. / TAMPA, Fla. (January 28, 2024) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – IRONMAN has announced that general registration for the inaugural 2025 IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Rockford – Illinois triathlon has sold out. With the sellout, the Rockford, Illinois event will host the first ever IRONMAN 70.3 branded event in the state of Illinois with approximately 2,700 registered athletes expected to compete. A limited number of entries remain available through The IRONMAN Foundation and Enhanced Athlete Event Experiences powered by NIRVANA. IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford – Illinois is scheduled to debut on Sunday, June 22, 2025, with a swim, bike and run course that will take athletes through Rockford and the beautiful northern Illinois countryside.

“When we first identified Rockford as a potential host location for an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon, we knew that this destination would be a perfect fit in the series and athletes have shown that,” said Brandt Bernat, Regional Director for The IRONMAN Group. “We are thrilled to work with our partners at GoRockford to offer this exciting new option on the North American IRONMAN 70.3 circuit for the many dedicated athletes and new ones excited to race in Illinois. We can’t wait for athletes to come experience this welcoming community and see what makes Rockford so special.”

“Rockford is thrilled to welcome the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford – Illinois event to our city and celebrate this incredible milestone of selling out in its first year. This event showcases not only the athletes’ endurance and dedication but also the strength and vibrancy of Rockford as a premier destination for world-class events. We are proud to partner with IRONMAN and look forward to delivering an unforgettable experience for athletes, spectators, and our community,” said John Groh, GoRockford President/CEO.

Located just 80 miles North of Chicago, Rockford, Illinois offers a unique blend of outdoor recreation, culture and history that make it the perfect venue for a new midwestern IRONMAN 70.3 event. Nicknamed “The Forest City,” Rockford is a mid-sized city situated on the banks of the Rock River in northern Illinois. Rockford boasts a rich and pioneering sports history, a vibrant cultural scene, and architecturally distinct buildings and neighborhoods that are set in a beautiful natural setting with abundant parks, nature preserves and four recreational rivers that run through the area. Combined, these amenities make the city perfect for hosting the IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon. Just a 60-minute drive west of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, and approximately 90 minutes from downtown Chicago and Milwaukee and an hour south of Madison, Rockford offers the perfect summer oasis to escape the busy city life.

About the course: The IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon will kick off with a fast 1.2-mile swim in the Rock River that runs north to south through the center of 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 takes athletes through and north of Rockford. Athletes will be treated to the rolling hills and scenic farmland in the surrounding area while also passing through the quaint Village of Rockton. The 13.1-mile run course will take runners from the transition area at Davis Park on a two-loop journey on the east and west banks of the Rock River. Athletes can expect river views, park greenways and scenic neighborhoods on their way to a finish line in downtown Rockford just a couple of blocks away from transition.

For athletes that may have missed out on registering for the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford – Illinois, regional events such as IRONMAN 70.3 Des Moines on June 8, IRONMAN 70.3 Muncie on July 12, and IRONMAN 70.3 Ohio on July 20, remain open for registration. To see a full listing of event availability, visit www.ironman.com/races.

The 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon will offer qualifying slots to the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship race in Marbella, Spain.

For more information on 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois triathlon, please visit at www.ironman.com/im703-rockford-illinois. Athlete inquiries may be directed to Illinois70.3@ironman.com.  

To learn more about the IRONMAN^® and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com. Rockford media inquiries may be directed to pam@kmkmedia.com.

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About GoRockford

GoRockford (Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau) is responsible for promoting Rockford, Illinois and its surrounding region as an attractive travel 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 economic position of the region and provides opportunities for people in its 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, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB^®, Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB^® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application 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. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance 

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering 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 in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.