Land of Endurance Daily: 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Presented by Utah Sports Commission Daily Recap for Wednesday, October 26, 2022

October 26, 2022

ST. GEORGE, Utah (October 26, 2022) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ –The Land of Endurance was buzzing today with activities, events, and athletes all around. From the Land of Endurance Fun Run to professional athletes discussing race day strategies, there was something for everyone when it came to experiences to get race day ready in the lead up to the 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission. Here is the Land of Endurance Daily, a summary recapping activities, events, and highlights from the last 24 hours.

LAND OF ENDURANCE FUN RUN 

Wednesday morning started on the right foot with the Land of Endurance Fun Run, which took place at 8:30 AM, starting and finishing just behind the official 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission Finish Line. Participants took in the beauty of downtown St. George while feeling the fresh air in their lungs, shaking any travel out from their legs along the 2.8-mile course.

PRE-RACE PRESS CONFERENCE

Twelve of the best athletes in the world convened in the Electric Theater to talk strategy and thoughts leading into the 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission. On the women’s side, Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR), Taylor Knibb (USA), Flora Duffy (BMU), Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR), Paula Findlay (CAN), and Holly Lawrence (GBR) took to the stage.

Speaking on the water at the ROKA swim course at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Paula Findlay remarked on how favorable she found the conditions during her practice swim: “The water is really beautiful, I think the transition from water to air will be the hardest part but once you are in the water it is actually really nice so maybe they can extend the swim, make it longer.”

In reflecting on her victory from the 2021 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission and excitement for this year’s race, defending IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Lucy Charles-Barclay said, “Coming back to St. George and walking around the town I kind of got the memories from last year so if I can do anything close to last year’s performance then I will be over the moon.”

The women are set to race this Friday, October 28 with live coverage on Outside Watch.

On the men’s side, Gustav Iden (NOR), Sam Long (USA), Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), Miki Taagholt (DNK), Frederic Funk (DEU), and Eric Lagerstrom (USA) talked shop ahead of their race, which will take place on Saturday, October 29 with live coverage also on Outside Watch.

Miki Taagholt expressed his excitement to be back in St. George sharing, “I had my breakthrough race here last year and being back here is amazing. I have so many amazing memories from last year. I love the course, love the atmosphere, love the city, love the support I feel I get when I’m going around the city.”

Defending IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion and new IRONMAN World Champion Gustav Iden talked about the benefits of the two days of racing saying, “It is going to be good to have time to watch the women because that is something you miss out on when you race the same day so I’m going to [cheer for the women] and I expect the same on Saturday from them.”

PARADE OF ATHLETES

Along with athletes from right here in St. George, athletes from as far as Egypt, New Zealand, South Africa, and Afghanistan who have traveled from around the globe and some who have defied the odds to race in the world championship. These athletes gathered on Wednesday afternoon for the Parade of Athletes as they came together to celebrate the global nature of this year’s World Championship event.

A truly global contingent, over 6,000 registered athletes from 104 countries, regions, and territories have made their way to St. George, Utah to compete in the 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission.

ATHLETE CHECK-IN AND IRONMAN VILLAGE

Over 6,000 registered athletes from 104 countries, regions and territories have been arriving in St. George, Utah and IRONMAN Village has become aglow throughout race week. Athlete check-in started Tuesday and continued today, Wednesday, and friendly volunteers and IRONMAN staff members were ready to greet the excited endurance athletes. Athlete check-in and IRONMAN Village are set up at Town Square Park where athletes, spectators, volunteers, and the local community can stop by the Official IRONMAN Store for some shopping, browse IRONMAN’s partner activations for the latest products, services, and gear in the sport of triathlon, and to get a feel for what the Land of Endurance is all about.

LOOKING AHEAD TO TOMORROW

Thursday, October 27 is the last day for athlete check-in, with all athletes able to check-in from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and men’s only check-in from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. IRONMAN Village and the IRONMAN Store will also be open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Bike and bike bag check-in for the women will take place from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Sand Hollow State Park and run bag check-in for the women will take place from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Tabernacle St / 100W.

The Media Center will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the St. George Library Washington County School District Building (WCSDB).

For more information about the 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission event, please visit www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship. 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.

** Terms and Conditions: Photography is provided courtesy of The IRONMAN Group for news and editorial outlet coverage. Any commercial use is strictly prohibited unless a separate written license is obtained from and signed by an authorized representative of The IRONMAN Group. Additional terms and conditions can be found here. Usage of materials constitutes acceptance of terms. **

###

About Intermountain Healthcare

Located in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, Intermountain Healthcare is a nonprofit system of 25 hospitals, 225 clinics, the Intermountain Medical Group with some 2,700 employed physicians and advanced care practitioners, a health plans division called SelectHealth, Homecare, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes and sustainable costs.

About Utah Sports Commission

The Utah Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst for Utah in its Olympic legacy efforts and to help enhance Utah’s economy, image, and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports. Since the 2002 Olympics and Paralympics, the Utah Sports Commission has attracted nearly 900 major events to the state. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities, and other related services. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 business league and Utah Sports Commission Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization, is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. For more information, visit www.utahsportscommission.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

In 2006 the inaugural IRONMAN^® 70.3^® World Championship was held in Clearwater, Florida becoming another test for the world’s elite triathletes. Since that auspicious beginning, the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship has grown in stature and popularity moving first to Henderson, Nevada in 2011, where athletes encountered a more challenging terrain and then to Mont-Tremblant, Quebec—its first stop on the new “global rotation” for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. The event reached European soil for the first time ever in 2015, with Zell am See, Austria, hosting an epic and memorable event. In 2016, the race moved from the mountains to the beaches of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. In 2017, the race returned to the United States, taking place in Chattanooga, Tennessee where it became a two-day event for the first time. In 2018, the event reached the African continent for the first time and was hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa. Continuing the rotation, 2019 saw the French Riviera and Nice, France play host to the ever-growing IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event. After a year in which the event was not able to take place due to a global pandemic, the race returned in 2021 with over 3,500 athletes competing in St. George, Utah. The event will again take place in St. George, Utah, returning to a two-day format on October 28-29, 2022, before shifting to Lahti, Finland on August 26-27, 2023 and Taupō, New Zealand on December 14-15, 2024. Historically, more than 200,000 athletes have participated annually in a series of qualifying races, consisting of over 100 global events. Hosting more than 5,000 athletes from around the world, participants in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship have ranged in age from 18 to 85-plus. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship.

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 IRONMAN^® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events including Haute Route^®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually 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. 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, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 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.