Chattanooga, Tennessee lands the latest Ironman race

IRONMAN announced today that Chattanooga, Tennessee has been selected to host the eleventh race in the IRONMAN^® U.S. Series. The inaugural IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon will take place on Sunday, September 28, 2014.

“With the rapid growth of triathlon in the Southeast, it is the perfect time for us to expand and add IRONMAN Chattanooga to our 2014 event calendar,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN.  “We selected Chattanooga as it is a beautiful city and a premier outdoor sports destination. We are thrilled to bring IRONMAN here and to partner with the city to deliver a top level event.”

One of more than 30 events in the global IRONMAN Series, IRONMAN Chattanooga leads athletes through a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run on a course that utilizes a variety of Chattanooga’s scenic areas. The race will start with a single loop 2.4-mile swim through the Tennessee River with ample spectator vantage points alongside Chattanooga’s famous Riverwalk. The bike will be a two-loop 56-mile course with scenic farmland and mountain views. The two and a half loop 26.2-mile run course will showcase beautiful downtown Chattanooga, the South Side, Riverview and the North Shore. Athletes can expect a fast, rolling course with friendly sights and faces along the entire run.

Jim Coppinger, Mayor of Hamilton County said, “We are extremely proud to be making the announcement that IRONMAN has chosen Chattanooga as the destination for one of their prestigious events. We have the infrastructure for hosting such an event – from world-class natural amenities for the athletes to providing an exceptional experience for the spectators, with plenty of spaces to watch the races. We’re confident that IRONMAN will bring a significant economic impact to the community and look forward to hosting this incredible, iconic event.”

“It’s an honor to be chosen as a destination city for an IRONMAN triathlon. Chattanooga was a natural fit for this event and while we are already home to a thriving athletic community, this event will help put Chattanooga in front of a whole new sector of athletes,” said Andy Berke, Mayor of Chattanooga. “Our collaborative efforts to promote Chattanooga’s physical assets, like our mountains and river, help us attract world class events like this. I look forward to seeing how IRONMAN event grows over the next few years, as we continue to build upon Chattanooga’s reputation as an outdoor adventure destination.”

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) has been named the Official Charity Partner of the 2014 IRONMAN^® Chattanooga triathlon.  As the official charity partner of the inaugural event, CCFA will send a team of up to 100 athletes through Team Challenge, their endurance training and fundraising program. The program participants will raise funds for research, education and support for the 1.4 million Americans suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – two debilitating digestive diseases that affect 1 in 200 Americans, including 150,000 children nationwide.

IRONMAN Chattanooga will have a $25,000 USD professional prize purse and will be a P-2000 race. Additionally, the race will offer 50 age group slots to the 2015 IRONMAN World Championship taking place on Oct. 10, 2015 in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i.

General registration for IRONMAN Chattanooga will open at noon ET Wednesday, September 4, 2013 on www.ironman.com/chattanooga. For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com.  Athlete inquiries may be directed to chattanooga@ironman.com.