WTC and WSEM Announce Ironman 70.3 National Harbor

World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) and local race organizers, Washington Sports & Event Management LLC (WSEM), today announced the inaugural Ironman 70.3 National Harbor triathlon, scheduled for Aug. 5, 2012, at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. This will be the first-ever Ironman 70.3 triathlon in the Washington DC Metropolitan area.

“We are thrilled to introduce Ironman 70.3 National Harbor to our 2012 schedule,” said Steve Meckfessel, Chief Operations Officer for WTC. “We continue to see demand for new Ironman 70.3 events in the mid-Atlantic region and this will be the perfect addition to our global series. National Harbor and the surrounding Prince George’s County and Charles County are a spectacular venue, making for an excellent event experience for our athletes.”

Rocell Viniard, Vice President, Director of Marketing for National Harbor added, “With its waterfront hotels, restaurants and shops all within walking distance of each other National Harbor is the ultimate destination for athletes and their families.”

Ironman 70.3 National Harbor will lead athletes on a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run along a course that takes advantage of the beautiful terrain and rolling hills of Prince George’s and Charles Counties and the cool shade of Henson Creek Stream Valley Park. The swim is athlete and spectator friendly with an in-water, wave-based start that passes all three spectator Piers at National Harbor and Gaylord Resort. The single-loop bike utilizes a rolling-hill route through Maryland’s beautiful countryside with a challenging 1K climb-out near the transition area. Athletes will finish with a run along the Henson Creek Trail, which is mostly flat and fast, ending in downtown National Harbor in The National Harbor Plaza.

“We are honored to be chosen by WTC to produce the newest addition to the Ironman 70.3 Series,” said Charles L. “Chuck” Brodsky, CEO of WSEM, owners and producers of The Nation’s Triathlon^TM and The Washington DC Triathlon^TM. “As the home of the largest concentration of triathletes in the country, the mid-Atlantic area is a natural choice for one of the sport’s premier events.”

One of nearly 60 events in the global Ironman 70.3 Series, Ironman 70.3 National Harbor will offer a professional prize purse of $15,000. Athletes will also have the chance to compete for 35age group qualifying slots to the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3, taking place on Sept. 9 at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada.

Registration for the 2012 Ironman 70.3 National Harbor opens on Wednesday, January 18, at noon EST at www.ironmannationalharbor.com.