Full-distance racing returns to St. George in 2022 and 2024

The inaugural Ironman St. George race in 2010 quickly set the event’s reputation as one of the sport’s most difficult races. While Ironman tinkered with the course over the next three years, the challenging terrain and weather proved to be too much for many North American triathletes – as registration numbers dwindled, Ironman turned the race into a 70.3 event in 2013.

Now Ironman racing is returning to St. George, Utah for the first time since 2012. On May 7, 2022 the city will host the Ironman North American Championship, and the event will return again in 2024.

The city will continue to host an Ironman 70.3 race during the years when a full-distance race isn’t scheduled.

Related: Photos from 2017 Ironman 70.3 St. George

Full-distance racing was supposed to return to St. George last year, but the event had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ironman North American Championship St. George course will begin with a 2.4-mile, two-loop swim in Sand Hollow Reservoir. The 112-mile bike course takes athletes through some spectacular scenery including Snow Canyon, while the two-loop run course will take athletes through Red Cliffs Reserve and into the finish at the historic Town Square of downtown St. George.

Renowned for its spectacular, rugged terrain of red-rock desert and mountainous landscapes, St. George is a popular tourist and recreation destination in southwestern Utah and is a two-hour drive from Las Vegas, Nevada. This weekend St. George will host the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship and in September it will host the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.