1300 entrants. A 3.8km swim. Followed by a 180km bike ride. Topped off with a 42.2km marathon. Phew…..it’s tiring just writing about it. And as for the super fit triathletes taking part one can only guess at the wells of endurance they must possess. As the quickest anyone normally finishes the annual Iron Man event is in around 9 hours of non stop, energy sapping slog around the island.
This will be the 19th year that Lanzarote has played host to the Iron Man event. Which is basically an official heat which sees 60 competitors win through to the Grand Final, which is staged in Hawaii.
Despite the current economic climate this years field of entrants is in fact bigger than ever – numbering just over 1300 competitors. Up by around 100 on 2008.
The event is taking place on Saturday May 23rd and will essentially bring much of Lanzarote to a standstill. As scores of police and race marshals close off roads and control traffic as the competitors cycle their way around the island.
Much of the action takes place in Lanzarote´s main resort of Puerto del Carmen. Where the swimming section kicks off at 7am on the beach. Whilst the 42.2km marathon is held on the Avenida de las Playas – the main beachfront strip.
As well as a slot in the Grand Final there is also 50,000 dollars worth of prize money up for grabs. And entrants span all ages and genders – enacompassing amateurs who want to just have a go as well as the super fit pros.
The front runners are expected to cross the finishing line in a time of nine hours or less. But the bulk of the field can take much longer than that – with many still crossing the line right up until the official close of play at midnight. Quite a few more never even make it that far – as around 90 out of 1200 entrants never even saw the finshing line last year.
Either way the event is a great spectacle and does much to help raise the profile of Lanzarote abroad. As it is covered by the likes of Eurosport – with much of the action taking place against Lanzarote´s picturesque volcanic countryside.
If you have already booked one of our Lanzarote holiday villas then the best place to watch the action is down in Puerto del Carmen. Where you will be joined by crowds of locals and other tourists too.
