Foster Grant Ironman 70.3 World Championship 2008
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Quick
Facts
- When: Saturday, November 8, 2008, beginning at 7:00 a.m. (6:45 a.m. Pro start)
- What: A 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run. Competitors have 8 hours to finish the race; cutoff times are applied to each segment of the race.
- Where: Clearwater Beach, FL, one of the world's top tourist destinations.
- Who: more than 1,800 athletes from around the globe.
- Purse: A total of $100,000 is split among the top 10 men and women.
- Training: During targeted training months, the average Ironman triathlete spends 15 to 20 hours per week preparing for this event. Many competitors also cross-train with weight training, stretching and yoga, among other activities.
- Weather: Average temperatures on race day range from 58 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Internet: Triathlon fans can
follow every stroke, spin and stride live on race day by visiting www.ironmanlive.com.
Real-time race results, live audio and video updates by well-known
triathletes, as well as text updates and photos are available.
Maps and Competition Routes
Detour Routes
The median openings along East Lake Road between Tampa Road and Arbor Oaks Drive will be blocked throughout the duration of the bike portion of the race.
East Lake Area Detours
- Residents living on the east side of East Lake Road will be able to travel north on East Lake Road.
- Residents living west of East Lake Road will be able to travel south on East Lake Road to access Tampa Road.
- Residents that live east of East Lake Road can travel north on East Lake Road past Arbor Oaks Drive to make a U-turn to go south on East Lake Road.
- Residents living east of East Lake Road can also utilize East Lake Woodlands Parkway to access Tampa Road.
- At McMullen Booth Road and State Road 580, traffic traveling on McMullen Booth Road will be detoured east on State Road 580 to Tampa Road where cars will able to access East Lake Road and continue north bound or vice- versa.
Clearwater to Pinellas Park Detour
- Residents needing to travel to from McMullen Booth Road and Drew Street to Pinellas Park on race day will be unable to utilize the Bayside Bridge and will need to take the detour route. Beginning at McMullen Booth Road and Drew Street, travel west on Drew Street to U.S. 19, then go east on Roosevelt Boulevard where cars can then access 49th Street or vice-versa.
Pinellas Park Detours
- Residents living inside the box bound by 82nd Avenue, 49th Street, Belcher Road and 102nd Avenue that need to access U.S. 19 will need to travel to 60th Street then to 110th Avenue, go east to 58th Street and then north to U.S. 19.
- Residents needing to get to Tampa on race day and live inside the "box" mentioned above, leave before 8 a.m. to avoid any event-related traffic delays.
Intersections to Avoid
The following intersections will be blocked on race day and there will be significant traffic delays.
- Coronado Drive at the Roundabout, 3 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Court Street, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Belcher and Drew Street, 7:15 to 10 a.m.
- Belcher and Gulf to Bay Boulevard, 9 a.m. to noon
- McMullen Booth Road and Curlew Road, 7:30 to 10:45 a.m.
PSTA Changes on Race Day
To accommodate the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will temporarily alter bus service throughout much of central Pinellas County on race day morning, November 8. This will include a temporary relocation of the buses serving Park Street Terminal to 200 S Madison Ave. between S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and S. Missouri Ave. PSTA staff will be on hand at both sites to offer assistance to help passengers get to their desired buses. Normal service is expected to resume to Park Street Terminal by 1 p.m. on race day.
Beginning on the morning of Wednesday, November 5, PSTA service to Clearwater Beach will be detoured due to road closings.
Notices will be posted at all bus stops affected by the detours to alert riders to the temporary changes. As of Friday, October 24, full details about the detours can be found on www.PSTA.net or by calling the PSTA InfoLine at (727) 540-1900.
Spectator Information
Course:
Swim - 1.2 miles/1.9 km
The swim starts and finishes on the south side of Pier 60 on Clearwater
Beach. The swim course is an elongated rectangle over one-half
mile long and 100 yards wide. With a projected water temperature of 72-76
degrees on race day, wetsuits will likely be permitted.
Bike - 56 miles/90.1 km
After exiting Transition 1 at Pier 60, athletes head west across
the Memorial Causeway and through downtown Clearwater. The bike
course is extremely fast and includes a few challenging inclines
over the Memorial Causeway and Bayside bridges. Three (3) aid stations
will keep the athletes well fueled during the bike portion.
Run - 13.1 miles/21.2 km
The run is a two-loop course that is both challenging and scenic.
The route incorporates two steep ascents up the Memorial Causeway
Bridge with long stretches along Causeway Boulevard and the Pinellas
Trail (paved). The run turnaround, located at the 6.5-mile mark,
is back at Pier 60, making this a spectator-friendly route. Run
course aid stations are positioned at every mile. The run finishes
at Clearwater Beach, just south of Pier 60.
Race Day Tips
Athlete Tracking - Track your favorite athlete's
progress at www.ironman.com or
stop by the Athlete Tracking Tent near the Race Office at Pier 60.
Race Cut-Off Times - Swim: 9:05 a.m.; Bike: 12:30
p.m.; Run: 3:30 p.m.
Lost & Found - The Volunteer Check-In Tent
located at the approach to Pier 60.
Visitor & Event Information - The Visitor Information
Center is located at the approach to Pier 60.
Road Closures - See our road
closures listing, or call the Road
Closure Hotline at (727) 562-INFO.
Parking & Shuttle Service - Because
parking at Pier 60 is extremely limited, we are providing shuttle
bus service on race day from the following parking venues:
- Sand Key Park
- Downtown Clearwater
- Municipal Services Garage - corner of South East Ave. & Pierce
St.
- Courthouse Lot - corner of Chestnut St. & Oak Ave.
- Oak Ave. Lot
- corner of Court St. & Oak Ave.
- County Parking Garage - corner
of Court St. & South
Osceola Ave.
- Ft. Harrison Lot - corner of Chestnut St. & Ft. Harrison
Ave.
- Court St. Lot - corner of Court St. & South Osceola
Ave.
Shuttle buses will run to Pier 60 from these parking locations beginning
at 4:00 a.m. on race day and will operate until 6:00 p.m.
Spectator Viewing
- 6:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Ironman Live Broadcast - Watch the race
unfold on the Jumbotron while relaxing on the beach at Pier 60
behind the Transition Area.
- 6:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Swim Start - Best viewing
is on Clearwater Beach, just south of Pier 60.
- 7:05 a.m. - 9:05 a.m.
Swim Finish/Transition 1 - See the athletes exit the water, change
into their cycling gear and head out Causeway Boulevard.
- 9:15 a.m.
- 12:30 p.m. Transition 2/Run Start - Watch for the NBC helicopter
and Pace Vehicle as they bring the leaders in from the bike
course. Age group athletes will follow over the next several hours.
- 9:50
a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Run Turnaround - Athletes will begin their second
run lap at the turnaround near Pier 60.
- 10:25 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Finish
Line - Cheer on the finishers as we crown this year’s Ironman
70.3 World Champions and as more than 1,800 athletes cross the
finish line!
Television Coverage
Relive the Ironman 70.3 experience when NBC broadcasts the 2008 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3
Race Week Highlights
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60
Thursday, November 6, 2008
8 - 11 a.m. Gatorade Practice Swim, Pier 60
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Ironman Expo and Athlete Check-In, Pier 60
Friday, November 7, 2008
8 - 11 a.m. Gatorade Practice Swim, Pier 60
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Athlete Check-In, Pier 60
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Ironman Expo, Pier 60
12 - 6 p.m. Mandatory Bike & Gear Bag Check-in, Pier 60
Saturday, November 8, 2008
5 - 6 a.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60
6:45 a.m. Pro Athlete Race Start, Pier 60
7 a.m. Race Start, Pier 60
Sunday, November 9, 2008
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60
Volunteer Information
Volunteers Needed to Help Host Prestigious Athletic Event
In November, the world's greatest athletes will come to Clearwater to determine the best of the best. More than 1,800 athletes will compete in the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 on Nov. 8, 2008. Several thousand volunteers will be needed the week before the event and the day of the race to help the city host this prestigious competition. Volunteers can sign-up for various tasks including: assembling goody bags prior to race day, work an aid station, be a course marshall, body marking the athletes or wetsuit peeling on race day. When you choose to volunteer you have the opportunity to make new friends, have fun, receive a free Ironman 70.3 t-shirt and you'll also be treated to a volunteer appreciation party that will be held at Bright House Networks Field.
The 70.3 series showcases half the distance of the signature Ironman championship event that takes place in Kona, Hawaii each year. The competition will start and finish near Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. Triathletes will swim 1.2-miles in the Gulf of Mexico, bike 56 miles throughout Clearwater and surrounding communities, and run 13.1-miles from the beach, across the Memorial Causeway Bridge, and into downtown. This race is the culmination of more than 20 qualifying Ironman triathlons of the 70.3-distance held around the world.
Those interested in volunteering should contact ironmanvolunteers@myclearwater.com. For more information about the Ironman World Championship 70.3, visit www.ironman.com/worldchampionship70.3
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