This Saturday, the sporting event of the year returns to Lanzarote: the Ironman. Nearly 2,000 participants will fight to win this tough event that brings together athletes from all over the planet.
From 07:00, the participants will jump into the water of Playa Grande to start the course, which, at most, has to last 17 hours. At La Voz de Lanzarote we have prepared a series of questions and answers so that the people of Lanzarote know more about the biggest sporting event of the year.
What is an Ironman?
The Ironman is a long-distance triathlon sporting event that combines 3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of cycling and a 42.2 kilometer run, i.e. a marathon. This event must be completed in a maximum of 17 hours.
The first edition of the Ironman was held in 1978 in Hawaii. It was the marriage of Judy and John Collins who came up with the idea of unifying three events that were already taking place in the American state: the "Waikiki Roughtwater Swim", a 3.8 kilometer open water swimming event; the "Around-Oahu Bike Race", a 180 kilometer road cycling competition; and the "Honolulu Marathon", a 42.195 kilometer run.
On February 18, 1978, the first Ironman in history took place, with the participation of 15 athletes, 12 of whom finished the event. Gordon Haller was the first winner in history, with a final time of 11 hours and 46 minutes.
When did it arrive in Lanzarote?
The first Ironman in Lanzarote was held in 1992, and had a total of 144 athletes, of whom 116 finished. From then on it has been held annually until 2022, with the exception of the 2020 edition which had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
How did the Ironman get to Lanzarote?
The famous sporting event arrived on the island thanks to the Danish Kenneth Gasque. The precursor of the Ironman in Lanzarote was hired as head of the sports team of the La Santa Sport complex, now called Club La Santa.
After learning about the Ironman in Hawaii, which is the country where this event was born, he thought that a qualifying competition for this championship could be held in Lanzarote. The Dane developed a project that was presented to those responsible for the Ironman Hawaii, but after not getting places there, he went to the Roth event in Germany, and got a sub-contract where they gave him 50 and then 60 places to organize an Ironman in Lanzarote.
In 1991, the sports authorities of Lanzarote at that time were invited to Hawaii to see the development and greatness of the Hawaiian competition and its effect on the island's tourism and economy.
What is the Ironman in Lanzarote like?
In Lanzarote, the swimming event takes place in Playa Grande, in Puerto del Carmen, and starts at 07:00 on the day of the sporting event. Participants will have to swim a 3.8 kilometer circuit, in the shortest possible time, to move on to the next event.
The second challenge for the participants is the bicycle, and they will have to complete 180 kilometers defying the local wind, with impressive views, passing through places such as La Geria and the Mirador del Río. A route that ends where it starts, in Puerto del Carmen.
The third event is a 42.2 kilometer marathon on a closed circuit along the avenue that connects Puerto del Carmen with Playa Honda. The runners will have to complete the same route three times. The event is famous for its intense sun and for the crowd that encourages the athletes as they advance along the Avenida de Las Playas.
How many Ironmans are there in the world?
The official Ironman website states that there are more than 170 triathlon events around the world, including Ironman and Ironman 70.3, which is the half-distance edition of the event.
Between May and December there are a total of 52 Ironmans around the world, but in all the rankings and specialized triathlon websites, the Lanzarote one is considered one of the most famous, important and toughest in the world.
The most recognized is held precisely where the event began, in Hawaii. In addition, the world championship is also held there. However, there are others that also appear in the ranking of the most lauded by participants and lovers of the event, such as the ST. George, in Utah, the one in Nice in France or the Norseman in Norway.
Is there a cut-off time in each of the events?
Yes. In swimming, the time limit is two hours and twenty minutes after the start of the individual event.
In the cycling event there are three cuts: the first is at five and a half hours in the first of them, which is located between the start of the individual swimming and the arrival in Tinguatón. The second cut-off time is set at seven and a half hours counting between the start of the individual swimming and the Plaza de Haría. The third cut-off time on the bicycle is 9 hours, which cannot be exceeded when the participants reach the Teseguite crossing.
Finally, the final cut-off time for the cycling segment is set at 11 and a half hours after the start of the individual swimming.
The marathon, which is the last event of the Ironman, has the cut-off time that is established in the total race: 17 hours after starting the swimming competition.
How much does it cost to register for the Ironman?
The prices of the Lanzarote Ironman are set well in advance and have different rates depending on the distance in time to the event. Between November and December the price is 549 euros, while from January until the closing of registration it rises to 599 euros.
Is there a minimum or maximum age to participate?
All athletes must be at least 18 years of age on the day of the race to compete in this event.
In addition, the competition system establishes an age group to be framed by categories, which are established in five years from the age of 18. The last group is the one composed of those over 80.
What is Ironkids?
The Ironman also has a section for children between 6 and 16 years old, called Ironkids.
The event takes place on Friday, one day before the celebration of the Ironman. It takes place on the beach of Matagorda, and the boys and girls are divided by age groups in the categories benjamín, alevín, infantil and cadete.
The Ironkids does not have a cycling event, only swimming and running. Depending on the category, the distance increases. In the benjamines, for example, the swimming distance is 50 meters and the running distance is 500 meters, while in the oldest category, the cadet, the participants swim 500 meters and run a race of 1,250 meters.
How many places are there for the World Championship in Hawaii?
The Lanzarote Ironman has places for the World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
The organization explains that a minimum of one place will be provisionally assigned to each age group category based on the starting list, both male and female.
However, the final allocation of places will be determined on the day of the race, depending on the number of official participants.
What do you have to do to be a volunteer?
The Lanzarote Ironman always needs volunteers to collaborate during the race, especially at the refreshment points for the participants.
The organization puts a few days before a form to be able to sign up as a volunteer.
