Really, what is the Ironman/Ironwoman Triathalon about?

Question

What is it about and can someone win the whole thing and become a Ironman/Ironwoman?

And when will the next one be?

Answer 1

What is it about? It's about competing in the world's toughest triathlon and being the best. Ironman is a distance and a trademark. An Ironman Triathlon is a triathlon sanctioned by the World Triathlon Corporation that adheres to specific distances for each part of the event. The distances are 2.4 mile swim, 112mile bike and 26.2mile run. Anyone who finishes a race nof this distance is entitled to the gender-neutral title of "Ironman" but if it's capitalized then it is trademarked. Usually race officials who are not WTC sanctioned vouch for "iron distance" to ensure they don't step on any toes.

The first Ironman distance event was held in Hawaii in 1978 and that's where the Ironman World Championship takes place every year. You have to qualify to get into that race by racing and making times in a certain number of pre-qualifying IM sanctioned races. There are also a limited number of lottery spots available. Ironman originated as part of a debate between some military running competitors and someone suggested they should solve who is the most fit athlete by combining the three biggest races on the island: the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 mi./3.85 km), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 miles; originally a two-day event) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 mi./42.195 km). It was US Navy Commander JOhn Collins who coined the term "Ironman" by deciding that whoever finishes the race first shoudl be called the "Iron Man". Gordon Haller was the first to earn the title Ironman by completing the course in a time of 11 hours, 46 minutes, and 40 seconds.

So it's about being the best of the best! Ironman Hawaii is to triathlon what the World Series is to baseball and the Stanley Cup is to the NHL. Only it's harder to win and much more glorious to finish!