# Chapter 4: Races & Venues

Triathlon · Chapter 4: Races & Venues · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/triathlon/interesting-facts/chapter-4-races-venues/)

Famous races and the places that made them: Lanzarote, Frankfurt, Lake Placid and Tenby, Noosa and Chicago from 1983, Klagenfurt, London and Hamburg, Madison, Busselton, Almere and St. Anthony's in Florida.

## 4.41 Lanzarote and Frankfurt

A race on a volcanic island and a finish in a medieval square.

### Test 1: Island and city

- The island's race was timed for the regional holiday. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: How Ironman Lanzarote got its start'; Slowtwitch, 'IRONMAN Lanzarote, Club La Santa part ways after 34 years')
- He kept going despite rejection letters from the Ironman organisers. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: How Ironman Lanzarote got its start'; Slowtwitch, 'IRONMAN Lanzarote, Club La Santa part ways after 34 years')
- He had raced in Kona and saw the likeness. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: How Ironman Lanzarote got its start'; Slowtwitch, 'IRONMAN Lanzarote, Club La Santa part ways after 34 years')
- Gasque negotiated the slots himself. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: How Ironman Lanzarote got its start'; Slowtwitch, 'IRONMAN Lanzarote, Club La Santa part ways after 34 years')
- The resort is a sports holiday centre on the island's north-west coast. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: How Ironman Lanzarote got its start'; Slowtwitch, 'IRONMAN Lanzarote, Club La Santa part ways after 34 years')
- The finish chute runs past the Römer, Frankfurt's medieval city hall. (Source: Triathlete, '2026 Ironman Frankfurt European Championship pro preview'; mytrail.run, 'IRONMAN Frankfurt guide')
- The run is four laps along the River Main. (Source: Triathlete, '2026 Ironman Frankfurt European Championship pro preview'; mytrail.run, 'IRONMAN Frankfurt guide')
- Persistence made the race happen in 1992. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: How Ironman Lanzarote got its start'; Slowtwitch, 'IRONMAN Lanzarote, Club La Santa part ways after 34 years')
- The race ends in the heart of the old town. (Source: Triathlete, '2026 Ironman Frankfurt European Championship pro preview'; mytrail.run, 'IRONMAN Frankfurt guide')
- The wind and climbs earned the race a name as the toughest on the circuit. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: How Ironman Lanzarote got its start'; Slowtwitch, 'IRONMAN Lanzarote, Club La Santa part ways after 34 years')

## 4.42 Lake Placid and Tenby

An Olympic village and a Welsh seaside town.

### Test 1: Village and seaside

- About 1,380 athletes finished that first race. (Source: Lake Placid tourism, 'IRONMAN Lake Placid' (lakeplacid.com); Adirondack.net, 'IRONMAN Lake Placid race weekend guide')
- The village hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics. (Source: Lake Placid tourism, 'IRONMAN Lake Placid' (lakeplacid.com); Adirondack.net, 'IRONMAN Lake Placid race weekend guide')
- It celebrates 28 years in 2027. (Source: Lake Placid tourism, 'IRONMAN Lake Placid' (lakeplacid.com); Adirondack.net, 'IRONMAN Lake Placid race weekend guide')
- Spectators crowd the harbour and seafront to watch. (Source: Pembrokeshire Herald, 'Tenby roars on thousands of athletes as IRONMAN Wales gets underway')
- The run passes through a town centre lined with spectators. (Source: Pembrokeshire Herald, 'Tenby roars on thousands of athletes as IRONMAN Wales gets underway')
- The course runs through Pembrokeshire. (Source: Pembrokeshire Herald, 'Tenby roars on thousands of athletes as IRONMAN Wales gets underway')
- Children aged three to 15 ran through Tenby's streets. (Source: Pembrokeshire Herald, 'Tenby roars on thousands of athletes as IRONMAN Wales gets underway')
- 1983, 1992 and 1999. (Source: CBC; Triathlete; Lake Placid tourism)
- The beach, the bike and the climb back into town. (Source: Pembrokeshire Herald, 'Tenby roars on thousands of athletes as IRONMAN Wales gets underway')
- Athletes finish where Olympic skaters raced. (Source: Lake Placid tourism, 'IRONMAN Lake Placid' (lakeplacid.com); Adirondack.net, 'IRONMAN Lake Placid race weekend guide')

## 4.43 Noosa

Australia's big Olympic-distance race, from 180 starters in 1983 to a five-day festival.

### Test 1: The Noosa Triathlon

- It quickly became the sport's spiritual home in Australia. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- They measured traffic flows looking for a 42.2 km course. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- A shorter run fitted the roads they had. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- Some of the cyclists got lost on the course. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- The Noosa local grew the race from a community event into a large one. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- It was her 11th Noosa title; her 1:46:57 would have placed her seventh in the men's pro race. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- Over 13,000 competitors take part across them. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- Gentle won by about ten minutes. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- 1983, 2018, 2023 and 2024. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))
- Helmets were optional and wetsuits banned at the first race. (Source: Noosa Triathlon, 'History: 40 Year Young' (noosatri.com); Triathlon Magazine Canada, Noosa Triathlon report (2024))

## 4.44 Chicago's Lakefront Race

How Jan Caille's race got its permits a day before the start.

### Test 1: The Chicago Triathlon

- He was a former water polo player working at a Chicago advertising agency. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- He organised a triathlon instead. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- About ten days before the race the head of the mayor's office approved it after all. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- They came through on 6 August 1983; the race was on the 7th. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- Julie Ann Olson won the women's race. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- Triathlete calls it the first triathlon in a major urban area. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- By then it included sprint, super-sprint and kids' races. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- 1982, April 1983, then the summer: reissued on 6 August, raced on the 7th. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- About 500, over 700, roughly double a year later, and over 9,200. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))
- The bike and run followed Lake Shore Drive. (Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Remembering Jan Caille and the Chicago Triathlon's Earliest Days' (triathlete.com))

## 4.45 Klagenfurt

IRONMAN Austria on the Wörthersee and an all-time best in 2011.

### Test 1: IRONMAN Austria

- The swim starts on the Wörthersee. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- He ran a 2:39:24 marathon after the day's fastest bike split. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- Van Lierde had run 7:50:27 at Roth. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- The year before, he had missed the record by 98 seconds. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- She had hoped for about nine hours. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- The Estonian finished third. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- It has run almost every year since 1998. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- 7:45:58, 7:57:39 and 8:08:17. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- Riesler rode the fastest women's bike but lost over ten minutes in the swim. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))
- Spectators line its banks as the swimmers come through. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Vanhoenacker crushes all-time record' (2011); Visit Klagenfurt, 'Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt' (visitklagenfurt.at))

## 4.46 London and Hamburg

Two city-centre races that count their athletes in thousands.

### Test 1: Big city races

- The modern event marked its 20th anniversary in 2016. (Source: AJ Bell, 'AJ Bell London Triathlon' (ajbell.co.uk); London Triathlon 20th-anniversary release (endurance.biz, 2015))
- Today more than 10,000 people take part each year. (Source: AJ Bell, 'AJ Bell London Triathlon' (ajbell.co.uk); London Triathlon 20th-anniversary release (endurance.biz, 2015))
- He had already won three world titles. (Source: AJ Bell, 'AJ Bell London Triathlon' (ajbell.co.uk); London Triathlon 20th-anniversary release (endurance.biz, 2015))
- The organisers gave the figures for the race's 20th anniversary. (Source: AJ Bell, 'AJ Bell London Triathlon' (ajbell.co.uk); London Triathlon 20th-anniversary release (endurance.biz, 2015))
- They were expected from more than 80 nations. (Source: World Triathlon, 2027 World Triathlon Championship Finals Hamburg event pages (triathlon.org); Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon news (2024))
- World Triathlon billed it as the world's biggest triathlon event. (Source: World Triathlon, 2027 World Triathlon Championship Finals Hamburg event pages (triathlon.org); Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon news (2024))
- Hundreds of thousands of spectators watched over the two days. (Source: World Triathlon, 2027 World Triathlon Championship Finals Hamburg event pages (triathlon.org); Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon news (2024))
- Over 80, 6,250, over 16,000 and over 500,000. (Source: World Triathlon, 2027 World Triathlon Championship Finals Hamburg event pages (triathlon.org); Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon news (2024))
- 3,000, more than 10,000 and more than 30,000. (Source: AJ Bell, 'AJ Bell London Triathlon' (ajbell.co.uk); London Triathlon 20th-anniversary release (endurance.biz, 2015))
- The race starts from the ExCeL centre. (Source: AJ Bell, 'AJ Bell London Triathlon' (ajbell.co.uk); London Triathlon 20th-anniversary release (endurance.biz, 2015))

## 4.47 Madison

IRONMAN Wisconsin: two lakes, a campus and a Frank Lloyd Wright building.

### Test 1: IRONMAN Wisconsin

- It was the Midwest's qualifier for the 2003 race in Hawaii. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- The start was at 7 a.m. on 15 September. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- The run later passes the shores of Lake Mendota. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- It had first been proposed almost sixty years earlier. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- The course climbs Observatory Hill on the campus. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- The marathon is two loops through downtown and the campus. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- It starts with a mass start in the water. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- 1938, 1997, 2002 and 2022. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- Swim, ride, then a marathon through the campus to the Capitol. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)
- The Dane County board rejected it by one vote at the time; it opened in 1997. (Source: Badger Herald, IRONMAN Wisconsin preview (2002); University of Wisconsin-Madison news; 608Today, '20 years of IRONMAN Wisconsin'; Visit Madison)

## 4.48 Busselton

IRONMAN Western Australia beside a jetty almost 2 km long.

### Test 1: IRONMAN Western Australia

- Busselton lies south of Perth, near Margaret River. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- The move let it use the shoreline of Geographe Bay. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- Slowtwitch gives 1,841 m. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- Age-group athletes gather under the jetty on race morning. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- It is a flat course, which brings its own challenges. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- The route leaves town through shaded terrain before opening onto the bay. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- Wind and heat are the main difficulties; it may be the flattest run in Ironman. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- Swim, ride and run in that order. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- 2, 4, 6 and 1,841. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')
- It reaches almost 2 km out to sea. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Western Australia: flat, fast and fierce in Busselton'; Slowtwitch, 'Destination IRONMAN Western Australia')

## 4.49 Almere

Europe's oldest long-distance race, flat and windy.

### Test 1: Challenge Almere-Amsterdam

- That is a year before the European union was founded. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- Challenge Family repeats the claim. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- Before that it was the Holland Triathlon. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- In 2003 and 2008. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- 1985, 1991, 1999, 2006, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- There are no downhill sections to ease the legs either. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- Challenge Family lists it on the race page. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- 1985, 2003, 2013 and 2023. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- 1978, 1983, 1984 and 1992. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')
- The race is called Challenge Almere-Amsterdam. (Source: World Triathlon, 'Almere - long, long, long but oh so good' (triathlon.org, 2017); Challenge Family, 'Challenge Almere-Amsterdam')

## 4.50 St. Anthony's

A Florida race that began as part of the US Triathlon Series in 1984.

### Test 1: St. Anthony's Triathlon

- St. Anthony's took ownership a year later. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- Chicago's first race had joined the same series a year earlier. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- They swam 1.5 km, rode 40 km and ran 10 km. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- They came from 41 states, the District of Columbia and eight countries. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- Dubrick, winner the two years before, was third. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- Eight countries were also represented. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- A sprint and the Meek & Mighty are held alongside it. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- 1984, 1985, 2018 and 2026. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- 8, 41, 600 and more than 3,000. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))
- St. Anthony's took over the race that year and moved it downtown. (Source: St. Anthony's Triathlon, 'One of North America's Iconic Triathlons' (satriathlon.com))

Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: race organisers (Noosa Triathlon, Challenge Family, St. Anthony's Triathlon, AJ Bell), World Triathlon, Visit Klagenfurt, Visit Madison, Triathlete, Slowtwitch, Trizone, Triathlon Magazine Canada.

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