The IronKids Triathlon Series is a series of
triathlons owned or licensed by the
World Triathlon Corporation
The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) is a sports event promotion company owned by conglomerate Advance Publications, that produces the Ironman Triathlon, Ironman 70.3, the 5150 series of triathlon races, and other sports events.
History
In De ...
that is held around the U.S. for children ages 7 to 15. The series started in 1985 and since then more than 40,000 kids have participated, including famous alumni, such as
Lance Armstrong.
Competition
The
competition is divided by
gender and one-year age groups and in age-appropriate distances for
swimming,
biking
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...
and
running (in that order). Children 6 to 8 are classified as Juniors. 9 to 11 year old kids are classified as intermediate. The senior group is classified as 12 to 15. The junior group competes in a 50-yard swim, a 2-mile bike ride and a 500-yard run. The intermediate age group goes on a 150-yard swim, a 4-mile bike ride and a 1-mile run. The senior group races on a 300-yard swim, an 8-mile bike ride and a 2-mile run.
The age groups start in heats, with each boys' age groups starting before the girls' age group. The first age group to start are the 14-year-old boys, followed by the 14-year-old girls, and this continues down the age groups to the 6-year old girls, the final group to start.
In addition to the individual race, there are relay divisions where each leg of the triathlon is completed by a different child.
There is also a "challenged IronKids" division for disabled children.
Kid friendly
A unique feature of the IronKids Triathlon Series is that the
bike
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.
Bic ...
and run portions of the
triathlon are held on closed courses, i.e. not on streets open to
automobiles
A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods.
The year 1886 is regarded as ...
. This, and the high number of
volunteers who line the entire course, make this a relatively safe and kid-friendly event. The
bike
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.
Bic ...
and
run
Run(s) or RUN may refer to:
Places
* Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia
* Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant
People
* Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
courses are also run on multiple loops making them viewer friendly.
The IronKids Triathlon Series promotes friendly competition where "Every Finisher is a Winner." Everyone who competes in the triathlon receives a finishers T-shirt,
goodie bag, and finishers medal.
Notable alumni
Many world-class triathletes started their triathlon career in the IronKids Triathlon Series including four-time
Olympian
Olympian or Olympians may refer to:
Religion
* Twelve Olympians, the principal gods and goddesses in ancient Greek religion
* Olympian spirits, spirits mentioned in books of ceremonial magic
Fiction
* ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians'', fiction ...
Hunter Kemper
Hunter Craig Kemper (born May 4, 1976) is a triathlete from the United States. He won the silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games, behind Venezuela's Gilberto González, followed by winning gold four years later at the 2003 Pan American Ga ...
,
2003 ITU Triathlon World Championship silver medalist
Laura Reback, and Olympian
Nick Radkewich.
See also
*
Duathlon
*
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), consisting of a swim, a bicycle ride and a marathon run completed in that order, a total of . It is widely consider ...
*
Ironman World Championship
The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organized by the World Triathlon Corporation. It is the annual culmination of a series of Ironman triathlon qualification ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
IronKids Website
Triathlon competitions
Recurring sporting events established in 1985
Ironman Triathlon
Youth sport