- held only 20 minutes off the Phoenix airport
- hot, windy and dry climate (very important to hydrate properly!)
- one loop swim is held in Tempe lake, calm conditions, deep water start and wetsuits allowed, great for spectators (views from shores and bridges available)
- 3 loop cycling course is mostly flat, the wind being the most difficult factor, expect crowded roads on the last loop passing or being passed…
- 2 loop run is mostly flat and on hard surface, there are no out and back portions, if you are very competitive, make sure, somebody is giving you splits
- it is only 4 hours drive from the biggest local attraction – Grand Canyon – great to hike after the race!
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Ironman Western Australia, 28.11.2004
http://www.xtri.com/article.asp?id=1400
- last IM of the race, held 2 hours from Perth in Busselton – nice town by the ocean
- one loop swim with deep water start around the wooden jetty offers great view for the spectators, expect big waves, wetsuits allowed
- absolutely flat bike course on 3 loops with 8 out and back portions, wind may be a factor
- 3 loop run is also flat and goes around the ocean – great views
- great whalewatching and for early birds, you can meet cangaroos right next to your door
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- independent race on a small island south of Japan with more then a 20 years of history
– subtropical climate with temperatures between 30 and 34°C and high humidity, ideal preparation for Kona
– 3km swim with wetsuits in crystal clear and warm (24°C) ocean
– 155km bike with rolling profile and very strong winds has 1500m of total elevation, 2 loops, riding on the left!
– the race ends with japanesse favourite discipline – the whole marathon, expect heat with no shade and 800m elevation
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- held in the middle of Madison, this race has unique amount of spectators the whole day long
- one loop wetsuit swim in Lake Monona is usually pretty calm
- quite unique transitions are using the Conference building Monona Terrace for changing your race gear. You are even running and cycling several floors of parking lot
- two loop bike course is anything but flat, expect very frequent changing of gears positions and surfaces…
- two loop run takes you through crowds of spectators, all kinds of surface and several sharp hills
- great finish line with beutiful building of Capitol behind you
- you can expect all kinds of wheather from cold and rainy to extreme heat
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- this race takes you to beautiful nature of northwestern USA around Coeur d´Alene town
- 2 loop swim in cold „glacier“ water lake is very calm and fast
- you have a little bit of everything on the bike – flats, hills, sun, shadow, winds…
- undulating run is has great views of lake and great atmosphere
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- the first race of the season held on small island of Langkawi, extreme heat and humidity, forget that Kona is hot
- non wetsuit swim on two loops with deep water start from local Jetty, the ocean is usually calm and quite warm (29°C)
- 3 out and back loops on the bike are undulating without extreme hills, takes you through local rural areas, be aware of monkeys on the road collecting your tossed bottles
- Expect real ordeal on 3 loop run with only a little shade, temperatures surpassing 35°C and very high humidity
- you can visit crocodile farm, take a cable car to highest hill for great views or just enjoy great beaches here…
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- held on small island of Goto in southern Japan
- wetsuit swim in very cold ocean is usually quite rough, make sure to get used to cold water and big waves
- bike is quite hilly and technical, narrow roads with great surface
- 3 loop run is mostly flat
- - quite warm and humid climate, unpredictable winds
- - great japanesse food and local spas to reward yourself after the race
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- on of the oldest races on the planet held in small town of Taupo
- one loop wetsuit swim in clear and cold lake, may occasionally get quite choppy
- mostly flat bike course on rough surface, where wind is your biggest fear
- undulating running loop is offering you great views of the lakes and fantastic spectator support
- very unpredictable weather ranging from dry heat to cold stormy rain
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- this oldest qualifying race in the world is the last chance to get the slot for Kona every year, held in small town of Penticton, nestled between two big lakes in southwestern Canada, great spectators!
- coldwater wetsuit lake swim with deepwater start
- one of the most spectacular bike courses in the world! Long climbs with great views.
- flat runs takes you along local lakes
- the weathe can change quickly, but is usually nice and warm
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- the first race after Kona for anyone, who didn´t qualify and is still willing to race in the autumn
- ocean swim with beach start is always wetsuits allowed for age-groups, pros being at risk of being hit badly not having them
- one loop bikecourse is absolutely flat, which is more exhausting then one would expect
- two loop run is hot and flat as well
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- held in Klagenfurt – great holiday resort in austrian Alps laid on the banks of Worthersee
- one loop swim with deep water (pros) and beach start (age-groups) in crystal clear and quite warm water, swim finishes with 800 metres in narrow canal with great opportunity for spectators to get close to you
- two loop, extremely fast bike course, mostly flat with one long hill and even longer and fast descent, great surface
- two loop run with great atmosphere is partly shaded from usuall summer heat
- huge amount of activities to relax after the race aroudn Worthersee
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- held in a turistic island of Florianopolis in the middle of brazil´s coastline
- one loop swim with a beach start against the rising sun is very spectatular, wetsuits allowed
- two loop bike course offers a little bit of everything – flats, hills, descends, turns, you won´t get bored here
- mostly flat run course is also taking you to a section with a few short and very steep hills, where any close race is usually decided
- expect summer temperatures with high humidity
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- the oldest long distance race in Europe is held in Almere, half an hour from Amsterdam, the race is actually running below the sea level on artifically regained land from the ocean
- one loop wetsuit swim can be quite rough, great finish in small marina
- totally flat course, where you only fight the usuall winds
- two loop flat run and usually mild weather is giving you great chances of finishing with your new Ironman distance PB
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- koná se na jihovýchodě JAR ve městě Port Elizabeth, kam přesídlil po prvních 2 ročnících, konaných v Kapském Městě
- teploty mezi 25 a 30°C, slunečno a silný vítr – klima hodně podobné Kanárským ostrovům
- plavání na dvou okruzích v moři, silné přílivové vlny, neopreny povoleny, start a průběh do druhého okruhu na pláži
- cyklistika je vedena na třech zvlněných okruzích, částečně pěkné výhledy na moře
- běh na třech okruzích s jedním výrazným stoupáním v každém
- celková úroveň pořadatelsky velmi dobrá, startujících každým rokem přibývá, jihoafričani jsou národ vytrvalců a i evropany to sem hodně táhne
- k atrakcím patří Addo park s volně žijícími slony, žirafami, nosorožci, lvi… i lví farma nedaleko od otočky kola
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- held on small volcanic island called „asian Hawaii“ – popular holiday resort
- swim in the cold ocean below nice and tall seacliff, wetsuits allowed
- one bike loop takes you around the whole island, flat to undulating
- 3 run loops are mostly undulating with few tough hills
- expect possible heat, but certainly high humidity
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- official World Ironman Championship held every October on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kona, you have to qualify for this one!
- non wetsuits swim on one loop in warm ocean water is usually quite calm with ocassional tidal waves and seaturtle views
- bike is quite challenging with some tough hills and super strong gutsy wind
- run starts with flat portion along Alii Drive and then turns into unulating lava fields with real heat and humidity, most emotional finishing straight of all races
- the best attractions: ocean and lava
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