CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — The 2023 Intermountain Health IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship is coming to town, and there’s a variety of ways to be part of it, from participating in an array of volunteer opportunities to cheering on racers as they achieve lifelong goals.
Race weekend begins Thursday, May 4, and runs through Saturday, May 6, with competitors and spectators arriving up to a week or more prior to the event.
One of the most popular ways to get involved with IRONMAN is by accepting an exciting opportunity to volunteer. It takes thousands of volunteers to bring IRONMAN athletes across the finish line. From VIP assistants and packet stuffers to bike techs and finish line catchers, there are volunteer opportunities across schedules, skill and activity levels.
Explore the variety of volunteer opportunities and feel the same level of excitement and passion as the athletes being supported by visiting the IRONMAN volunteer registration page.
Central to the event, IRONMAN Village serves both as the location for athlete check-in and the IRONMAN merchandise store. As with all IRONMAN events, preceding race day, the village is a hub for athletes to gather and interact with official IRONMAN partners and vendors and pick up final race day essentials and is open to the public.
On Friday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m., the IRONKIDS Fun Run provides young athletes a way to participate in the thrill of competition without the pressure of a competitive race. Registration is available now or at IRONMAN Village for the Diaper Dot Dash, Toddler Dot Trot, or a half-mile and 1-mile distance. Run distances are based on the child’s age and interests and are open to ages 6 months to 17 years. Participants will receive a T-shirt, race bib and medal.
Ready to watch the race unfold while cheering on some of the world’s toughest athletes? From Hurricane to Ivins, attendees can view competitors along the race’s 70.3-mile route.
It all starts at Sand Hollow State Park, where athletes will begin the the swim portion of the race just before sunrise. Spectators must ride the provided shuttle buses, which will start picking up passengers in Town Square around 5:30 a.m., to Sand Hollow in order to watch the swim. No personal vehicles will be allowed.
To view the pro start, it’s estimated that spectators should board a shuttle by 6 a.m. Shuttles going to and from Sand Hollow operate on a constant rotation and will depart as soon as they’re full. To watch the pro finish at Town Square, spectators should board a return shuttle no later than 9:30 a.m.
If you’re not making your way to the start, there are still plenty of ways to catch the action. Spectators can watch a livestream of the pro start, the age group starts and the entire race at IRONMAN Village in Town Square. Age group athletes will continue competing and crossing the finish line into the early afternoon.
From Hurricane to Ivins, the course offers a variety of spectator locations. Click here to see recommendations for safe and convenient race viewing.
After the swim and bike, athletes will make two loops through the streets of historic downtown St. George, providing spectators with plenty of opportunities to cheer them on – not once, but twice – in the middle of their 13.1-mile run.
The race course and some access roads will be closed to vehicle traffic, so you’ll need to park and walk to viewing areas. Remote locations are limited to local resident access only. Please account for traffic congestion, parking and walking distances when planning your day.
For information on the 2023 Intermountain Health IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship, including volunteer opportunities, event schedules and more, visit IRONMAN.greaterzion.com. Stay tuned for information on the upcoming IRONMAN traffic impacts and detours.
Written by JESSI BANG for St. George News.
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