If you’re a triathlete looking for a challenging Ironman event, one will be coming to Old Orchard Beach next summer.
Ironman announced earlier this month that an Ironman 70.3, a triathlon covering 70.3 miles, will take place on Aug. 27, 2017, in Old Orchard Beach.
The event is the first of its kind to be held in Maine.
The race will consist of a 1.2-mile ocean swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
“We are pleased to add the landmark location of Old Orchard Beach to our Ironman 70.3 race series and look forward to growing the event in this historic beach community,” Ironman Vice President of Operations Jeff Edwards said in a statement.
“We are proud to offer this event in such an iconic Eastern Seaboard destination that is sure to provide athletes and their supporters a spectacular race experience,” Edwards added.
The challenging 70.3-mile event will start with the 1.2-mile swim along the shores of Old Orchard Beach.
The 56-mile bike ride will take participants through multiple York County communities and will feature flat and fast layouts and challenging rolling hills.
The bike ride will wind through Saco, Dayton, Lyman, Waterboro and Hollis before returning to Old Orchard Beach.
The half-marathon run will be along a flat out-and-back course, providing views of the Scarborough Marsh, with a portion of the course to be run along the Eastern Trail.
The finish line will be located in downtown Old Orchard Beach.
Participants also will have a chance to qualify for the 2018 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in South Africa.
About 35 slots from the Old Orchard Beach event will be offered for the September 2018 World Championships.
Ironman has offered more than 260 events across 42 countries since its inception in 1978.
Registration for the Maine race opened on Nov. 15, and participants can sign up by visiting www.ironman.com/maine70.3. For more information, email maine70.3@ironman.com or visit www.ironman.com.
