IRONMAN 70.3 TURKEY BEGINS!
The Turkish race, one of the most prestigious races of the IRONMAN 70.3 calendar, will again take place in Antalya Belek. This year, competitors will also test their endurance on a 70.3-mile track, consisting of a 1.2 mile (1.9 km) swimming course, a 56-mile (90 km) cycling course, and a 13.1-mile (21 km) running course.
The IRONMAN 70.3 race, which has been held in Turkey since 2015, is also known as the Semi-IRONMAN, as it is half the length of the 140.6-mile IRONMAN race. The IRONMAN 70.3 offers amateurs around the world the opportunity to participate and test their skills
Prepare for IRONMAN 70.3 at Papillon Hotels
Home to the most beautiful sandy beaches of Antalya and known as the Turkish Riviera, Belek is famous for its nature, featuring pine forests, a mild climate throughout the year, and a wide range of 5-star accommodations. This race, taking place on October 31 in Belek, offers qualifying slots for the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
We invite you to Papillon Hotels, offering convenient access to the event area and suitable areas for preparation training. In addition, Papillon Hotels features Reborn SPA privileges, where athletes can relax and rejuvenate. Experience IRONMAN 70.3 surrounded by the magnificent nature of Antalya, with a unique combination of sports and entertainment!
What Facilities Are Available for Athletes at Papillon Hotels?
Papillon Hotels and Papillon Sports Centre, which have hosted numerous sports clubs and prestigious tournaments such as the world archery championship, has a wide array of facilities for athletes.
These include football fields in compliance with FIFA standards, a 550m2 heated swimming pool, a 500-metre walking and exercise track, a fitness centre with brand new equipment, open activity areas in pine forests with plenty of oxygen, a boxing studio with professional equipment – and much more! In addition, amenities such as the Cryo Cabin are at your service to relax and rejuvenate at Reborn SPA after your workouts!
Visit our Papillon Hotels Sports & Performance Concept page for details of the opportunities you can find for both amateur and professional athletes at Papillon Hotels!
History of the IRONMAN
Held in Turkey since 2015, the foundation of the IRONMAN race dates to 1978. The original Ironman concept allegedly arose at the 1977 Relay Race awards ceremony in Hawaii, when attendees discussed whether runners or swimmers are the fittest athletes. Cyclists were also involved in the fittest athlete debate: in a Sports Illustrated article, the US Navy’s John Collins demonstrated that Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx has the highest “oxygen intake” ever measured.
Collins suggested that the issue be resolved via a new race combining the three long-distance events already taking place on the island of Hawaii: The Waikiki Open Sea Swimming Race (2.4 miles / 3.9 km), the Oahu Cycle Race (115 miles / 185 km), and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles / 42.1 km). Collins proposed combining these three races, shortening the bike track by three miles to present the races so that one begins at the point where the other concludes. In this way, the 112-mile bike course around the island would begin where the swimming course ended, reaching the Aloha Tower, the starting point of the traditional Honolulu Marathon.
Organized quickly, the first race included just 15 participants. Participants were provided with a three-page handout of the race rules and courses before the start of the competition. On the last page, the now official motto of today’s IRONMAN was written:
“Swim 2.4 miles! Cycle 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag about it for the rest of your life.”
The name of the globally famous event comes from Collins: “…Whoever finishes first, will be called Iron Man.”
A year later, in 1979, nearly 50 athletes applied for the race; when it was postponed due to inclement weather, only fifteen competitors were able to join. Champion cyclist Lyn Lemaire, from Boston, earned her first IRONWOMAN title with a sixth overall ranking.
The IRONMAN races gained prominence thanks to Sports Illustrated’s Barry McDermott & photographer Peter Read Miller. McDermott devoted 10 pages to the race and, in the following year, more than hundred curious entrants applied to enter the competition.
In 1979, sports photographer @PeterReadMiller traveled to Hawai`i to document a race called the IRONMAN. His photos were published in Sports Illustrated and exposed the world to the sport. pic.twitter.com/jxI2zHkKwM
— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) February 18, 2019
The IRONMAN race, in the same format since the first iteration in Hawaii, today takes place on an international platform, together with its sister race, the IRONMAN 70.3, known as the Semi-IRONMAN.
How Can I Join?
You can participate in the competition by registering at https://www.ironman.com/im703-turkey-register. The IRONMAN 70.3 is half the length of the traditional IRONMAN, making it a suitable competition for amateur-scale athletes worldwide. You can participate individually or as part of a team.
How Are Teams Formed?
Teams can consist of a minimum of two and a maximum of three members. Relay athletes must successfully complete each discipline (swimming, cycling, and running) without skipping. There are three categories for relay races: Women’s, Men’s and Mixed. After registering yourself as the team captain for the relay race, which is found in almost every IRONMAN 70.3 course, you can also register one or two other team players as members.
