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St. Croix Ironman Triathlon

By Chris Goodier

After discovering St. Croix's beauty, athletes get to know its "beast" on the first Sunday of May each year when they participate in the island's Ironman® 70.3™ Triathlon. The beast is a notorious hill that challenges competitors with a 600-foot bicycle climb up a hot stretch of steep, winding pavement 21 miles into the bike portion of the 70.3-mile race. They tackle it for the potential gain that accompanies the pain: a chance to qualify for the granddaddy of races, the Ironman world championship in Hawaii. There's also a purse of $50,000 divided among the top finishers that organizers say is one of the largest in the sport.

Some 600-800 triathletes, including professionals and world champions, come from around the globe every year to compete — only about 40 participants are local. Islanders go all out to welcome the lycra-clad visitors by throwing a street party called Jump Up on Friday night, complete with steel pan bands and Mocko Jumbies dancing through Christiansted.

At dawn on race day, the athletes swim over to Protestant Cay — an island in the middle of Christiansted harbor — for the first leg, a 1.24-mile swim to the town's wharf. Getting out of the water, they transition to the 56-mile bike race and cycle a giant loop spanning two-thirds of the island. The final stretch is a 13.1-mile foot race that brings finishers back into downtown Christiansted, where crowds cheer their outstanding accomplishment.

The 2008 event date is: May 4, 2008

Distance: 1.2 mi. swim * 56 mi. bike * 13.1 mi. run

Race Director:
Tom Guthrie
St. Croix Ironman 70.3
P.O. Box 3955
Christiansted, USVI 00822
Phone: 340 773-4470
Fax: 340 773-7400
Email: stcroixtri@yahoo.com