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Clearwater in running for Ironman race

Organizers meet with city officials this week to discuss the prospects of bringing a half-distance version of the endurance test in the fall of 2006.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published February 13, 2005

CLEARWATER - Even halved, it's a heck of an endurance test.

Swim the length of almost 18 football fields. Bike the distance from Clearwater to Sarasota. Run over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, twice.

And do it all one after another, in about four hours.

As Americans struggle with their weight, Ironman triathlons are a benchmark of the limits of human strength. One race appears headed for Clearwater.

Organizers of the grueling event are interested in bringing a half-distance Ironman to the waterfront city as soon as next year.

Executives with the Tarpon Springs-based World Triathlon Corporation will meet city officials this week to discuss the prospects of hosting a race next fall. A mix of swimming, cycling and running, Ironman is regarded as one of world's toughest physical tests.

Since 1989, the trademark has been owned by local entrepreneur and ophthalmologist Dr. James P. Gills, founder of St. Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute in Tarpon Springs and builder of the Trinity community in southwest Pasco County.

Also an accomplished athlete, Gills, 70, is the only man to have completed six double Ironman triathlons and five Hawaii Ironman triathlons, according to race officials.

His son Pit recently contacted Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard to gauge the city's interest in holding an Ironman.

"With this being in our back yard and Clearwater growing to be another great beach destination, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity for a race," said Blair LaHaye, a spokeswoman with Ironman. "It certainly would make life easier to hold a race here."

Ironman officials are still working out details, but LaHaye said the race most likely would be a half Ironman, possibly the world championship. Competitors would participate in a 1.2-mile ocean swim, a 56-mile bike race and 13.1-mile run - half the traditional Ironman distances.

About 2,000 athletes from around the world would participate. Hibbard said he would expect a week's worth of related fanfare.

There also would be television opportunities. Several Ironman races are televised on the Outdoor Life Network. Last year's full Ironman championship was broadcast nationally on NBC.

"For Clearwater, this is like getting the Super Bowl. It really is," Hibbard said. "We've got a wonderful place to show people. They're going to come, and they're going to say, "Wow.' "

Word about a possible Ironman began to filter through the local triathlon community late last week. Rue Morgan, who founded the 1,000-plus member St. Pete Mad Dogs triathlon club, said racers are excited about the prospect of an area event.

"If the World Triathlon Corporation puts it together, it will be a first class triathlon," said Morgan, 62, who has competed in Ironmans. "There's no doubt about that. They won't risk their name on something that might not work. They don't have to."

City officials expect to ink a five-year agreement with Ironman beginning in 2006. They have started to examine potential race routes for the event, which may be based at Sand Key Park.

"We think conceptually it's doable," said Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar, who said the Pinellas Trail may also be used. "But we've got a lot of work ahead of us yet."

Barrie Coates, the current president of the St. Pete Mad Dogs, said the club would support the race. But Coates, who has been involved with triathlons for about 20 years, is curious how organizers will map out its 56-mile cycling course.

Most Ironmans start in a city, but often move out into a less crowded area that is easier to block off.

"We have the hotels. We can have a beautiful swim and a beautiful run. But where's the bike course going to be?" asked Coates, who finished the Orlando half Ironman in 5 hours, 48 minutes. "You're talking about a heck of a challenge."

Art Halttunen, a St. Petersburg resident who finished second in his age division in the Orlando half Ironman, said a Clearwater race would give local competitors an advantage.

He thinks it could work in Clearwater.

"Yeah, you'd know the area," said Halttunen, 54. "But logistically, you don't have to fly somewhere a day or two beforehand. You can stay in your house, not some motel, and be ready to go the day of the race."

The Ironman, which started in Hawaii in 1978, now has 27 sanctioned races on six continents. There are already two races in Florida, a full Ironman in November in Panama City and a spring half Ironman in Orlando.

The crowning race, in Kona, Hawaii, comes with a $100,000 first place prize.

Clearwater's Ironman could become the championship for the lesser distance, Hibbard said. Currently, there is no half Ironman championship.

"We're talking about some sort of championship race for the half Ironman distance," said LaHaye, the Ironman spokeswoman. "But it's too early to confirm it's going to be in Clearwater."

Either way, the event would attract some 2,000 racers during one of the city's slower tourist times. Hibbard envisions a series of events to show off the city in the days before the event.

"It's something I'm hopeful to get all of our citizens excited about," said Hibbard, who compared a prospective Ironman in Clearwater to St. Petersburg's landing of an open-wheel car race. "You're talking about bringing people in literally from all over the world."

Aaron Sharockman can be reached at 727 445-4160 or asharockman@sptimes.com

The race: 1.2-mile swim, 56 miles on bike, 13.1-mile run

Competitors train 18-24 hours weekly, on average.

Their regimen: swim 7 miles, cycle 225 miles, run 48 miles

Winners finish in close to four hours

Back-of-pack competitors need 10 hours or more

Top finishers qualify for the full Ironman championship in Hawaii.

Source: World Triathlon Corp.

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:07:16]