History of the IRONMAN

The history of the IRONMAN started on Hawaii as Major John Collins decided to find out what sportsman – the swimmer, the biker or the runner – was the one in best shape. So 1978 the IRONMAN distance – 3.8 km swimming, 180 km biking and 42.195 km rinnung – has been completed by 12 athletes for the first time.

Already in the following year the first woman – Lynn Lemaire – faced her first IRONMAN. She did well and finshed 5th in total.

Since its 3rd year the IRONMAN has been interesting for media as well. So the race in 1980 with 103 participants has been broadcasted by the US TV-station ABC.
Kärnten IRONMAN Austria

1998: 124 athletes
1999: 802 athletes
2000: 1.138 athletes
2001: 1.452 athletes
2002: 1.599 athletes
2003: 1686 athletes
2004: 1891 athletes
2005: fully booked with 2200 athletes
2006: fully booked with 2400 athletes, on the starting line are 2200 athletes
2007: fully booked with 2400 athletes and a waiting list with 200 persons
2008: fully booked with 2400 athletes – in 19 hours
2009: fully booked with 2800 athletes – in 92 minutes
2010: fully booked with 2800 athletes – in 62 minutes                                                               2011:  fully booked with 2800 athletes – in 30 minutes
2012: fully booked with 2800 athletes – in 26 minutes

Besides the IRONMAN Florida the IRONMAN Austria is the biggest race of the world series.

Consumtion at aid stations

Water: 25.000 litre
Coke: 8.000 litre
Electrolyt-drinks: 10.000 litres
60.000 cups
15.000 bottles
Energy bars: 10.000 pcs
Energy gels: 10.000
Bananas: 3 tons
Oranges: 1,5 tons
2.000 portions grilled chicken
2.000 pcs pizza
50.000 sponges for athletes
3.331,5 m² area of tents

At the Pasta Party on Friday before the race athletes are consuming about 2 tons of pasta and 800 heads of lettuce.
Numbers

About 100.000 spectators on race day in the IRONMAN City and along the race course.

20.000 noisemakers.

6 speakers and DJs are entertaining the spectators more than 17 hours nonstop.

3 video-walls, 120.000 watt sound machines and more than 40 km cables are utilised.
Tourism

Each of the 2.200 athletes out of 43 nations is bringing 3 to 4 companions. The resulting 7.000 persons are bringing about 42.000 overnight stays in Klagenfurt and surrounding area. The durance of stay is about 7.9 days and 6.9 overnight stays. The economic benefit is 9.4 mio Euros.

Budget:
2,2 Mio. Euro (in 1st year 300.000 Euros)

Demographic numbers:
Average age of participants: 38 years
83% of the participants are between 25 and 44 years
male: ca. 90%, female: ca. 10%
family status: ca. 60% married, ca. 30% singles, ca. 10% devorced
education: ca. 20% compulsory school, ca. 55% school leaving examination, ca. 25% university degree

Prize money for Top 10 men and women:
U$ 75.000,-

World record holders/fastest times:
Men:                     Marino Vanhoenacker               7:45:58 at IRONMAN Austria 2011
Women:              Chrissie Wellington                   8:33:56 at IRONMAN South Africa 2011