3,000 Athletes Begin IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina

The IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina triathlon brought thousands of athletes to the Wilmington area on Oct. 17, with a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride through Wrightsville Beach and Pender County, and a 13.1-mile run finishing downtown. Organizers said the event was expected to draw roughly 3,000 to 3,500 competitors and visitors, support local businesses, and generate an estimated $8 million in regional economic activity; the IRONMAN Foundation has also distributed grants to community groups. The race required extensive volunteer and local-organizer support and led to road closures, traffic restrictions and detours across Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach and parts of Pender County.