Real Racine Welcomes Ironman 70.3 Racine Triathlon

           The Racine area will host 2,300 athletes from around the world this Sunday, July 21 for the Ironman 70.3 Racine Triathlon.

            In this premiere, international event, athletes will compete in a 1.2-mile Lake Michigan swim, a 56-mile bicycle ride and a 13.1-mile run.  North Beach, 100 Kewaunee St., Racine, is the starting line, finish line and transition point between all activities. The beach is also the site of the Ironman Village athlete service area.

            The first wave of competitive swimmers will enter the water at 7 a.m. The first finishers are expected about 10:30 a.m. The competition is expected to be wrapped up by about 5 p.m.

            This year's sold-out event includes some of the sport's top professionals. Australians Paul Ambrose and Tim Reed, who finished the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Racine professional men's division in second and third place, respectively, are scheduled to return.

            Also returning this year are Jessica Jacobs of Green Bay, Wis., winner of the professional women's division in 2012, and Miranda "Rinny" Carfrae, a 2010 Ironman World Champion and winner of the Spirit of Racine Triathlon professional women's division in 2007.

            Overall, the 2013 field includes male and female athletes representing 45 states and the District of Columbia plus 24 countries.  The participants range in age from 18 to 82. Bob Scott, a Naperville, Ill. fitness instructor and a veteran triathlete, is this year's oldest expected entrant.

            Athlete check-in and an Ironman Village will be at Racine's Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St., from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.