2021 SUNBELT BAKERY IRONMAN 70.3 CHATTANOOGA PRESENTED BY MCKEE, A FAMILY BAKER RETURNS ON MAY 23, 2021

May 6, 2021 - CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Following more than a year of COVID-19-induced hiatus, the Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN® 70.3® Chattanooga presented by McKee, A Family Bakery triathlon returns to racing in the Scenic City on Sunday, May 23, 2021.

“We are pleased to see IRONMAN events return, which have a significant economic impact on Hamilton County businesses and our people. We commend IRONMAN on working to protect the health of our community and implement practices to increase safety for participants and residents,” said Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger.

The race will follow IRONMAN’s Safe Return to Racing Guidelines, a set of industry-leading guidelines prepared in accordance with standards for open-air endurance events from the World Health Organization (WHO) and guidance from the IRONMAN Global Medical Advisory Board that builds on the pillars of enhanced hygiene, screening and education, density reduction, touchpoint minimization and athlete self-reliance.

"Chattanooga is thrilled to be able to welcome IRONMAN back to our city again, not only because we're excited to see athletes get back to racing again but also because IRONMAN has put a tremendous amount of thought and consideration into adapting their event to keep our entire community safe," said Mayor Tim Kelly. "Our city is fortunate to have partners like IRONMAN who have demonstrated that they are committed to going above and beyond in planning a safe race and following public health guidelines."

“It’s hard to put it into words. Our passion for putting on events is only surpassed by our athlete’s passion for racing,” said Brian Myrick, Race Director for the Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga presented by McKee, a Family Bakery. “We have worked hard to implement our Safe Return to Racing Guidelines that will allow us to conduct these races safely and in doing so, the feeling of getting back to doing what we love in racing is priceless. We are learning event-by-event and we are looking forward to working with Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and Walker County to bring back racing under safe and enjoyable conditions for all involved.”

In addition to working with Mayor Tim Kelly’s administration, the Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN® 70.3® Chattanooga presented by McKee, A Family Bakery triathlon team has worked closely with the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Walker County Ga. and the State of Georgia to make sure guidelines set forth by those agencies ensure a great race experience for everyone involved.

What to Know: 

• Popular early-season IRONMAN 70.3 event offers participants opportunity to compete with a scenic, mountainous backdrop and riverfront views.
• The event is expected to attract more than 7,300 people, including visitors, athletes and spectators
• The Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN® 70.3® Chattanooga presented by McKee, A Family Bakery triathlon will offer 150 qualifying slots to the 2021 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission taking place in St. George, Utah; There will also be an additional 50 Women For Tri qualifying slots up for grabs for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship with further details available here
• Volunteering is one of the best ways for friends and families to see their athletes on race day. Anyone who’s interested, please email imchattanooga@ironmanvolunteers.com or submit an application at www.ironman.com/volunteer.
• IRONMAN will return to Chattanooga when it will host the 2021 IRONMAN North American TriClub Championship at the 2021 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga presented by McKee a Family Bakery on September 26.

The Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga presented by McKee, A Family Bakery will take athletes on a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run south of downtown Chattanooga, into North Georgia and Walker County, providing incredible views of Lookout Mountain and the Tennessee River. Athletes will take on a new swim course in the Tennessee River this year when they swim directly down river, making for faster swim times. The bike course offers a gorgeous view of Lookout Mountain as participants head out 11 miles south of town for a rolling 34-mile loop in north Georgia. The day ends with a chance to enjoy Chattanooga’s many tourist attractions as athletes take in the Tennessee Riverwalk and the beautiful Riverfront Parkway during the two-loop run.

For more information about the 2021 Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga presented by McKee, A Family Bakery visit, www.ironman.com/im703-chattanooga. Media related inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

About Chattanooga
Chattanooga offers an incredible combination of breathtaking scenic beauty, revitalized riverfront; 13-mile paved Riverwalk scattered with attractions, parks, restaurants, riverboats, outdoor adventures, rich history, numerous accommodations, restaurants to please every palate, thriving arts scene, shopping and many annual events that provide plenty of year-round fun.  Visitor information is available at: www.visitchattanooga.com/

About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf®, Ultra-Trail® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com. 

About Advance
Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.