Parks & Recreation

Foster Grant Ironman 70.3 World Championship 2009

Mark your calendars now for this year's Ironman World Championship 70.3. The race will be held on Nov. 14, 2009!

To send feedback or comments about the Ironman event, please e-mail us.

Latest Updates

• Traffic Impact Notice
• Press Release: Residents Should Plan for Ironman 70.3 Traffic Impacts Saturday, Nov. 14
• PSTA Bus Detours and Service Changes

Quick Links

• Ironman Live Web Site
• Image Gallery from 2008 Ironman World Championship

Quick Facts

• When: Saturday, November 14, 2009, beginning at 7:00 a.m. (6:45 a.m. Pro start)
• What: A 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run. Competitors have 8 hours to finish the race; cutoff times are applied to each segment of the race.
• Where: Clearwater Beach, FL, one of the world's top tourist destinations.
• Who: approximately 1,800 athletes from around the globe.
• Purse: A total of $100,000 is split among the top 10 men and women.
• Training: During targeted training months, the average Ironman triathlete spends 15 to 20 hours per week preparing for this event. Many competitors also cross-train with weight training, stretching and yoga, among other activities.
• Weather: Average temperatures on race day range from 58 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Internet: Triathlon fans can follow every stroke, spin and stride live on race day by visiting www.ironmanlive.com. Real-time race results, live audio and video updates by well-known triathletes, as well as text updates and photos are available.

Maps and Estimated Times

• Full Event Route
• Run Course
• Swim Course
• Bike Course
• Estimated Bike Times

Getting Around on Race Day

The triathlon will take place beginning at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, November 14. The event begins and ends near Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. The 1.2-mile swim in the gulf will take place first; followed by the 56-mile bike which travels throughout northern and mid-Pinellas County and will finish with the 13.1-mile run in downtown Clearwater.

In order to prepare yourself for race day, please take some time to familiarize yourself with the race route, learn about the areas to avoid and get some helpful race day driving tips. You will also learn about ways to become involved with triathlon.

Bike Route
The bike route is the longest part of the race and travels from Clearwater Beach, to north Pinellas County, then to Largo and back to Clearwater Beach. The route will affect the following roads and bridges on race day: the Memorial Causeway Bridge, Drew Street, Countryside Boulevard, McMullen Booth Road, East Lake Road, the Bayside Bridge, Roosevelt Boulevard, Belcher Road, and Gulf to Bay. Lane and road closures will begin at 5 a.m. throughout the county. Signalized intersections along the route will have police officers assisting drivers and monitoring the bike riders.  If you come upon a non-signalized intersection, be sure yield to bicyclists. The rules of road apply as bikes have the right-of-way on the course. If possible, avoid traveling near the route, as traffic problems will arise. The bike portion of the race will be complete by 12:30 p.m.

Also, Clearwater Beach road closures will begin at 3 a.m. Cars will not be permitted to travel south of the roundabout due to closures on Coronado Drive and South Gulfview Boulevard. Be prepared and plan ahead if you need to leave the beach.

Run Route
The run route takes place primarily on the beach and in downtown Clearwater.  The run route will impact the Harbor Oaks neighborhood. Affected roads in that area include the Memorial Causeway Bridge, Chestnut Street, East Avenue, Turner Street, Druid Road W, Magnolia Drive, Druid Road S, Orange Avenue, and Oak Avenue. If you live in the area and need to leave your home, please do so by 9 a.m. There will be limited access to the neighborhood. The route will re-open completely by 4 p.m.

Runners will do two loops beginning at Pier 60 and will travel through downtown and into Harbor Oaks and back to Pier 60. To access Morton Plant Hospital, drivers will have to use Pinellas Street.

• Cones will be placed in the Harbor Oaks area at 5 a.m.
• Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. there will be limited access out of the run course area. Officers will begin to arrive at their posts at 8:30 a.m. and will allow cars to leave depending on the gaps between runners.
• The run portion of the race will begin at approximately 9 a.m., the runners will be making two full laps through the Harbor Oaks neighborhood.
• The north side of Magnolia Drive will be used by runners, and the south side of Magnolia Drive will have limited access to leave and travel east.
• Magnolia Drive west of Bay Avenue will be blocked. Vehicles will be unable to travel on Magnolia Drive between Bay Avenue and West Druid.
• Traffic should utilize Myrtle Avenue because Fort Harrison Avenue will be closed from Chestnut Street to Jeffords Street. Cars will be allowed to cross Fort Harrison Avenue when it is safe.
• Do not park on the street anywhere along the route including Magnolia Drive, S. Druid Road, Turner Street, Orange Avenue, Jeffords Street and Oak Avenue.
• S. Druid Road will be closed between Bay Avenue and Jeffords Street.

Areas to Avoid
The following intersections and areas will be affected or blocked on race day and there will be significant traffic delays. If possible find an alternate route to your destination to avoid waiting in long lines of traffic.

• Coronado Drive at the Clearwater Beach Roundabout, 3 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Court Street, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Drew Street and Keene Road, 7:15 to 9:30 a.m.
• Drew Street and Belcher Road, 7:15 to 10 a.m.
• Countryside Boulevard and State Road 580, 7:15 to 9:45 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Curlew Road, 7:30 to 11:15 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Keystone Road, 8 to 11 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Enterprise Road, 8:15 to 11:30 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Drew Street, 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Roosevelt Boulevard, 8:30 a.m. to noon
• East Bay Drive and Belcher Road, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Belcher Road and Belleair Road, 8:45 to 12:15 p.m.
• Belcher Road and Gulf to Bay Boulevard, 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Gulf to Bay Boulevard to Clearwater Beach, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

North County
If you plan to use the eastbound lanes of Keystone Road between U.S. 19 and McMullen Booth Road, find an alternate route and avoid the area if you can.

Belcher Road
If you live along east side of Belcher Road please use U.S. 19 as your north-south route.  It will be difficult to exit your neighborhoods onto Belcher Road to go north bound or to turn left out of your neighborhoods and travel south.

East Lake Area Detours
The median openings along East Lake Road between Tampa Road and Trinity Boulevard will be blocked throughout the duration of the bike portion of the race. If you live in the area or know someone that does, plan ahead and learn the detour routes.

• Residents living west of East Lake Road will be able to travel south on East Lake Road to access Tampa Road.
• Residents that live east of East Lake Road can travel north on East Lake Road, turn right on Trinity Boulevard and make a U-turn at the second median opening to go south.
• Residents living east of East Lake Road can also utilize East Lake Woodlands Parkway to access Tampa Road.
• At McMullen Booth Road and State Road 580, traffic traveling on McMullen Booth Road will be detoured east on State Road 580 to Tampa Road where cars will able to access East Lake Road.

Bayside Bridge Detour
Traffic traveling south bound on the McMullen Booth will be unable to use to the Bayside Bridge during the race. Cars will be detoured to go west on Drew St., south on U.S. 19. When cars get to Roosevelt Boulevard, exit and make a U-turn under the over pass and go east on Roosevelt Boulevard to get onto 49th Street.

East Bay Drive
The median openings along East Bay Drive between the Bayside Bridge and Belcher Road will be blocked on race day.

Helpful Driving Hints for Race Day
To ease congestion on race day, drivers should leave early to allow for extra traffic and lane closures. The bike course will re-open at 12:30 p.m. and the run course will re-open at 3:30 p.m. Since the race route does not affect U.S. 19, use it as the main north-south route. Signalized intersections along the route will have police officers assisting motorists and will let vehicles through when and if it is safe to do so. Motorists who come upon a non-signalized intersection should yield to bicyclists as bikes have right-of-way on the course.

Drivers will have to share multi-lane roads with bicyclists. Throughout most of the route, cyclists will be in the outside curb lane and vehicles will travel in the remaining lanes. On McMullen Booth Road, cyclists will be traveling on the inside median lane, and vehicles will be traveling in the outside lanes.

How to Get to U.S. 19
East-West roads that will be open:

• Tampa Rd. will be open to traffic. Cars will be able to travel eastbound in the two inside lanes, and westbound lanes will not be affected.
• Tarpon Ave./Keystone Rd. from Alternate U.S. 19 to Hillsborough County.

East-West roads that will be affected by soft closures (police will monitor and allow traffic through when safe):

• East Bay Dr. with some soft closures at Belcher Rd., 8:52 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Gulf to Bay Blvd. with soft closures at Belcher Rd., 8:58 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.
• Drew St. with soft closures at Belcher Rd., 7:21 a.m. to 9:25 a.m.
• Sunset Point Rd. from Alternate U.S. 19 to McMullen Booth Rd. with soft closure at Belcher Rd., 7:25 a.m. to 9:33 a.m.
• State Route 580 with a soft closure at Countryside Blvd., 7:30 a.m. to 9:42 a.m.

PSTA Bus Detours and Service Changes

Parking

View Map of Beach Parking Lots

The Pier 60 lot will be closed the week leading up to the event. The Marina lot will close at 5 a.m. on race day. The South Gulfview Boulevard lot and the Sand Key lots are open all week. Volunteers and spectators are encouraged to park in downtown Clearwater and take the shuttles. Downtown parking includes City Hall, 112 S. Osceola Ave., Pinellas County Court House Lot, corner of Chestnut Street and Oak Avenue, Garden Avenue Garage, 28 N. Garden Ave., and the Municipal Services Garage, 100 S. Myrtle Ave.

Shuttles 

Shuttles will run continuously from 4 a.m. until 6 p.m. on race day from the following locations:

• Municipal Services Garage, East Avenue and Pierce Street
• Pinellas County Court House, corner of Chestnut Street and Oak Avenue
• Garden Avenue Garage, 28 N. Garden Ave.
• Oak Avenue Lot, corner of Chestnut Street and Oak Avenue
• Ft. Harrison Avenue Lot, corner of Chestnut Street and Osceola Avenue
• Sand Key Park
• Hamden Drive and Devon Drive

Spectator Information

Course:

Swim - 1.2 miles/1.9 km
The swim course is an elongated rectangle over one-half mile long and 100 yards wide. With a projected water temperature of 72-76 degrees on race day, wetsuits will likely be permitted.

Bike - 56 miles/90.1 km
After exiting Transition 1 at Pier 60, athletes head west across the Memorial Causeway and through downtown Clearwater. The bike course is extremely fast and includes a few challenging inclines over the Memorial Causeway and Bayside bridges. Three (3) aid stations will keep the athletes well fueled during the bike portion.

Run - 13.1 miles/21.2 km
The run is a two-loop course that is both challenging and scenic. The route incorporates two steep ascents up the Memorial Causeway Bridge with long stretches along Causeway Boulevard and the Pinellas Trail (paved). The run turnaround, located at the 6.5-mile mark, is back at Pier 60, making this a spectator-friendly route. Run course aid stations are positioned at every mile. The run finishes at Clearwater Beach, just south of Pier 60.

Spectator Viewing:

6:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Ironman Live Broadcast - Watch the race unfold on the Jumbotron while relaxing on the beach at Pier 60 behind the Transition Area.

6:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Swim Start

7:05 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. Swim Finish/Transition 1 - See the athletes exit the water, change into their cycling gear and head out Causeway Boulevard.

9:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Transition 2/Run Start - Watch for the NBC helicopter and Pace Vehicle as they bring the leaders in from the bike course. Age group athletes will follow over the next several hours.

9:50 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Run Turnaround - Athletes will begin their second run lap at the turnaround near Pier 60.

10:25 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Finish Line - Cheer on the finishers as we crown this year’s Ironman 70.3 World Champions and as more than 1,800 athletes cross the finish line!

Race Day Tips

Athlete Tracking - Track your favorite athlete's progress at www.ironman.com or stop by the Athlete Tracking Tent near the Race Office at Pier 60.

Race Cut-Off Times - Swim: 9:05 a.m.; Bike: 12:30 p.m.; Run: 3:30 p.m.

Lost & Found - The Volunteer Check-In Tent located at the approach to Pier 60.

Visitor & Event Information - The Visitor Information Center is located at the approach to Pier 60.

Parking & Shuttle Service - Because parking at Pier 60 is extremely limited, we are providing shuttle bus service on race day from the following parking venues:

1. Sand Key Park
2. Downtown Clearwater
   • Municipal Services Garage - corner of South East Ave. & Pierce St.
   • Courthouse Lot - corner of Chestnut St. & Oak Ave.
   • Oak Ave. Lot - corner of Court St. & Oak Ave.
   • County Parking Garage - corner of Court St. & South Osceola Ave.
   • Ft. Harrison Lot - corner of Chestnut St. & Ft. Harrison Ave.
   • Court St. Lot - corner of Court St. & South Osceola Ave.

Shuttle buses will run to Pier 60 from these parking locations beginning at 4:00 a.m. on race day and will operate until 6:00 p.m.

Clearwater Municipal Marina - On race day the marina lot will be monitored by an attendant from 5 a.m. until approximately 4 p.m. The Coronado Dr. and Roundabout entrance to the marina will be blocked off at 3 a.m. Marina customers should plan be in the marina lot prior to 7 a.m. in order to access the boats. Use the Memorial Causeway to travel to the marina; do not take Gulf Blvd. or Coronado Dr. as you will not be able access the marina from that direction.

Television Coverage

Relive the Ironman 70.3 experience when NBC broadcasts the 2009 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3

Race Week Highlights

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60

Thursday, November 12, 2009
8 - 11 a.m. Gatorade Practice Swim, Pier 60
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Ironman Expo and Athlete Check-In, Pier 60

Friday, November 13, 2009
8 - 11 a.m. Gatorade Practice Swim, Pier 60
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Athlete Check-In, Pier 60
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Ironman Expo, Pier 60
12 - 6 p.m. Mandatory Bike & Gear Bag Check-in, Pier 60

Saturday, November 14, 2009
5 - 6 a.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60
6:45 a.m. Pro Athlete Race Start, Pier 60
7 a.m. Race Start, Pier 60

Sunday, November 15, 2009
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Ironman Retail & Bike Tech, Pier 60

Get Involved

Volunteers will be needed the week before the event and the day of the race to help the city host this prestigious competition. Volunteers can sign-up for various tasks including greeting athletes, assembling goody bags, body marking or wetsuit peeling on race day. Those interested in volunteering should contact ironmanvolunteers@myclearwater.com.