Few physical tests are tougher than a half-Ironman - 70.3 consecutive miles of swimming, cycling and running. ...more

November 13, 2009

This week, athletes from all over the world are converging on Clearwater for the 2009 Foster Grant Ironman Championship. ...more

November 11, 2009

Local residents Kim Miller and Bev Buysse were two of the 1,800 competitors in October's Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. ...more

November 25, 2008

Local residents Kim Miller and Bev Buysse were two of the 1,800 competitors in October's Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. ...more

November 25, 2008

and tied up traffic - around Clearwater Beach. ...more

November 9, 2008

Today's Foster Grant Ironman World Championship will be a test not only for the athletes, but also for local drivers. ...more

November 8, 2008

The Foster Grant Ironman World Championship on Saturday will be a test not only for the athletes, but also for local drivers. ...more

November 6, 2008

There was a time when Spencer Smith's life could be summed up by three things: training, racing and winning. And considering this chiseled Englishman seemed to capture about every triathlon title in sight - including back-to-back senior world championships - it was easy to understand why he was so focused on this demanding sport. ...more

November 9, 2007

WHAT: Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3, consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run. WHERE: The start, finish and transition area is on Clearwater Beach near Pier 60. The bike course extends south to Gandy Boulevard in St. Petersburg and north to East Lake Road in Tarpon Springs. WHO: More than 1,500 pro and age-group triathletes from the United States and around the world. WHEN: Saturday, starting at 7 a.m. with the professional women on the swim leg, followed by pro women at 7:10. Age-group swim waves start at 7:15 and the final wave starts at 8. PRIZE PURSE: $90,000 is split among the top 10 professional men and women, with the overall winners earning $18,000. Timex Ironman Watch Bonuses, worth $10,000, are up for grabs along the bike and run courses. 2006 CHAMPIONS: Men - Craig Alexander (Australia, 3:45:37); women - Samantha McGlone (Canada, 4:12:58). ONLINE: Live coverage on www.ironmanlive.com TRAFFIC CONTROL: Many of Clearwater's major roads and intersections will be affected by the cycling leg from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. If possible, police advise motorists to avoid the area during this time. If you drive in Clearwater on Saturday morning, expect delays and prepare to share multilane roads with the cyclists. Yield to bikes on the course at all times. SPECTATORS: Those who want to watch the race near the transition area and finish line can park in downtown Clearwater or Sand Key Park and take a shuttle bus to Pier 60. Shuttles will run continuously from 4 a.m. until 6 p.m. from downtown Clearwater at the Municipal Services Garage (East Avenue and Pierce Street), the courthouse (Chestnut Street and Oak Avenue), the county parking garage (Court Street and S. Osceola Avenue), the Fort Harrison lot (Chestnut Street and Fort Harrison Avenue) and from Sand Key Park's Court Street lot (Court Street and S. Osceola Avenue). ...more

November 9, 2007