Trial by Iron: Juneau hosts Alaska's first Ironman triathlon.

• Date: 01 August 2022
• Author: Newman, Amy
• Published date: 01 August 2022
• Author: Newman, Amy

Swim. Bike. Run. Those three words encapsulate the Ironman triathlon, considered one of the most grueling single-day sports events in the world. The "epic race" tests the endurance of competitors, who attempt to complete a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon, usually within a 17-hour time limit.

On August 7, the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) is hosting hundreds of competitors in Alaska's first-ever full-distance Ironman triathlon.

"I think this is going to be a huge, positive impact on the community," says Kara Tetley, destination marketing manager for Travel Juneau. "I think that being able to showcase Alaska is very, very cool for our community."

The event is the first of three full Ironman triathlons to be held in Juneau over the next three years.

"Our intentions are to be in places for long periods of time, so we secure our relationships [with host cities] at three-year increments," says Ironman Regional Director Dave Christen. "It's hugely exciting. This is an opportunity for people to do something they've never done before."

Race to the Capital

In 2022, fifty-one full Ironman triathlons are taking place around the world. When deciding where to race, Christen says athletes choose an event that will provide "a premier experience.

They want to take their time, their energy, their family, and they want to create a memory."

Race directors keep that in mind when scouting race locations, and Juneau fits the bill. Ironman officials considered various Alaska locations as potential host sites, but Christen says Juneau captured his attention.

"Juneau just kept coming back to me on a couple of fronts," he says. "It's the state capital. It's a temperate rainforest. It has all the pieces that make Juneau special as a cruise ship destination. Once we got an eye on Juneau with what we thought would be possible there, we thought that was the right fit right off the bat."

Christen reached out to Travel Juneau to gauge its interest in serving as an event partner. His initial pitch, sent via email, had them feeling more than a bit skeptical.

"Vicki Logan, our convention sales manager, thought, 'Is this real?" Tetley says with a laugh. "We don't get a lot of these things."

When they realized Christen was serious. Travel Juneau connected Christen with local officials, including the CBJ, Juneau Police Department, Capital City Fire/Rescue, and the US Coast Guard, to begin conversations about whether Juneau could accommodate not just the race but the large influx of visitors...