This weekend, nearly 4,000 athletes will be in Chattanooga to swim, bike + run in the Ironman 70.3 competition.
Yeah, you heard me. (Chloé here.) They are swimming, biking and then running — for a total of 70.3 miles. But hey, I did a push-up last week.🤣
Seriously though, I’ve covered this event for years + witnessing it is one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen. I’ve never felt so simultaneously inspired + lazy. Go watch if you haven’t before.
In 2017, Chattanooga hosted the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. (Photo: NOOGAtoday)
💪 The basics What: 2019 Sunbelt Bakery Ironman 70.3, presented by McKee When: Events Friday, Saturday + Sunday with the actual race on Sunday Where: The center of the action will be on Riverfront Parkway, which is where the Ironman Village Expo is. Athletes traverse downtown into North Georgia’s Walker County. Best place to watch: Ross’s Landing Park, where spectators can get a glimpse of every stage of the race. This is where the athletes transition from each leg. Road closures/delays: Click here, here+ here.
💪 The course You can find a place just about anywhere along the course to watch. In the past, there have been viewing parties in North Chattanooga + the folks in North Georgia usually come out showing strong support.
Swim: Athletes enter the Tennessee River in a rolling start and head upstream for a short distance before making the turn and going back down river. 🏊 Bike: The bike course takes riders south of town before beginning a 34-mile loop in North Georgia. 🚴 Run: Athletes will complete two loops through downtown Chattanooga, The Tennessee Riverwalk, Veterans Bridge, North Shore, Walnut Street Bridge and Riverfront Parkway. The final stretch will bring down Riverfront Parkway to finish at Ross’s Landing along the Tennessee River. 🏃
💪 More for spectators If you want to watch the swim, it starts at 6:50 a.m. Sunday. Swimmers are coming toward Coolidge Park, so if you want to watch this stage of the race head to the Veterans and Market Street bridges or camp out along the Riverwalk. Athletes exit the water at Ross’s Landing Park, which is also a great place to watch.
Big Pig | May 18 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | 405 E. Main St. | Free, $15 to sample meat |This inaugural barbequing event benefits the children at The Boys & Girls Club of Chattanooga. A People’s Choice judging event will take place on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Bluegrass in the Park | 12-9 p.m. | Miller Park, 910 Market St. | Free | Family-friendly event features farmers market, community bluegrass jam + live music starting at 5 p.m. Ⓟ
Sunday
Artful Yoga: Climbing Into May | 1:30-3 p.m. | Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View | $5 | Attendees should bring their own yoga mat to this art-inspired yoga practice.
Wilderness Day | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | The Chattanooga Market | First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. | Free | Naturalists and educators fromReflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Centerwill be at the market opossums, birds of prey and other species with permanent injuries that can’t be released back into the wild.
Representatives from the foundation, CGLA + Chattanooga Preparatory School unveiled the plans on Thursday.
The project will include a pavilion, inclusive playgrounds, sports courts + more.
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News Notes
Weather
85º | Thunderstorms possible | 20% chance of rain ⛅
Ranked
Inc. Magazine listed local businesses LYNC Logistics + Reliance Partners among 346 of the Best Workplaces for 2019. Employees responded to the fourth annual survey by ranking their companies in management effectiveness, perks + more. 🙌
Civic
The Chattanooga Police Department + CDOT will be working together to reduce dangerous speeding + fatal crashes by pinpointing high-risk areas, informing drivers about safety issues + more. 👮 (Chattanoogan.com)
Plans for 453 single-family homes in the Ooltewah area have been met with public concerns about traffic, sewage + more. Hamilton County Commission representatives will vote on the proposal soon. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Learn
The Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute will be offering professional development training + more as a part of its new program Game ChangeHer, which is slated to begin this September. (Chattanoogan.com)
FBF
Check out these photos from @Chattanoogahistory. It shows 150 years of change in Chattanooga. Both were taken from the vicinity of Market Street and Choo Choo Avenue, according to Chattanooga History. Amazing to see the changes, huh?
Edu
Hixson High School’s JROTC has received the 2018-2019 Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit with Merit Award + the “Silver Star” Community Service with Excellence Award, gaining recognition for performance, 3,571 community service hours + more. (NewsChannel 9)
This year, you can buy food + drinks with your Riverbend wristband. The festival is May 29-June 1.👍 (FOX Chattanooga)
DYK
Regal Hamilton Place 8 + the AMC Chattanooga 18 will be offering screenings of “Steel Magnolias”in honor of the film’s 30th anniversary on May 19, 21 +22. (WRCB)
The Wrap
Answered: On Thursday, we asked you if you support the North Shore Greenway project and a whopping 92% of you answered, “Yes. Love this. More of this, please.”
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