Elite athletes return to the city this weekend for the 2018 Little Debbie Ironman Chattanooga on Sunday. But you don’t have to be a participant (or even be in shape) to enjoy the spectacle of the triathlon.
The competition is now a total of 142.2 miles. Note: due to elevated water levels, the swimming portion of triathlon has been cancelled, according to race officials. This year’s event is now a duathlon featuring cycling and running only.
Any further updates will be made available here.
The Chattanooga Department of Transportation encourages spectators to park in the garages surrounding downtown and utilize the free electric shuttle and Bike Chattanooga bike share system. (If you get lost, just look for the people wearing spandex and bike helmets that look like The Predator).
Sunday’s event features 2,500 registered participants from all 50 states and 30 countries.
Your best bet for watching most of the action will be early in the morning/afternoon at Ross’s Landing near the finish line.
Cyclists will depart from Ross’s Landing at 8 a.m. on a 116-mile course through North Georgia.
The first finisher (i.e. the winner) will cross the finish line at approximately 3:40 p.m. with the last person crossing the line around 12:40 a.m.
Here are some tips to get the best views of each stage (p.s. We asked a former Ironman competitor to give us some pro-tips).
🚴 Bike | ⏰: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. | 200 Riverfront Parkway + 116-mile course through Georgia |
Cyclists will begin at 8 a.m. and embark on a strenuous course from Ross’s Landing through St. Elmo and into Chickamauga, Georgia. Although biking is difficult to view, free shuttles will be offered to Chickamauga (11 miles south of Chattanooga) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Pro-tip: The Chattanooga Market happens each Sunday just a stone’s throw away from the course. Head there during the downtime for lunch + shopping then watch the return along Market Street in the early afternoon.)
🏃 Run | ⏰ 12:30 p.m. to midnight | Ross’s Landing + North Chattanooga + Tennessee Riverwalk |
The 26.6-mile run is centralized to the Downtown/North Chattanooga area with plenty of opportunity for spectating along the Walnut Street Bridge, Tennessee Riverwalk, Hixson Pike and Veterans Bridge. (Pro-tip: The Brewhaus, 224 Frazier Ave., is always a party during the evening as runners go by. Locals gather on Barton Avenue for a block party during the afternoon. Dress up and cheer on the competitors.)
