OMC News and Updates

On September 19, 2010, the inaugural race will take place in the vacation destination of Branson, Missouri. Ironman 70.3 Branson will serve as one of 34 worldwide qualifying events for the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Fla. Professional athletes will be competing for a $25,000 prize purse. The 1.2-mile swim will be held in the crystal clear waters of Table Rock Lake in the shadow of the host hotel, Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center. Athletes will enjoy the ease of walking from the host hotel to the swim start on race morning. Water temperatures are expected to be 70 F.

The transition area will be located on the grounds of Moonshine Beach. Following the swim, athletes will cover a challenging 56-mile bike course through the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains. Athletes will then transition to a flat, spectator-friendly, two-loop 13.1 mile run course. Tom Ziebart, event director for the National Training Center in Orlando, FL, and race director for Ironman 70.3 races in Kansas (Lawrence), Florida (Orlando), and Michigan (Benton Harbor – Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead) brings his expertise to Branson where he will also serve as race director, “We [have just returned] from a logistic trip to Branson where we have mapped out the swim, bike and run courses. The venue is fantastic. We should have maps on the web site in the next 3-4 weeks.” Branson’s Chateau on the Lake will serve at the host hotel for IM Branson 70.3, located just 0.3 miles from the swim start at Moonshine Beach and 8.6 miles from the finish line at Branson Landing. Special rates for a variety of Branson hotels, including the Chateau, are already available through the website. Rumor has it there will be two separate transition areas for swim-bike and bike-run allowing for a spectacular finish line at Branson Landing under the infamous dancing water fountains. For those familiar with the Ozark hills, this course design will provide challenging, but more forgiving terrain, for athletes worried that a triathlon in Branson is tantamount to climbing Mt. Washington on a bicycle, “…the bike course will not be has hilly as our IM 70.3 Kansas bike course,” says Ziebart.

The race is open for registration with a special discount to those who want to sign up for both IM Branson 70.3 and IM Kansas 70.3. Expect to see 20-30 professional triathletes attend the race. There will be a $25,000 professional prize purse, and for all athletes competing IM Branson 70.3 will serve as a qualifying race for the Foster Grant IM 70.3 Championship in Clearwater, FL, in November 2010.

Ozarks Multisport Club plans to take full advantage of the first IM 70.3 in our own back yard. Heading into its third year, several triathletes in the Springfield area have been travelling to Lawrence, Kansas, annually for the June IM 70.3 race put on by Ziebart and it is our hope that they and more will add Branson to their 2010 race schedule. OMC members should expect to find opportunities for training on location as the date of the race approaches. Announcement has yet to be made about a formal training camp in association with IM Branson 70.3. Volunteer opportunities abound for triathlon supporters with information on volunteering already posted on the IM Branson 70.3 website. In addition, for those who have private lodging in the Branson area there will be a “homestay” program for professional athletes, giving an opportunity for locals to host worldclass triathletes in their own home.

For more information check the Ironman Branson 70.3 website at http://www.ironmanbranson.com/index.php