The IRONMAN Group announced today that Frankfort, Michigan, will serve as a multi-year host venue for the IRONMAN® 70.3® Michigan triathlon. The IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan triathlon is scheduled to take place on September 12, 2021, with general registration opening on Monday, December 21.
“We can’t wait to welcome IRONMAN 70.3 back to Northern Michigan,” says Trevor Tkach, CEO and President of Traverse City Tourism, which also represents Frankfort. “Our organization is honored to continue to support the race and the athletes who train for this incredible feat. The new course will be an exciting change for athletes, and spectators will be able to enjoy exploring the beautiful town of Frankfort in addition to the surrounding Traverse City region.”
Traverse City hosted the 70.3 triathlon in 2019 to rave reviews from participants, winning several awards in the IRONMAN Athlete Choice Awards, including 1st place in “Would Recommend to a Friend,” 3rd in “Overall Swim Experience,” and 6th in “Overall Host City Experience.” Relocating the race to nearby Frankfort, on the coast of Lake Michigan, offered the perfect setting for 2021.
Home to an array of shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation, Frankfort offers plenty of small-town charm against a stunning natural backdrop of golden sand dunes and hardwood forests. Best of all, it’s only a short drive from Traverse City, where athletes can find a vibrant food scene, more than 60 wineries and breweries, and plenty of trails to explore for a pre-race warm-up.
“We’ve seen an incredible interest from athletes to visit and race in northern Michigan. We are excited to continue to host an event in this beautiful region and to call Frankfort our new home,” said Keats McGonigal, Head of Operations, North America for The IRONMAN Group. “We feel that Frankfort and the surrounding areas will deliver an unparalleled race week experience while being the perfect destination for both athletes and their families alike.”
The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan triathlon will consist of a 1.2-mile swim in the beautiful and protected water of the Frankfort Harbor. Once out of the water, athletes will transition to the bike for a 56-mile ride on sections of the famous M-22 scenic highway. Concluding their IRONMAN 70.3 journey, athletes will run 13.1 miles in Frankfort and surrounding areas. Additional course details will be shared as soon as they are available here.
General registration for IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan will open on Monday, December 21, 2020. Athletes and spectators can find lodging opportunities at traversecity.com/ironman. For more information on Traverse City area attractions, visit traversecity.com, as well as ironman.com for details on the global event series.
Check out all there is to do in Frankfort and surrounding region in the free, digital 2020 Benzie Vacation Guide below; Get this guide free in print when you subscribe to Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine.