Panama City Beach Welcomes World-Class Triathlon
The glittering waters of the Gulf of Mexico are the setting for the 2.4-mile swimming leg of the 2012 Ironman Florida triathlon, to be held at Panama City Beach on Saturday, November 3. Also included in the competition are a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run through the streets of Panama City. The Ironman, an international affair with participating athletes from more than 30 countries, is the first full-distance qualifier for the 2013 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii.
Hosted by the Gulf-front Boardwalk Beach Resort, the Ironman competition begins and ends on the resort’s grounds. The action kicks off at 7 a.m. and ends at midnight.
Triathlon participants and spectators are also invited to visit the Ironman Expo. Located at the resort, the expo runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Among the exhibitors are members of Team REFUEL, the athlete spokespeople for the “got chocolate milk?” campaign. Team REFUEL members include such well-known stars as USA Basketball Men’s National Team member Carmelo Anthony, 12-time swimming medalist Dara Torres, and 2010 Ironman World Champion Mirinda Carfrae. They’ll be talking about how refueling with chocolate milk after a workout can help athletes perform at their best during their next bout of exercise.
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