Future Of 70.3 Pocono Mountains In Jeopardy

Ironman will no longer partner with the event.

The Pocono area has hit the first snag in its re-branding as an outdoor adventure paradise.

The Ironman 70.3 Pocono Mountains, which tourism officials said brought in about $1 million in tourism revenue in 2011, is in doubt for the remainder of its three local races through 2015.

Fernwood Hotel and Conference Center is the host hotel. The swimming event took place in Tamiment Lake and the bicycle event began at Smithfield Beach in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and continued along River Road and ended in Stroudsburg, where a half-marathon took place.

Philadelphia Triathlons LLC, the company that runs the local event, said that its relationship with Tampa, Fla.-based World Triathlon Corp. has been “discontinued.” World Triathlon Corp. owns and operates the Ironman 70.3 brand.

The original contract called for five races, but that status is in doubt.

“Our relationship with Ironman wasn’t as economically viable as we hoped it would be,” said Richard Adler, CEO of Philadelphia Triathlons LLC, who added that the parting was “mutual.”

Read more: Poconorecord.com