Published May 6, 2011 08:17AM
Athletes face difficult course, high heat, and unpredictable winds in St. George on Saturday.
Ironman races aren’t supposed to be easy.
Anytime a 2.4-mile swim is combined with a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run, it’s a difficult task even for the most experienced competitors.
The course for the Ford Ironman St. George – which features various elevation climbs and drops – is widely considered to be one of the toughest on the circuit.
It’s so tough that some professionals have talked at great length about the difficulty of the route.
But to defending women’s champion, Heather Wurtele, some of that might be just rumor rather than actual fact.
“I think people can over report how hard things are,” Wurtele said. “It’s great. Ironman needs to have a race that is known for being tough. People will gravitate towards this event. Those who want climbing hills and feel they have a strength on the bike (will come to this event).”
Wurtele and 1,913 other competitors are set to attack the course Saturday.
Read more: The Spectrum