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Sometimes people find joy in punishing themselves (watching The Office after Steve Carell left, for example). But the growing number of people participating in Ironman races shows there’s no limit to how much pain can bring someone pleasure.
What makes up an Ironman race? A 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. There’s also a shorter race called Ironman 70.3, which is only half as long as a regular Ironman (70.3 total miles). Depending on your fitness level, the full one can take up to 17 hours to complete.
Despite the option to sit on your couch for hours and watch TV, participation in both events surged globally in 2025:There were 250,000 registrants, with newbies up 10% from the previous year.
Under-30 participants grew 35%, while the number of first-timers under 30 has more than doubled since 2019.
In North America last year, the under-30 demographic increased by 23% for the full Ironman and jumped 29% for the shorter one that would still make most of us cry on the ground. Four new races were added this year in Ruidoso, NM; Omaha, NE; Dallas, TX; and Jacksonville, FL.
Why would anyone do this?
Besides the obvious reason (for the ‘gram), there’s a $6 million annual prize pool for professionals. There’s something in it for the hosts and recreational competitors, too.
Ironman Wales in Tenby has a reported £7.3 million ($9.7 million) economic impact on the city and its surrounding areas. It’s so vital economically that Tenby agreed to a new hosting lease earlier this year despite one council member calling the race a “pain in the ass” during the debate process.—DL
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