IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon officially coming to Hilton Head

triathlonAfter much debate, the Ironman 70.3 triathlon is officially coming to Hilton Head Island. The first of five annual triathlons is set for October 2016. The event is half the length of a full 140.6-mile Ironman event. It will include a 1.2-mile ocean swim near Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa in Palmetto Dunes, a 56-mile bike ride along U.S. 278 through Bluffton and back and a 13.1-mile run to finish at Shelter Cove Community Park.

Registration for the race is expected to open later this year. The triathlon was in doubt when Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner raised concerns about public safety and the inconvenience that will come with road closures. The event is expected to draw thousands of competitors and spectators to the island, injecting up to $10 million into the local economy.