CALGARY ALBERTA ironman triathlon city, Olympic training venues and more

Calgary Alberta has become know as the Ironman Capitol of Canada. Every year without fail Calgary sends more athletes to Ironman Canada in Penticton than any city in the country.

WHY CALGARY?

I was asked that question when I made an appearance on the local Breakfast Television show when I released my second book "Ironstruck? 500 Ironman Triathlon Questions and Answers".

How does Calgary, Alberta manage to prepare so many people for the challenge of the Ironman when cities much bigger and more suited to year-round-training(like Vancouver for instance) do not have nearly as many triathletes taking on the Ironman challenge?

AN AMAZING INFRA-STRUCTURE

That was my answer to Gord Kelly, host of the Breakfast show at the time. Calgary probably has one of the most extensive and best constructed and maintained bike-path systems in the world.

We also have excellent training centers like the Talisman Center(that boasts 2 Olympic-sized pools), Eau Claire in downtown Calgary, the Mount Royal and Calgary Universities all of which have their own triathlon training programs.

We also have tri-it Multi-sports which is most likely one of the most complete triathlon retail outlets in the country.

There are also many great coaches in Calgary, Alberta who have the knowledge to prepare the newly Ironstruck to take on the ironman challenge.

All-in-all, Calgary is a great place to live if your want access to everything Ironman.

CALGARIANS WORK HARD AND PLAY HARD

There are a lot of very successful, forward-thinking people in the city of Calgary. Indeed they do work hard and play hard.

Many Olympians have resided and trained in Calgary.

Speed skaters, skeleton and bob-sled athletes and hockey players are just some of the athletes who have competed and trained in Calgary and gone on to represent Canada at the Olympic Games.

Hey! Wasn't that Calgary Flame Jerome Iginla who made that amazing pass to "Sid the kid" for the gold medal winning goal?

And where the heck did that skeleton athlete(aka "the jug") Jon Montgomery do all his Skeleton training? Oh yeah, Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta.

Many Calgarians have had great careers and raised their families and have reach a point where they crave new challenges. The Ironman Triathlon and the sport of triathlon in general, is a perfect fit.

A RICH TRADITION

Back when the Hawaii Ironman was experiencing its growing pains in the early 1980's, ten Calgarians banded together to form the "try ten" team and made their way to the toughest race in the world in 1984.

At the time I suggested the "try" ten for our name because we had no idea what to expect and were just going to give it our best try.

Three women and seven men made up the team from Calgary, Alberta and all three women finished and five of the men.

Considering there were only 62 Candadians in Ironman Hawaii that year, Calgary, Alberta was already leading the country in people willing to take on the Ironman challenge and it just never stopped.

IRONMAN CANADA 70.3

The involvement of Calgarians in the rich history of the Ironman was not lost on the WTC and that in a nutshell is most likely one of the main reasons Calgary was given the license for the Ironman corporations fastest growing product.

So if you are looking for a great place to live and triathlon train, Calgary, Alberta should be at the top of your list.

If you can't make it here to live then there just may be a spot in the next Calgary 70.3 race in the first week of August with your name on it.




If you would like some idea as to how events will unfold for what is possibly your first attempt at the Ironman than you might benefit by opting in for 7 free ezine installments I have written that will give you a brief look at what to expect as you take on the Ironman challenge.

Your email address is simply so you can be sent the ezines and will not be used for anything else.

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