Panama City Beach to Host IRONMAN Next Year

IRONMAN FL returns to Panama City Beach Florida. The IRONMAN Florida taking place in Panama City Beach is celebrating the 21^st year of competition and 20^th year in Panama City Beach. Last year because of damage to the bike and run route from Hurricane Michael, Central Florida’s Polk County Sports Marketing on extremely short notice saved the event and hosted the 20th IRONMAN Florida to continue this outstanding event in the Sunshine State.

Panama City Beach is honored to host one of the longest running IRONMAN events in North America, IRONMAN Florida is known as a flat and fast course that highlights the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, the beauty of the pine and florida landscape and the final leg of the biking and running taking place next to the emerald blue waters of the Gulf. In PCB athletes come to enjoy the beach and beat their personal record. In the spring, IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast also serves as a popular early season race ideal for first timers and seasoned triathletes.

The 140.6 mile ultimate endurance event has 3,000 registered athletes from 50 states and 64 countries. Competitors range from 18 to 82 and professionals to first timers. The event contributes annually over $10 million to the local economy and generates an estimated 15,000 room nights.

This year there will be a special concert by country music star Ryan Kinder will perform a “Concert For Relief” at the Welcome Banquet on Thursday, October 31, starting at 5:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a children’s toy or non-perishable food item for the chance to win prizes. Children’s toys will be delivered by Kinder’s charity Kinder’s Kids to youth impacted by Hurricane Michael. Ryan will also race IRONMAN Florida with TEAM IMF.

Also for 2019 the IRONMAN Foundation has established multiple initiatives to continue Hurricane Michael relief efforts, which devastated Panama City Beach and the surrounding Bay County in October 2018. Helping the destination’s recovery, the IRONMAN Foundation will distribute $125,000 in charitable giveback to nonprofit initiatives and groups in the Panama City region, bringing the total awarded to date to $1,030,200 in conjunction with IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast and IRONMAN Florida.

For more information on the 2019 IRONMAN Florida, visit www.ironman.com/florida.