The IronKids Triathlon Series is a series of triathlon

Triathlon

A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...

s owned or licensed by the World Triathlon Corporation that is held around the U.S. for children ages 7 to 15. The series started in 1985 and since then more than 40,000 kids have participated, including famous alumni, such as Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong

Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...

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Competition

The competition

Competition

Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...

 is divided by gender

Gender

Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...

 and one-year age groups and in age-appropriate distances for swimming, biking and running

Running

Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...

 (in that order). Children 6 to 8 are classified as Juniors. 9 to 11 year old kids are classified as intermediate. The senior group is classified as 12 to 15. The junior group competes in a 50 yard swim, a 2 mile bike ride and a 500 yard run. The intermediate age group goes on a 150 yard swim, a 4 mile bike ride and a 1 mile run. The senior group races on a 300 yard swim, a 8 mile bike ride and a 2 mile run.

The age groups start in heats, with each boys' age groups starting before the girls' age group. The first age group to start are the 14-year old boys, followed by the 14-year old girls, and this continues down the age groups to the 6-year old girls, the final group to start.

In addition to the individual race, there are relay divisions where each leg of the triathlon is completed by a different child.

There is also a "challenged IronKids" division for disabled children.

Kid friendly

A unique feature of the IronKids Triathlon Series is that the bike

Cycling

Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...

 and run portions of the triathlon

Triathlon

A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...

 are held on closed courses, i.e. not on streets open to automobiles. This, and the high number of volunteers who line the entire course, make this a relatively safe and kid-friendly event. The bike

Cycling

Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...

 and run

Running

Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...

 courses are also run on multiple loops making them viewer friendly.

The IronKids Triathlon Series promotes friendly competition where "Every Finisher is a Winner." Everyone who competes in the triathlon receives a finishers t-shirt, goodie bag

Promotional merchandise

Promotional merchandise, promotional items, promotional products, promotional gifts, or advertising gifts, sometimes nicknamed swag or schwag, are articles of merchandise used in marketing and communication programs. They are given away to promote a company, corporate image, brand, or event...

, and finishers medal.

Notable alumni

Many world-class triathletes started their triathlon

Triathlon

A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...

 career in the IronKids Triathlon Series including Olympian

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

 Hunter Kemper

Hunter Kemper

Hunter Craig Kemper is a triathlete from the United States. He won the silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games, behind Venezuela's Gilberto González, followed by the gold four years later in Santo Domingo....

 (whose 5 IronKids national championships stood as a record until 2002 when Kelsey Tucker won her 6th), World Champ bronze-medalist Laura Reback

Laura Bennett (triathlete)

Laura Marie Bennett is an American professional Triathlete. She placed fourth in the women’s triathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics...

, Olympian Nick Radkewich

Nick Radkewich

Nicholas Edward Radkewich is an athlete from the United States, who competes in triathlon....

 and Olympian, World Champ and 7-time Tour de France

Tour de France

The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...

 champion Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong

Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...

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