"Ironman" Defined

A couple of people chimed in and asked for a little clarification on this whole "Ironman" thing. So, to try and clear up the confusion about the term Ironman, I share this little Ironman Glossary that I compiled:

"Ironman" - Any race consisting of a triad of events (triathlon) featuring a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run. If it refers to a particular Ironman event, the name of the location typically follows "Ironman". i.e. "Ironman Wisconsin."

"Ironman" - One who successfully completes a full or long course triathlon consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run. This context is considered gender-neutral, so a female competitor who has completed an Ironman event is also called an Ironman. ­

"Ironmans" - Reference to multiple Ironman events, i.e. "After Ironman Wisconsin on Sept. 7th, Jen will have competed in two Ironmans".

"Ironmen" - Reference to a group of people who have completed Ironman events, i.e. "When Jen completed Ironman Wisconsin last year, she joined the ranks of the Ironmen."

And finally, and perhaps this is the most confusing to some is "Ironman Hawaii". "The Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI is the most notable of Ironman events for it's most grueling weather conditions and terrain.

"Triathlon" - Refers to racing three consecutive events (of any distance) in a row. For example, the following triathlon distances are common: Super-sprint, Sprint, Olympic, Half Iron (70.3).

I hope this sheds a little light on the whole Ironman triathlon thing. Have a great day!