Athletes Disappointed After Ironman Discontinued In Boulder

BOULDER, CO — Over the weekend, more than 1,000 competitors participated in the sixth annual Ironman Boulder triathlon. The race will be the last of its kind in the city, however — organizers said the competition will no longer be held in Boulder.

Many athletes, especially those from Colorado, said they were disappointed to hear the race is discontinued.

“A decision like this is never easy, and we understand the disappointment this may cause our athletes,” Frank Lowery, Midwest Great Plains Regional Director for Ironman, stated in a news release. "For nearly 20 years, Boulder has provided a tremendous amount of support to the triathlon community all while embracing the Ironman spirit. We love Boulder and the local community and look forward to the future of Ironman in Boulder.”

The shorter Ironman 70.3 will continue in Boulder. More than 2,000 athletes are registered for the competition, which will be held Aug. 3.

Maggie Walsh, the top finisher among amateur females Sunday, told the Daily Camera that it was "great having a local race," and that she was "sad to see it go." Tim O’Donnell, who placed third in the men’s pro race, said he understands that it's hard for out-of-towners to handle the altitude, but that he hopes the race will come back to Boulder down the road, according to the report.

“The City of Boulder is very proud of our staff, our community, and our partnerships with Boulder County and the State of Colorado as we collectively made Ironman Boulder one of the greatest races in the world,” Jane Brautigam, the city's manager, said in a statement.

"Our entire team celebrates the time Ironman Boulder had in our city and look forward to our ongoing hosting of Ironman 70.3 Boulder again in the future.”