The fifth edition of this triathlon race takes place on August 11, 2019, and you won’t want to miss out on the many pleasures of this Polish sporting spectacle. It’s fast (this is where Daniela Ryf set a new IRONMAN 70.3 world best last year), scenic and packed with local flavor. From A to Z, the race has something to offer everyone. May we present the alluring perks in alphabet form:
A: Airports
Lech Walesa Gdansk Airport is the nearest to Gdynia, just 20 km away from the race venue. It is well connected with many important international airports throughout Europe.
B: Beach finish
The race comes to an end on the main city beach, where racers celebrate their finish with 2,000 cheering spectators. You won’t find a better finish line beach party anywhere!
Photo: © Sport Evolution / Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
C: Charity
Triathlon race Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia is much more than just a swim-bike-run event. It’s also a social and cultural festival strongly committed to supporting those who are in need. The event has supported UNICEF and other non-profits in the past, and for 2019 organizers have launched the #TRI2help project aiming to raise 1.000.000 PLN for charity with the help of Polish celebrities who will participate in the race.
D: Dar Pomorza
This is one of the symbols of Gdynia that you will notice immediately once you get to the IRONMAN Village. The Dar Pomorza (Gift of Pomerania) is a Polish full-rigged sailing ship built in 1909 which is preserved as a museum ship.
E: Embraer branded aircraft
An IRONMAN-branded aircraft – how cool is that? In 2015, Embraer 175 from LOT airlines was branded with the event to spread the news of IRONMAN entering Poland for the first time.
Photo: © Sport Evolution / Sportografia.pl / Triathlon IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
F: Family
From the IRONKIDS race on Friday, to the family zone on the city beach open the entire race weekend, to all the other activities on race day, Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia is a perfect destination to take the whole family for a summer trip to Poland.
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz / IRONKIDS Aquathlon / Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
G: Gdynia
“Gdynia loves triathlon,” reads the giant banner that hangs on the Gdynia Aquarium building in the transition area. That’s an understatement! Gdynia LIVES for sport of all kinds. Having hosted the Red Bull Air Race, The Tall Ships’ Race, UEFA EURO U21, and numerous sailing events, the people of Gdynia love to support athletes and make their visit unforgettable.
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz / Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
H: Hilly bike course
Athletes start at sea level and climb into the picturesque, green Kashubia region. Don’t expect extreme uphills, but the course features rolling hills that will challenge your legs.
Photo: © Sport Evolution / Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
I: International field
Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia has evolved from a very local event to a truly international triathlon race – the number of international racers went up from 6% in 2015 to nearly 25% last year. Germany, UK, Ukraine, Russia and Sweden are among the most represented countries. This cultural diversity makes for a more interesting race experience, and the organizers take pride in the event’s vibrant international character.
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz / EMG
J: Joy
Gdynia has been voted as home to the happiest community in Poland. You have to encounter the people here for yourself to understand that joy.
K: Kashubia
The Kashubia Lake District and the Kashubia people open their doors to athletes and ensure they enjoy a memorable and safe ride on the one-loop, fully closed-to-traffic bike course.
Photo: © Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
L: Life-changing
We’ve seen volunteers come back to the event as IRONMAN 70.3 athletes. We’ve seen Polish celebrities take on the challenge and become IRONMAN 70.3 finishers a few months after their first swim workout. We’ve seen athletes with unbelievable personal stories tackle the race. All of these individuals contribute to the special energy of this event.
M: Museums
Gdynia has a variety of museums, some (like Gdynia Aquarium or Navy Museum) just a stone’s throw from the IRONMAN Village. The Museum of Emigration and Experiment Science Centre are also worth a visit.
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz / EMG
N: Nils Frommhold
German triathlon star Nils Frommhold was the first winner of an IRONMAN-branded event on Polish soil when he captured the title at IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia in 2015. “My favorite thing was the rollercoaster park at the beach,” he says. “Unfortunately I couldn’t try all the crazy attractions but if I come back one day I will for sure.”
Photo: © Sport Evolution / Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
O: Orłowski Cliff
Orłowski Cliff is perhaps the most important natural wonder in Gdynia and one of the most photographed natural sites in Poland. At 50 meters tall, it offers a great view of Gdansk Bay, with Hel penisula visible on a clear day.
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz / EMG
P: Pierogi
When you hear “Poland,” you may think “pierogi.” It’s like Italy and pizza. You’ll find a lot of restaurants serving various kinds of pierogi—the meat or cabbage and mushrooms are the most traditional ones. Bon appetit!
R: Ryf
All eyes were on Daniela Ryf and Mirinda Carfrae when the two legends stood shoulder to shoulder on the start line of the 2018 Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia. It proved to be Daniela’s day, as she finished in 3:57:55, establishing a new IRONMAN 70.3 world best. By the way, she finished 7th overall! “I could hear this finish party long before I saw the finish line,” said Ryf post-race. “This gave me wings!”
Photo: © Sport Evolution / Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
S: Swietojanska Street
This is where you can expect the loudest crowd support, besides the finish line. It’s also where you need to fight your way up a kilometer-long uphill…3 times on the run. If the race is going to be decided on the run, Swietojanska Street is where you can win or lose it.
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz / Swim.by
T: Tricity
Gdynia, Sopot and Gdansk are the three cities on the Baltic Sea collectively called Tricity. Historic Gdansk is known as the Polish city of freedom; Sopot offers a constant party during summer holidays; and Gdynia is “the city of dreams and sea.”
U: Ubiquitous
As in, during race week, Gdynia lives and breathes triathlon. You will see dozens of IRONMAN flags and banners hanging around town and the giant M-dot-shaped countdown clock in Kosciuszki Square. You will see 100,000 copies of the local newspaper covering Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia distributed on the streets. And much more is done to create a ubiquitous race presence.
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz / Swim.by
V: Volunteers
Anything is possible, they say. True, but not without volunteers. Over 800 supportive souls make this race possible, helping in the race office, on the course, at aid stations and more.
Photo: © Sport Evolution / Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
W: World Championship Slots
Have world championship hopes? You can earn a coveted slot for the prestigious IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship at Gdynia.
X: XC bike
If any of your friends or family members decide to take part in the sprint triathlon the day before the IRONMAN 70.3 race, they can ride a cross-country bike. Or a beach cruiser. Just come and have some fun!
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz / IRONMAN Triathlon
Y: You
In Gdynia, it’s all about you, the athlete. It is your day.
Z: Zatem
“Zatem” means “so” in Polish. Zatem…why don’t you Register Now?!
Photo: © Andrzej Waszkewicz
Courtesy by © IRONMAN Europe
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