Japan has a long history with IRONMAN, dating back to 1985 as the first IRONMAN event in Asia and the second international qualifier after New Zealand. 2014 race day features an inviting swim in the flat, clear drinkable water of Lake Toya; a bike course with impressive views of imposing mountains, volcanoes and lush farmland; and wraps up with arguably one of the sport’s most spectacular run courses alongside Lake Toya showcasing fireworks in the night sky.
For the less enthusiastic swimmer this is an inviting swim environment—with flat, clear and 'drinkable' water. The swim (one long lap and one short lap) takes place in pristine Lake Toya with the majestic Mt. Yotei in the background. Water temperatures in August/September are approx 22 degrees Celsius, so wetsuits will be allowed.
After heading out of T1, you feed out onto the road rounding the lake edge. You want to make the most of this 30 km 'warm up' before you make a sharp right hand turn that signifies the start of a 120 km loop. This is where the climbing starts. While it is not the Alps or the Pyrenees, the climbs are long, which you'll realize as Lake Toya is left far behind and replaced with the snow capped Mt. Yotei as a constant companion.
The roads are smooth and enable strong riders to make the most of the rolling descents. It is not a technical course—you can see where you are going and how the road lies. On the return there is a super-fast downhill section over a bridge.
Run - The route is flat along a closed-tarmac road around the foreshore of the lake. A canopy of trees on each side offer lots of shade. The two-lap run features a wonderful scenic backdrop.