Rockford “showed up” for inaugural IRONMAN 70.3

“Somehow, even for this inaugural race, [Rockford] understood the assignment and showed up,” one IRONMAN athlete said on Facebook. “You could really feel the effort put forth. Well done, Rockford!” said another.

Athletes, visitors, and residents praised Rockford and our region as we welcomed and supported nearly 2,700 competitors on Sunday, June 22, 2025, for the Illinois premier of the globally recognized IRONMAN triathlon. The athletes and an estimated 10,000 visitors came from 45 U.S. states and 36 countries across six continents, some from as far as Iceland, Kyrgyzstan, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Our three-year partnership with the IRONMAN organization, the world’s largest operator of mass-participation sports, is expected to deliver more than $25 million in economic impact through 2027. As this year’s athletes and their family and friend support teams share their positive experiences and elevate awareness of our region as a tourism destination, we anticipate added boosts before and after the next two races.

“It’s so beautiful and just so easy to get around here,” our hospitality volunteers heard as they greeted people in hotel lobbies and stood at the ready to answer questions. In true GoRockford style, we “went the extra mile” to assemble a team of volunteers to serve as welcome ambassadors for the Friday and Saturday preceding the race. This was in addition to the 1,560 race-focused volunteers organized by GoRockford and IRONMAN.

Our team has been in active conversations with the IRONMAN organization for nearly two years to plan this event, leveraging interagency collaborations at the municipal, state, and county levels to make sure everyone participating and spectating would be safe. Were it not for assurances that the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department and the Rockford Fire Department would coordinate first-responder operations to oversee swimmers in the Rock River (where swimming isn’t normally allowed), we would not have made the vetting process with IRONMAN.

After a colder-than-usual spring, we faced a plot twist as race day approached with temperatures in the mid-90s and a heat index of over 100 degrees. So, with the IRONMAN staff in the lead, we mobilized cooling efforts. Rockford Mass Transit District provided four cooling busses which were placed at aid stations. We asked the Churchill’s Grove Neighborhood Association to encourage residents along the route on Harlem Boulevard and National Avenue to turn on their sprinklers. We massively increased water and hydration at the 10 aid stations and doubled the amount of ice at each station.

“I don’t think there’s a spare ice cube left in the state of Illinois. You guys were amazing,” one triathlete said on Facebook.

This 70.3-mile course (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run) is half the distance of a full IRONMAN. The 70.3 miles were carefully chosen to show off our picturesque outdoor settings—a river dotted by public art and grand homes, rolling hills and farmland on the ride up to the village of Rockton and back, and historic neighborhoods near downtown Rockford—while also providing the challenging expectations of IRONMAN athletes.

The course also showcased our caring community. As soon as the race ended, we began seeing posts on Facebook referring to National Avenue in Churchill’s Grove as “Sprinkler Alley.” Many athletes said they wouldn’t have finished if it weren’t for the spirited heat relief there and the encouragement they got throughout the neighborhood. Red IRONMAN wristbands were passed along by athletes as a show of thanks. One Churchill’s Grove resident got eight.

“If there’s one thing I’m sure of, Rockford put on the best race atmosphere ever,” one athlete said on Instagram. “Rockford has the best spectators of any race I’ve ever done,” another athlete said in a Facebook video.

Some participants who had grown up in Rockford and moved away had the chance to see the city through a fresh set of eyes. Several said they would visit again before the next race.

This event also generated excitement and pride among locals. People were blown away by our local team’s planning, commitment, and execution.

Humorous videos featuring Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara “training” for the triathlon from offices at City Hall, highlighted that something special was coming. On the eve of the race, aerial photos of row after row of bicycles at Davis Park were all the buzz. And on the day of the race, photos of athletes traversing familiar settings brought out hometown enthusiasm.

Competitors ranged in age from 18 to 76 years old. Over 1,600 were from Illinois, including 84 from Rockford, 15 from Loves Park, 14 from Roscoe, 11 from Belvidere, eight from Rockton, seven from Machesney Park, two from Cherry Valley, and 399 from Chicago. With the majority of athletes traveling from across the U.S. and around the world, hotel rooms were at 98% occupancy on Saturday night

And now, we turn our attention to “after-action” assessment to evaluate our successes and seek opportunities for improvement. In essence, planning for the next IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford begins now, and we’ll be showing up with next-level hospitality, volunteerism, and community pride on June 21, 2026.

The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.