For the last couple of years, there has been a rumor going around that Ironman Arizona would move from April to November or that Arizona might host 2 Ironman races, one in April and one in November. It seems that the rumor is TRUE, Ironman Arizona will now be held in November.
Earlier this year Graham Frazier, CEO of North American Sports was quoted as saying "Coeur d'Alene should expect to become an even more popular race in the world of triathletes because it will become the first Ironman of the year in North America in 2008. The Ironman race in Arizona -- which has traditionally been held in April -- will move to November, pushing Coeur d'Alene's fourth-Sunday-in-June spot to the top of the list." The Coeur d'Alene Press - June 20, 2007 (newspaper article)
Next year's Ironman Arizona race which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 13, 2008 sold out. It's possible that they could add another race to the Ironman schedule according to the article published today in the East Valley Tribune (link). If they don't add a race in 2008, the race scheduled to take place in 2009 would be held in November.
The possible reason for the move, better weather conditions for the athletes racing. The race has experienced high temperatures and gusty winds since becoming an Ironman series race in 2005.
While NO official statement has been made about the move to November all of the signs point to the rumor being true. Why would The Coeur d'Alene Press publish what it did especially if they were quoting Graham Frazier. Then you have the new article in the East Valley Tribune quoting this "Then in 2009 and thereafter, the race would be an annual fall event, said Travis Dray, deputy director for the Tempe Parks and Recreation Department."
Moving the race to November causes a race option dilemma for triathletes, which Ironman race to participate in; Ironman Florida or Ironman Arizona. No need to worry if those races sell out, which they do, there are two other iron distance races in the month of November. We now have the new kid on the block, non-WTC, iron distance race called Beach2Battleship which is also scheduled to take place in November in Wilmington, NC and then the Silverman triathlon race which is in its 3rd year in Henderson, NV.
We will have to see what pans out with iron distance racing in November in the USA.
