Rockford’s First IRONMAN 70.3 Is a Sellout—Now Let’s Find 1,000 Volunteers

Rockford is officially in the big leagues of endurance sports, and honestly, I’m in awe. The city’s first-ever IRONMAN 70.3, set for June 22, 2025, is completely sold out. That means more than 2,500 athletes—some from around the world—are coming to test their limits in a grueling half-distance triathlon.

If I even attempted one leg of this race, I’d need a full medical team on standby.

A Historic Moment for Rockford

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This isn’t just any race; this is the first-ever IRONMAN 70.3 in Illinois.

Rockford is the first city in the entire country to sell out an IRONMAN event this year. We outpaced every other city in the U.S. hosting an IRONMAN. That’s huge. Organizers estimate 10,000 people will flood downtown Rockford on race weekend, which means a massive economic boost, with over $45 million expected over the next three years, according to wifr.com.

Where Are These Athletes Racing?

That’s the million-dollar question. The official racecourse hasn’t been announced yet, but organizers promise beautiful and challenging routes. Race director Eric Atnip hinted that the bike course might be the toughest part, but honestly, if you ask me, every part of this race sounds tough. I’ll be over here cheering and drinking coffee while these superhumans swim, bike, and run through Rockford.

Rockford IRONMAN 70.3 Needs 1,000 Volunteers

Pulling off an event of this magnitude takes serious manpower, and GoRockford needs more than 1,000 volunteers to make it happen. If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at an IRONMAN without actually, you know, doing an IRONMAN, this is your chance. Volunteers will help with everything from setting up to handing out water to exhausted athletes who probably won’t even remember their own names by the end of this thing.