Ironman Australia Triathlon, Port Macquarie

Approximately 1,800 competitors, ages 18 - 75, compete from over 30 countries and every State and Territory in Australia

A 3.8km swim, 180.2km bike and a 42.2km run. Competitors have 17 hours to finish the race, cut off times also apply to each segment of the race.

5 April 2009

Port Macquarie , NSW, Australia

Weather conditions are typically pleasant Australian late summer / early autumn days. It is usually dry and sunny during daylight hours but the nights are quite cool. Temperature range is approximately 20 degrees Celsius to late 20s degrees Celsius.

Around 2,000 volunteers drawn from the local community of Port Macquarie will help make the race happen. These include police, medical and ambulance personnel, community, sporting and service groups as well as everyday citizens doing their bit for the community. Some of these volunteers make up the medical team, which alone includes 8-10 doctors and around 20 nurses who work at aid stations, in the recovery area and in the six exclusive ambulances. The medical support team includes chiropractors, physiotherapists and ambulance officers on hand at all times. Massage therapists will use around 100 litres of massage oil during and following the race.

Triathletes will use 4,500 gear bags, hundreds of metres of reflective tape, 800 glow sticks, 1,500 swim caps and 3,000 race bibs, 1,500 bike and helmet numbers. They'll consume around 20,000 litres of water, 12,000 bananas, 7,000 cookies, 3,500 oranges and 4,000 litres of cola. Around 8,000 litres of GATORADE energy drink will keep their bodies hydrated and energised. Jelly babies (around 6,000) and rockmelons round off the race diet and, at the finish line, competitors can enjoy a hot meal plus fruit salad and ice cream and a wide variety of drinks. There will be 6,000 drink bottles on the bike course plus over 1,500 on competitors' bikes, and 60,000 paper cups used during the run leg.