Ironman Sunday With Wakefield Participant

More than 1,200 athletes representing 33 states and 18 countries are expected to compete in the 2012 Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island this Sunday.

The fifth annual event consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run. Amateur and professional athletes, ranging in age from 18 to 75, will travel from as far away as Italy, South Africa and Spain to compete in this unique event, which will showcase Providence and its surrounding communities.

Nearly 80 athletes from Rhode Island are among those expected to participate, including George Marr, 37, of Wakefield, who overcame an addiction to become a four-time finisher of the Boston Marathon; David Hargreaves, 59, of Coventry, the COO of Rhode Island-based Hasbro, Inc.; and Dr. Fredric Silverblast, 74, of North Kingstown, chief of medicine at the Providence VA Medical Center, who is the second oldest participant in the race.

The event also will spotlight an impressive list of professionals who will vie for the title, including Paul Ambrose of Australia, Maxim Kriat of Ukraine and Jozsef Major of Hungary, along with top female competitors Caitlin Snow of America and Nina Kraft of Germany.

The race offers a professional prize purse of $15,000 and 30 coveted age group qualifying slots to the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3 on Sept. 9 at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, NV.

One of 60 events in the global Ironman 70.3 Series, the 2012 Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island features a swim in Olney Pond at Lincoln Woods. Following the swim, athletes will begin the scenic 56-mile bike ride by heading toward the northwestern part of Rhode Island, using some of the area’s popular bike routes, and then riding along quiet farm roads that pass by many small ponds and reservoirs.

The two-loop, half-marathon run course leads athletes through the historic East Side of Providence, along the tree-lined Blackstone Boulevard and through the Brown University campus and downtown Providence's business district. The race finishes against a backdrop of the Rhode Island State Capitol Building and the Providence Place Mall.

The race will start at 6 a.m. EST.  Pro athletes leading the field at the 2012 Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island are expected to finish in approximately four hours, with the men’s winner expected to cross the finish line at about 9:50 a.m. 

The majority of age group athletes will finish between five and seven hours after they begin. The official cutoff for the event is 3:25 p.m. EST, 8 hours and 30 minutes after the start of the final swim wave.

About IRONMAN

The iconic IRONMAN^® brand and event series is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of IRONMAN in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races.

Recognized for excellence through distinguished events, world-class athletes and quality products, World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), owner and operator of IRONMAN, has grown from a single race to a global sensation with more than 180 events across five unique brands: IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3^®, 5150^™ Triathlon Series, Iron Girl^® and IronKids^®. 

Supported by partners including Timex, PowerBar, K-Swiss and TYR, more than 200,000 athletes compete each season in the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 Series. For more information, visit www.ironman.com. 

About Amica Mutual Insurance

Amica Mutual Insurance Company, the nation’s oldest mutual insurer of automobiles, was founded in 1907. The company, with corporate headquarters in Lincoln, is a national writer of automobile, homeowners, marine and personal umbrella liability insurance. Life coverage is available through Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Amica employs more than 3,100 people in 40 offices across the country. 

Release courtesy of Eident Sports.