IRONMAN Stories
Get set for IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire 2022
With final preparations now underway, athletes from across the country, and the world will soon be jetting into Staffordshire ahead of this years IRONMAN triathlon event taking place on Sunday 12 June 2022.
The sporting spectacle will see up to 3,000 athletes compete in a gruelling 70.3 mile race across Staffordshire, incorporating a 1.2-mile swim at Chasewater Country Park, followed by a 56-mile bike through the Staffordshire countryside and Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, finishing with a 13.1-mile run ending in Stafford town centre.
Meet our local Athletes
We caught up with some local Athletes to get their take on how their training is going and about how the event gives us the opportunity to showcase Staffordshire to the rest of the UK and internationally.
Cllr Alan White - Individual Entry Athlete
and Leader of Staffordshire County Council
Meet Alan White. One of our local Staffordshire Athletes taking part in the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire on Sunday 12 June 2022. and who also happens to also be the Leader of Staffordshire County Council.
He gives us his video update on how his preparation is going, and what the iconic event means for Staffordshire.
Mark Parkinson - Individual Entry Athlete
Meet Mark Parkinson. One of our local Staffordshire Athletes, currently in the final week of training for this year's gruelling IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire triathlon events taking place here in Staffordshire on Sunday 12 June 2022.
Adam Bushnell - Individual Entry Athlete
Meet Adam Bushnell. Another of our local Staffordshire Athletes, who has been creating a video blog for us covering the highs and lows of his training regime.
Steve Babb, John Parkes and Richard Rea - County Council Relay Team
Our very own relay team give is their personal take on how they have been preparing physically and mentally, and how they are looking forward to taking part, here in their own words
Steve Babb - Swim
"Well it’s been a bit of a journey for me. I completed the Staffordshire Half Ironman in 2018, but with a very slow bike section due to technical issues.
It had been in my mind since, to do it again, to get a better time. I had entered for the individual competition this year but suffered a knee injury putting a halt to my training. Just as training was getting back on track, I went down with Covid and became extremely tired, so withdrew from the competition.
With energy levels getting back to normal, I was asked by Richard and John, if I would join their relay team as they were without a swimmer.
With just a month to go until the competition, the furthest I had swam in over six months was just a few hundred meters, so the wetsuit was on, I headed to Pillaton open water swimming venue, and managed the full 1.2 mile distance. It was within the time allowed, but it’s been full on since, heading to Pillaton and Chasewater to try and improve on the speed!
I am really looking forward to the competition, but very very nervous, as I don’t want to let my teammates down!"
John Parkes - Bike
"It's always been an aspiration to enter the Ironman, but as someone who has completed half marathon events, 10k events, the Tour of Britain and rides with Stafford Road Club, the idea of doing these disciplines combined with a swim has seemed a step too far.
Now I have the opportunity to be a part of an event that has for a long time seemed beyond my abilities.
I have nothing but complete admiration for those participating in the individual event and hopefully, I can do my fellow teammates justice by doing the best I can in the cycling element of this fantastic event."
Richard Rea - Run
"After a little gap since completing the first three Ironman Staffs events, I’m excited to be involved again especially as this time I will be part of a team. Even now I can recall the amazing atmosphere and I can’t wait to experience it again.
With a little bit of luck, everything will go to plan, and we’ll run the last 200m together down the finishing straight to complete what will undoubtedly be a fantastic event."
Good luck everyone!
Join us in wishing these featured athletes. You can follow all competing athletes progress by downloading the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker from www.ironman.com/im703-staffordshire-supporters
If you are planning to cheer on Athletes in person, you can also download a spectator guide from the above website too - which features event info and the best places to watch the action. Along with free park and ride shuttle bus information
Plan ahead
Residents and businesses are now urged to plan ahead for any travel during the event weekend, as traffic access restrictions will be implemented before and during the event
If you live, work or plan to visit or travel near any of the route outlined above, then you are urged to look at the traffic access page on the official IRONMAN STAFFORDSHIRE website and plan any travel or journey that you intend to make on the weekend of 11 and 12 June 2022 accordingly.
There will be unrestricted access for emergency services at all times.
Spectator hotspots and free Park and Ride services
There are plenty of hotspots to view the event from, cheer on your Athletes, and enjoy the spectacle.
Download the full spectator guide, along with local travel and park and ride shuttle information on the IRONMAN website.
Spectator hotspots include Chasewater Country Park, Stafford town centre and Stafford Castle.
Please note: there are vehicle restrictions in place to Chasewater and other locations before and during the the event.
There will be free shuttle bus services available to Chasewater (from Holland Park) and to Stafford (from New Beacon Sports Club).
A further pre-bookable paid for park and ride shuttle service available to and from Chasewater from Doxey Road.
(Priority is given to Athletes who also use these shuttle services)
Further information for spectators and details of the park and ride shuttle service is available from the IRONMAN website and in the Athlete Guide.
Road access and road closures
Almost 3000 athletes will compete on the day, and an event as big as this takes some meticulous planning as you can imagine.
This includes several road access and traffic management initiatives.
Chasewater Country Park will be closed to vehicles on Saturday June 11 from 8am until 6pm and Sunday June 12 from 4am until 10am.
Roads in Stafford affected include: Tixall Road, Hatherton Street, Fairway, Riverway, Bridge Street, South Walls, Newport Road, Kingsway and Unicorn Way. Riverway will also be fully closed to traffic on Saturday June 11 from 8am until 6pm.
Other routes may also be affected along the bike route or other parts of the event.
Once again we urge your to plan any travel planned for the event weekend well in advance.
There will be unrestricted access for emergency services at all times.
If you have any road or route access questions please contact staffordshire70.3@ironmanroadaccess.com or call 03330 11 66 00
Full road closures, access information and route maps are available on the IRONMAN Staffordshire website.