{"id":17377,"date":"2019-03-04T14:41:08","date_gmt":"2019-03-04T14:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.challenge-family.com\/challenge-family\/uncategorized\/challengedaytona-announces-official-daytona-distance-under-the-lights-professional-race\/"},"modified":"2024-05-29T15:46:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T15:46:33","slug":"challengedaytona-announces-official-daytona-distance-under-the-lights-professional-race","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.challenge-family.com\/challenge-family\/news\/challengedaytona-announces-official-daytona-distance-under-the-lights-professional-race\/","title":{"rendered":"CHALLENGEDAYTONA Announces Official \u201cDaytona Distance Under the Lights\u201d Professional Race"},"content":{"rendered":"

Building on the undeniable success and unique circumstances of the inaugural CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>DAYTONA <\/em>triathlon in December 2018, race organizers are thrilled to announce the new \u201cDaytona Distance Under the Lights\u201d format for the 2019 professional field. The event, which is exclusive to professional athletes, will be highlighted by a 15-lap (37.5-mile) bike course and 8.2-mile run course taking place under the lights of the track at Daytona International Speedway. The race is scheduled to coincide with sunset on Saturday during the CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>DAYTONA <\/em>Triathlon Festival weekend.<\/p>\n

At the inaugural 2018 festival event, named \u201cBest New Race of 2018\u201d by Triathlete Magazine, mid-morning thunderstorms led to modifications to the professional and amateur races on the final day of competition. The amateurs tackled a shortened course early Sunday morning, while the pros sat tight, awaiting an afternoon start. The professional athlete VIP area, known as the \u201cGreen Room\u201d and supplied with everything from warm-up treadmills and stationary bikes to continuous food and drinks, became a hotbed of discussion. Organizers and elite athletes conferred on the best possible revised race format. The pros suggested a 1-mile swim, 37.5-mile bike, and 8.2-mile run, and organizers supported the recommendation.<\/p>\n

Finally the weather subsided and the world\u2019s finest were able to test their mettle on the revised course, contained completely within the Daytona International Speedway complex. The changes enabled spectators an unexpected benefit: the ability to witness the entire pro race from numerous different vantage points. Afterward, the pros unanimously agreed that the new Daytona Distance course at the iconic \u201cWorld Center of Racing\u201d\u2014swimming with a view to the spectacular frontstretch seating, cycling 15 laps around the track, and finishing with a run around the complex and track\u2014was a career highlight.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s winner Sarah Haskins summed up the experience, saying, \u201cI\u2019ve been racing for 15 years and this is truly one of the coolest experiences I have ever had racing. The venue, the organizers, the volunteers, the fans\u2014just incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>FAMILY <\/em>CEO Zibi Szflucik was among the spectators cheering from the inside edge of the track as the world\u2019s top professionals flew by on the bike, lap after lap. \u201cTo see such intense racing action so close up, and to witness every attack and change in leadership from a front-row vantage point is unheard of in triathlon. Normally you catch a glimpse of the riders two or three times if you\u2019re lucky. Here, with the new Daytona Distance format, you see each rider 15 times.\u201d<\/p>\n

The now-official Daytona Distance Under the Lights professional race format will include a two-lap, 1-mile swim; a 15-lap, 37.5-mile bike; and an 8.2-mile run\u2014all within the Daytona International Speedway property. Adding to the excitement at the 2019 event will be the enhanced schedule and atmosphere for athletes and spectators alike. The entire course is optimized for viewing, with opportunities for spectators to get up close and cheer for their favorite pros midway through the swim, all along the bike and run legs, and at each transition juncture. The unique Daytona Distance Under the Lights race, exclusive to the professional field, will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 14th. The start time provides prime viewing for age group athletes competing in either Saturday\u2019s Sprint Distance events or Sunday\u2019s Middle Distance events. The late start is also designed to create an unprecedented sensory experience, as the lights at Daytona International Speedway\u2014normally reserved solely for NASCAR racing, sports cars and Supercross \u2014will flood the track at 5:30 p.m., just as the Florida sun sets and the pros speed around the track.<\/p>\n

Local triathlete Bill Christy, CEO at Cognitive Kinetics and executive producer of CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>DAYTONA,<\/em> was instrumental in securing the opportunity to race under the lights at the track. \u201cI\u2019ve been watching the excitement of cars racing under the lights for years. It\u2019s time we give our pro triathletes the same electric experience,\u201d says Christy.<\/p>\n

Professional athletes interested in securing a start position at the 2019 CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>DAYTONA<\/em> Daytona Distance Under the Lights are invited to contact Belinda Granger, CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>FAMILY <\/em>Professional Athlete Liaison at belinda@challenge-family.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Anyone interested in participating in the numerous other events offered at CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>DAYTONA\u2014<\/em>including Sprint and Middle Distance Triathlons, the Junior Challenge kids\u2019 race, Relay categories, Duathlon and Aquabike events, and 5K\/10K run\/walk events\u2014is invited to visit www.challenge-daytona.com<\/a> for more information and to register. The top six male and female finishers in each Middle Distance Triathlon age group will qualify for entry in\u00a0THE<\/em><\/strong>CHAMPIONSHIP,\u00a0<\/em>to be held in June\u00a0<\/sup>2020 at the x-bionic sphere in Samorin, Slovakia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About<\/strong>\u00a0CHALLENGE<\/strong><\/em>DAYTONA<\/em>
\nAre you ready to swim, bike, and run at the \u201cWorld Center of Racing\u201d? From December 13-15, 2019, Daytona International Speedway will welcome triathletes and triathlon fans from around the world to CHALLENGE<\/strong><\/em>DAYTONA<\/em>. Named \u201cBest New Race of 2018\u201d by Triathlete Magazine, the entire festival of events will take place at the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex,\u00a0home of \u201cThe Great American Race\u201d\u2014the DAYTONA 500. www.challenge-daytona.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

More information<\/strong>
\nwww.challenge-daytona.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

————————————–Not for publication—————————————–<\/p>\n

For all media inquiries, please contact Holly Bennett<\/p>\n

at\u00a0holly@hollacommunications.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Building on the undeniable success and unique circumstances of the inaugural CHALLENGEDAYTONA triathlon in December 2018, race organizers are thrilled to announce the new \u201cDaytona Distance Under the Lights\u201d format for the 2019 professional field. The event, which is exclusive to professional athletes, will be highlighted by a 15-lap (37.5-mile) bike course and 8.2-mile run […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":17378,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[36,25],"class_list":["post-17377","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-challenge-daytona","tag-challenge-family"],"yoast_head":"\nCHALLENGEDAYTONA Announces Official \u201cDaytona Distance Under the Lights\u201d Professional Race - Challenge Family<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.challenge-family.com\/challenge-family\/news\/challengedaytona-announces-official-daytona-distance-under-the-lights-professional-race\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CHALLENGEDAYTONA Announces Official \u201cDaytona Distance Under the Lights\u201d Professional Race - Challenge Family\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Building on the undeniable success and unique circumstances of the inaugural CHALLENGEDAYTONA triathlon in December 2018, race organizers are thrilled to announce the new \u201cDaytona Distance Under the Lights\u201d format for the 2019 professional field. 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