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Aflac Iron Girl Series to Include Syracuse Triathlon

02/17/2009

Source: Triathlete Inside Triathlon

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Press Release: Iron Girl announced the addition of a new triathlon to the 2009 Aflac Iron Girl National Women's Event Series calendar. The Aflac Iron Girl Syracuse Women's Triathlon will take place on Sunday, July 26, 2009, in and around Oneida Shores Park.

"Syracuse not only offers the ultimate Aflac Iron Girl event experience for females residing on the East Coast and in Canada, but also provides the perfect backdrop for a destination weekend," said vice president of Iron Girl, Judy Molnar. "This scenic course will provide ideal racing conditions, allowing women of all abilities the opportunity to achieve their personal bests."

Consisting of an 800-meter swim, 30K bike and 5K run, the event will draw approximately 1,500 women varying in age and fitness level. The triathlon will start in Oneida Lake, with the bike course leading athletes along the surrounding rolling countryside. The run features a course along the Oneida Lake shoreline. Online registration for the inaugural Aflac Iron Girl Syracuse Women's Triathlon will open today, January 27, at www.IronGirl.com.

"We are pleased Syracuse will join the list of other great cities across the country that will host an Aflac Iron Girl event in 2009," said Karen Riedel, 2nd vice president, director of product marketing at Aflac. "Aflac looks forward to working with Iron Girl in the New Year in making this an exciting event filled with fun and camaraderie where the women of Syracuse and surrounding communities will have a unique platform for their health and wellness goals."

"The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) is thrilled to welcome the Aflac Iron Girl Syracuse Women's Triathlon to one of our fantastic gems in Onondaga County; Oneida Shores," said SCVB president, David Holder. "We're confident event organizers and participants alike will truly enjoy competing at one of the county's greatest outdoor sporting facilities and we're excited to host the triathlon for the next three years, if not more to come."? Launched in 2004 with just two events, the Iron Girl brand has grown to now include 10 events nationwide, varying in distance from 5K to duathlon and triathlon. The Aflac Iron Girl event experience provides women with a competitive platform and amenities such as: a post-race Breakfast Café, performance shirts sized for women, professional timing, personalized race bibs, custom finisher medals and awards, post-race giveaways and reusable athlete goodie bags, part of Iron Girl's "Green" initiative. All participants in the 2009 series will also receive a commemorative Aflac Iron Girl plush duck.

The brand is supported by an interactive Web site filled with training tips, guest columnists, nutrition information and IronGirlShop.com, an online store that offers apparel, jewelry, hydration products and Spinervals Iron Girl DVDs, among other items.

To learn more about Iron Girl and to register for the inaugural Aflac Iron Girl Syracuse Women's Triathlon scheduled for July 26, visit www.IronGirl.com. For information relating to Aflac's event sponsorship, philanthropic focus and promotions, log on to www.AflacIronGirl.com. For media-related inquiries, contact Jessica Weidensall at Jessica@IronGirl.com or 813.918.3849.

About Iron Girl

Iron Girl's mission is to empower women toward a healthy lifestyle. Started in 2004 with two 10K/5K events, Iron Girl has grown to 10 events nationwide, consisting of run/walk, duathlon and triathlon events. To date, Iron Girl has celebrated finishers ranging in age from 5 to 81 and in fitness level from beginner to professional. In its inaugural year, 1,000 women became Iron Girl finishers. In 2008, more than 16,000 women crossed an Iron Girl finish line. The average age of an Iron Girl athlete is 35. The brand is supported by title sponsor, Aflac, and partners such as Luna Bar, Polar Heart Rate Monitor, Aqua Sphere, Specialized Designed for Women Bicycles and TriClique Jewelry. By logging on to IronGirl.com, athletes can enjoy an interactive Web site filled with training tips, guest columnists and nutrition information. IronGirlShop.com is an online resource that offers fitness, nutrition and lifestyle products that support participants beyond the finish line. The Iron Girl brand has been featured in a range of media outlets to include USA Today, The New York Times, Runner's World, Family Circle, Ok! Magazine, Women's Health, Fitness and Self.

About Aflac

For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan. Our insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been included in Fortune magazine's list of America's Most Admired Companies for seven years and in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for eleven consecutive years. Aflac has been recognized three times by both Fortune magazine's list of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and Working Mother magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers and has also been included in Ethisphere magazine's list of the World's Most Ethical Companies for two consecutive years. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

About the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau

The mission of the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau is to strengthen the positive awareness of the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County as a convention and visitor destination, to increase revenues and stimulate economic development and growth for the community. For more information, visit www.VisitSyracuse.org.