From the St. Petersberg Times:
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/06/17/Tampabay/Ironman_event_coming_.shtml
" A scaled-down version of the Ironman, perhaps the world’s best known endurance competition, is coming to Clearwater starting next year, bringing with it millions in tourism dollars and possibly network television, city and race officials say.
The race, the inaugural Clearwater Half Ironman World Championship, would launch from Sand Key Park and circle mid-Pinellas County.
Made up of a 1.2-mile ocean swim, a 56-mile bike race and a 13.1-mile run, the annual event would be half the distance of the traditional Ironman World Championship, which is televised from Hawaii each fall.
Executives with the World Triathlon Corporation in Tarpon Springs said they hope to build a similar following in Clearwater. They asked for and received support Thursday from theCity Council and expect to make a formal announcement about the race next month."