The Ford Ironman World Championship is held every year in Kona, Hawaii and is the biggest day for any triathlete. To get to the starting line in Kona, you must either be very lucky and get yourself a spot through the lottery, or very talented, and win yourself a qualifying spot at one of the qualifying events held around the world. Tens-of-thousands of triathletes try to get one of those coveted Ironman spots every year in order to test themselves on one of the biggest challenges the sports world has to offer ... 2.4-miles of swimming, 112-miles of biking, and a 26.2-mile marathon run through tough ocean waves, and challenging lava-covered terrain.

The 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship takes place on October 10, 2009, and will be broadcast live online.

Races that that qualify athletes for the Ford Ironman World Championship include: Ironman UK, Subaru Ironman Canada, Ford Ironman Louisville, Ford Ironman Wisconsin, Ford Ironman World Championship, Ford Ironman Florida, Ford Ironman Arizona, Ironman Cozumel, Ironman Western Australia Triathlon, Lotto Ironman Langkawi Malaysia Triathlon, Bonita Ironman New Zealand, Ironman China, Country Energy Ironman Australia Triathlon, Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa, Ford Ironman St. George, Ironman Lanzarote Canarias Triathlon, Ironman Brasil Triathlon Florianopolis, Ironman Japan Triathlon, Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene, Ironman France, Ironman Austria, Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championship, Ford Ironman Lake Placid, Ironman Switzerland.