The breathtaking scenery and natural beauty of the area made the gruelling challenge a little more bearable for the athletes as they enjoyed one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Mediterranean – surrounded by unrivalled views of mountains, forests, rivers and the sea.
Luxury Greek destination Costa Navarino has been hailed as an outstanding triathlon venue following the hosting of the first Ironman 70.3 event to be held in the country.
The unique event – which welcomed more than 4,500 athletes, visitors and volunteers to the Peloponnese, last month – saw participants swim 1.9km in the Ionian Sea from the golden sands of Navarino Dunes, cycle 90km of paved roads through picturesque villages, ancient olive groves and pine-covered hills, before running a half-marathon of 21km along pristine beaches and cobblestone paths towards the finishing line at The Romanos, a Luxury Collection resort at Costa Navarino.
The breathtaking scenery and natural beauty of the area made the gruelling challenge a little more bearable for the athletes as they enjoyed one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Mediterranean – surrounded by unrivalled views of mountains, forests, rivers and the sea.
And the winners of Greece's first Ironman 70.3 event, Juliana Villasante, from Mexico – who took the women's title – and Ernesto Espinoza, from Costa Rica, were very impressed by the destination as both a competition and training venue.
Villasante said: "It was a demanding race, with rough sea and a highly technical bike leg, but in an impressive landscape. It's the first time I've been to Greece and I'm really impressed by the place, the people and the hospitality. It's a race that I will definitely suggest to anyone who is interested to run the distance."
And Espinoza added: "The Ironman 70.3 in Costa Navarino was a very powerful experience in many ways. We had to battle with Grigoris Souvatzoglou right up to 2km before the finish line. I'm absolutely delighted to win and very impressed with the very warm and friendly atmosphere."
The event took place over four days from April 11-14, and featured athletes from 61 countries, all putting their endurance to the limit in the biggest triathlon, bike race or open water competition ever to be held in Greece.
Costa Navarino is renowned for its stunning coastal location. An unrivalled sporting offering includes two sublime golf courses, a race track for go-karting and a 95m2 climbing wall to help prepare for the Messinia cliff faces. Facilities for tennis, squash, football, basketball and bowling make it a perfect destination for any sports enthusiast.
Plenty of water sports are also available in the crystal-clear water of the Ionian Sea and Navarino Bay, including surfing, kite-surfing, wind-surfing, yachting, paddleboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving and snorkeling. There are also fantastic bike rides and hiking spots locally, with opportunities to explore the hills around Navarino Dunes, discover the waterfalls at Kalamari or stroll along the many acclaimed beaches nearby.
The 2020 Ironman 70.3 Greece will take place at Costa Navarino on April 5, 2020.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
