Ironman World Championship on NBC 18th December

Dont forget, this Saturday 18th December 2010 is the coverage of the 2010 Ironman World Championship from 4 - 6pm EST on NBC. 

Veteran sports commentator and narrator Al Trautwig will provide the voiceover. Those profiled in the Emmy-Award-winning program range from professional triathletes, including Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack, of Australia, to physically challenged athletes, military veterans, cancer survivors and an 80-year-old participant.

Nearly 1,800 of the world's finest athletes braved the harsh elements of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in an attempt to earn the title of "Ironman." Temperatures on race day reached 85 degrees Fahrenheit and higher during certain portions of the bike and run courses. Participants ranging in age from 19 to 80 years competed in the 2.4-mile Pacific Ocean swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon in a battle of human motivation versus sweltering heat and mental and physical fatigue.

The 2010 broadcast captures the emotion of the day and features head-to-head competition among the top male and female professionals. Watch McCormack and Germany's Andreas Raelert run stride-for-stride during the last few miles of the marathon and Australian Mirinda Carfrae, last year's second-place finisher, as she runs a blistering 2:53 marathon. The program also highlights the 17-hour challenge of several unique age group participants who define the meaning of courage and inspiration. Featured athletes include:

• Kyle Garlett, a four-time cancer survivor and heart-transplant recipient. Garlett missed the swim cutoff by seven seconds in 2009 and returns this year in an effort to complete not only the swim portion in time but also the entire 140.6-mile race.

• Lew Hollander, an 80-year-old scientist, lecturer, horseman and raconteur who returns to Kailua-Kona to attempt his 21st Ironman World Championship.

• Kathleen Allen, a married mother of four who balances raising her children, running a household and training for Ironman. After overcoming a cycling accident that nearly took her life, Allen arrives in Kailua-Kona to prove that her Ironman career is far from over.

• Clayton Treska, a 30-year-old former Marine who received experimental chemotherapy to battle stage-IV terminal testicular cancer just one year ago. Treska, who trained for the event while undergoing treatment and living in a cancer clinic, demonstrates the Ironman mantra that "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. ®" 

Click Here to watch the Official Ironman Video of the event