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Ironman Triathlon Comes To New York City, Palisades On Saturday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - How do you top the New York City Marathon as a test of endurance and strength? With the Ironman Triathlon, which makes its NYC debut on Saturday.

WCBS 880's Monica Miller On The Story

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"2.4 miles swim in the Hudson followed by a 112-mile bike race on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, finishing with a full distance 26.2 mile marathon over the G.W. Bridge," event organizer John Korff told WCBS 880 reporter Monica Miller. "It's a triathlon on steroids."

He said its the first time an event like this will take place in the Tri-State Area.

3,000 athletes have entered from around the world and roughly 95 percent of them will finish.

"These guys have been training 20 hours a week, probably for the last five months," Korff said.

He said athletes have raised over $3 million for charity.

"They're just incredibly dedicated and it shows what the human spirit can do if they're so motivated," he said.

It'll also take thousands of volunteers and cheering fans on August 11th to help get them over the finish line, which is in Manhattan's Riverside Park.

"We will have, by race day, nearly 4,700 volunteers. We're just about there right now. That includes about 700 medical volunteers," Korff said.

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