Thousands Par­tic­ipate in IRONMAN 70.3 Raleigh Triathlon

NORTH CAROLINA  -- Thousands of runners are putting their bodies to the test on Sunday with swimming, biking, and running their way to the finish line in an IRONMAN Triathalon.

This is the third year the Triangle has hosted the event.

Almost 3,000 people participate in the race.

The athletes started at Jordan Lake with a 1.2 mile swim, followed by a 56 mile bike ride, and then a 13 mile run to Raleigh where the race ends.

It features amateurs and professionals in age from 18 to get this 78 years old.

There's big money up for grabs in this race, too.

The professional prize is $50,000 and there are 30 age group qualifying slots to the 2015 IRONMAN Championship that takes place in Austria.