There was a time not that long ago that downtown Augusta would have been an unlikely spot for an international event.

But as thousands of people attend Sunday’s IronMan 70.3 triathlon, they’ll see a downtown that has transformed, and is still transforming, using its potential in a way that was unthinkable even a decade ago.

The triathlon, in which participants will swim 1.2 miles down the Kennebec before undertaking a 56-mile bike loop and 13.1-mile run around central Maine, is both a boon for the city and a recognition of how far it’s come.

The IronMan spent several years in Old Orchard Beach, with the popular beach and iconic pier and amusement park as a back drop. For their next spot in Maine, they needed a community with all the necessary amenities, plus the organization to back up such an event.

“When we looked at Augusta, it was clear this was a group that would support us well to get this done,” the race director told the Kennebec Journal. “When you’re planning a race, you try to plan it as much as possible around the city center, and Augusta really had one that appealed to us.”

The city center is so appealing because of the hard work over the last decade-plus by city officials, entrepreneurs and other residents. Investment in residential and business development has poured in as more and more people have recognized what downtown Augusta can become with the right effort.

Now, that work has earned the city this great event. About 2,000 competitors will take part, with thousands more coming to watch and support the racers.

While here, they’ll stay in hotels and campgrounds, eat at local restaurants, and shop in local retail stores. Race officials estimate it’ll account for about $10 million in direct and indirect spending in the region.

It’ll also show off Augusta as a destination, not only because of what’s becoming an exemplary Maine downtown, but also because of its proximity to everything else the region has to offer.

The people who visit this weekend may return again some day, to enjoy the capital more thoroughly as well as a central point for seeing the mountains or coast. Some might want to live here, even start a business.

Whatever the case, they should leave with a new appreciation for the city of Augusta, and a sense of the momentum that is now carrying it forward.

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