Ironman Wisconsin takes place in a sports-crazy town that is known as one of the best spots to bike in the United States, along with being the site of the University of Wisconsin, America's premier "party college." Those two attributes have a bit to do with why this race is so popular and so successful, but there is a lot more to the magic that makes this such a hugely successful event. The two-loop Ironman Wisconsin swim takes place in the warm waters (75 degrees Fahrenheit/ 24 degrees Celsius) of Lake Monona. The competitors don't have to leave the water at the end of the first loop - they'll just swim straight around the corner of the swim start to begin the second loop. Like the swim, the bike course in Madison is a two-loop affair. After running up the "helix" or ramp up to the transition area in the parking lot here at the Monona terrace, the competitors jump on their bikes and ride down the opposite "helix" to start the ride. After coming through T2 in the Monona terrace, the competitors embark on the marathon run. The run goes through the University of Wisconsin campus (including a loop around Camp Randall Stadium), which provides an abundant spectator base as the students cheer the competitors on through the course.