Athletes pass IronWorks Gym here during their bike route for the 2011 Heat the Streets Duathlon that took place here Sunday. Participants were spread out across the grass in front of IronWorks Sunday morning before the race started, stretching out to prepare for the challenge ahead. The Duathlon is an annual event sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni to strengthen bonds between station residents and Japanese locals. Besides Friendship Day, the races MCCS Iwakuni sponsors are the best way to allow locals access to the station. Participants started the race in front of IronWorks Gym with a four kilometer run to Penny Lake fields and back on the seawall. Participants then changed over to their bikes inside the bike rack area for a 24-kilometer biking portion. The last part of the race had participants place their bikes back in the racks and run for another four kilometers from the seawall to Penny Lake fields, finishing in front of IronWorks.