News Anchor to Tackle Kailua-Kona's Scorching Lava Fields

As an anchor for CNN Headline News, Denise Dillon is accustomed to being on the front line. From heated political topics to tough international issues, Dillon is the calm in the midst of the controlled chaos that is breaking news. This October 6, Dillon will be embroiled in a battle more personal in nature. In some of the toughest conditions ever, she will test her physical and mental limits as one of 1,500 athletes from around the world competing in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

An accomplished athlete, Dillon has run several marathons, is a competitive tennis player, a certified aerobics instructor, a water skier and a scuba diver. In 1999, she competed in the inaugural Isuzu Ironman Florida Triathlon, finishing in a respectable 12:06:45.

The toughest part was not knowing what to expect. I tracked down everyone I knew who had done an Ironman event to get advice on everything from training, to what to eat. Looking back, the training was the hard part... the race was a blast! Dillon said.

As an overnight anchor, Dillon works from midnight to 6:00 a.m. She typically arrives at the studio at 10:00 p.m. During the summer months Dillon typically swims and the winter she runs. In order to prepare for the 140.6-mile odyssey, Dillon say she will try to do as much riding on weekends as possible. I plan to sign up for as many organized century rides as I can. This will make sure I get on my bike and will support the organization that is putting the ride together. I'm not too concerned about my running, but I definitely have to learn to be more efficient in the water.

Dillon started running in 1991 when participated in a 10 k race that her television station was sponsoring. She finished in the top three. It wasn't too soon after that she began competing in triathlons. Dillon says she showed up to her first race with a Kmart bicycle, which, according to Dillon, was the only one with a kickstand. Between 200 and 300 people participated in the race and she finished in the top of the women's 20-30-year-old age group.

In 1996, Dillon got married during the 100^th running of the Boston Marathon. To celebrate their anniversary, Dillon and her husband run a marathon each April 15. In past years, they have run marathons in London, Sydney and Paris. Her best marathon time is 3:10.

 Dillon joined the CNN group in 1995 and has also served as an anchor for CNN International and CNN Airport Newtwork. In the course of her career, Dillon has won the Women in Broadcasting New Broadcaster Award, the Tennessee Associated Press Documentary Award, and the Texas Associated Press Investigative Reporting Award.

 The 2001 Ironman Triathlon World Championship will be held on October 6, 2001 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Each year, more than 50,000 athletes from around the world vie for one of 1,500 coveted starting spots at 21 qualifying races around the world including North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Pacific Rim.