Editor's note: This story has been updated to add a statement from Ironman and correct the location the race's course and the location of the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Ironman 70.3 triathlon race has been discontinued, according to the event's website and Facebook page. The event has taken place annually since 2010.

A Facebook post thanked the city, volunteers, sponsors and racers and encouraged triathletes to participate in other regional Ironman races. It did not provide a reason why the event had been discontinued.

Ironman encouraged triathletes to compete in its events in Lake Placid and Maryland instead.

Local race director Ken Hammond directed questions about the event's discontinuation to Ironman's national organization.

Ironman provided a statement that read:

"After thoughtful consideration, we have decided that 2018 would be the final year for the IRONMAN 70.3 Syracuse triathlon. A decision like this is never easy, and we understand the disappointment this may cause for our participants.

We would like to thank the local community, volunteers and sponsors for their support and are grateful to the City of Syracuse and its citizens for hosting us over the years. Our participants have made these great events, and we hope to welcome them across another finish line at other IRONMAN 70.3 events in the future."

Ironman did not respond immediately to a follow-up request about what considerations went into the decision.

Thank You Volunteers for your continued support of Ironman 70.3 Syracuse. It is sad news that I have to share, the... Posted by Ironman 70.3 Syracuse - Volunteers on Tuesday, July 10, 2018

The triathlon included a 1.2-mile swim in Jamesville Reservoir, a 56-mile bike ride through parts of three counties and a 13.1-mile run in and out of Jamesville Beach County Park.

The 2018 version of the event was held on June 17.

The event drew athletes from across the Northeast because it served as a qualifier for the prestigious Ironman 70.3 World Championships, held annually around the world and one of the most well-known events among endurance athletes.

Along with serving as a point of pride for local endurance racers and volunteers, the race also earned notoriety for a pair of mishaps in recent years.

Last year a competitor sabotaged the bike tire of her opponent. In 2015, the Ironman medals handed out to finishers featured an image of the Rochester skyline despite the fact that the race went nowhere near Rochester.

Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1639