What you may not know about Wall Street is that sometimes traders race for more than just returns.

They also race for the thrill of victory.

So you can be sure that when the Ironman United States Championship kicks off in August 2012, a slew of Wall Street pros will do battle -  just like an average day down in the pits.

Well maybe not exactly like a day in the pits.

According to the Ironman website, the 140.6-mile race will take place in parts of both New York City and New Jersey, making it the most metropolitan environment ever to host an Ironman. The course will include a 2.4-mile swim in the Hudson River; a 112-mile bike ride on the Palisades Parkway in Bergen and Rockland Counties; and a 26.2-mile run beginning in Fort Lee, New Jersey and finishing in Riverside Park in Manhattan

Approximately 2,500 athletes from around the globe are expected to participate in the 2012 Ironman U.S. Championship with an expected economic impact of approximately $50 million for the tri-state area.