We saw the Ironman from a little different perspective this year. We were able to see the swim portion of the event from a boat! First, the elite class start and then the remaining 2300 entrants take off looking like a giant herd of baby turtles with their arms flailing. They swim like crazy to break away from the massive pack. Soon they stretch out for the swim. Most athletes shoot for an hour time. Back on land, we watched riders zoom by on their 112 mile bike ride. That’s 3 times around the lower half of the island. Averaging about 20 mph, the riders then jump off their $5-12,000 USD bikes (mostly Cervelos), change clothes, and begin a full marathon! The winning man (USA) completed in in about 8 1/2 hours and the winning woman (Swiss) finished in about 9 1/4 hours. The running continued all afternoon and evening until the midnight cutoff.
There were roughly 2,500 participants with about 600 women and about 500 Mexicans. It’s estimated that the event attracts over 10,000 people to the island- a huge economic boost.
We volunteered at the Red Cross Information Tent from 7PM to midnight. It was mass confusion as we (who know very little information) were barraged by questions of “Where do I pick up my bike?”, “What’s the status of my daughter who is in the Medical Tent?”, “Where’s transportation to the hotels?”, and on and on. All this while we we trying to keep a tally on finish times (thankfully, we weren’t the official timers- athletes wear computer chips for that), entry into recovery, departure times, and trying to locate contestants who had been in the medical tent for a long time for concerned family members. Even though we didn’t have adequate information for families, the athletes were well taken care of by doctors, nurses, paramedics and massage therapists.
There were loads of foot blisters, strained muscles, dehydrated, and tired, tired people. But, lots of happiness and tears in completing an incredible physical challenge. It was tremendous to be able to congratulate the athletes and to, hopefully, be an encouraging face at the end of their long day.
The swimmers’ arms are moving too fast to capture them in a photo. All you can see is turbulence like a fish feeding frenzy!
Another boat with cheerleaders!
Swimmers starting to spread out in a long, long line.
Bikers coming down the the Melgar, just south of the Palacio with folks cheering them on.
A runner beginning his marathon.
The local airbase had vintage planes performing aerial acrobatics above the competitors as they raced through town.
1 comment:
Wow! Congrats to all that competed! What an amazing feat!
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