MADISON, Wis.- Athletes competing in the Ironman half triathlon were spared from rain Saturday, as full triathlon athletes warm-up for what might be a more soggy race to follow.
For the Half, or Ironman 70.3, racers swim for 1.2 miles, Bike for 56 miles, then run 13.1 miles.
Every triathlete has their own race traditions to get through competition – Glenda Adams channeled her inner “Energizer bunny:” ears, drum, and all.
“I just always like to run in something fun because you get lots of extra cheers and so I brought some extra ears for my swimmer and my cyclist so just makes sure you have fun,” Adams said, “the extra battery kind of helped me keep going for that extra 13 miles.”
While the “Energizer bunny” was all charged up for her leg of the relay race Saturday, Sunday’s full triathlon competitors may need a little more to “keep going and going” in the rain.
“I’ll be out cheering tomorrow and hoping that the rain holds off for them because it’s going to be a long day if it’s wet,” Adams said.
Race Director Ryan Richards said officials have been monitoring the weather for the full 140 mi-race since Thursday, but they have protocols in place in case athletes have to compete in more than just a sprinkle.
“If there’s severe weather or anything it could delay it, it could cancel portions of it,” Richards said. “If there’s lightning and things, we have protocols in place. If there’s damaging winds or dangerous winds, we have protocols in place for that as well.”
Adding rain and chilly temperatures to Sunday’s already grueling 2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, and 26.2 mi run may sound like torture, but the athletes love it – and some live it.
The top racers in the Half could qualify for the World Championships in Finland, while the top racers on Sunday could qualify to compete in Hawaii.
“For some of these athletes there’s a lot on the line, but everybody has their own story and that’s really what makes this really special,” Richards said.
The director also warned drivers Sunday to be extra alert on the busier roads. “We have police officers directing traffic at a lot of the major intersections if you are going past them.”
“It could take you a bit longer to get through there but they will get you through there in between the runners or in between the bikers,” Richards said.
But if athletes Sunday are anything like David Alexander doing his first Ironman, more spectators raining down cheers will get them through the downpour.
“I call it the crowd factor, it’s like the X factor here,” he said. “Just the people out here, it’s awesome. We really need that right now. It brings people together and yeah, it’s awesome.”
COPYRIGHT 2022 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
