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The Ironman Experience

American Fitness, May, 1999 by Greg Lane, Staci Lane

More than 3,000 swimmers participate in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The sun broke over the Haul Alai volcanic crater as swimmers plunged into the temperate aqua blue tropical waters of the Kona Harbor. The cannon exploded at precisely 7:00 a.m., and from the placid waters emerged a breathtaking surge of 3,000 rotating arms and kicking feet. The day proved to be warm and pleasant for spectators. Athletes were not so lucky, facing 30-40 mph gusting winds and piercing 80-plus degree heat during the 8.5 hour-long race. In the face of those severe conditions, tenacity and countless hours of training brought the competitors home.

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Each year, more than 25,000 spectators descend upon the small seaside town of Kailua-Kona located on the Island of Hawaii to enjoy the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. The event is an original triathlon sport attracting thousands of athletes worldwide. The competition began 20 years ago in Honolulu, Hawaii, when Captain John Collins debated with friends about which athlete was the best swimmer, biker and runner. To settle the debate, in 1978 he designed the ultimate physical endurance race, consisting of a 2.4-mile Waikiki rough water swim-off, a 112-mile bike race around Oahu and the 26-mile Honolulu Marathon. Two years later, the race moved to Hawaii and has since grown into a world class event.

Presently, competitors from 50 countries (ranging in age from 18 to 81) have 17 hours to complete the competition, with cut-off times for each race segment. Only 1,350 positions are awarded to the nearly 30,000 people who enter the 21 qualifying races. Another 3,000 enter a lottery for the remaining 150 slots. It's an amazingly dynamic event which pairs professionals and amateurs of all ages in an extremely demanding race.

There is an overall purse of $250,000, with first place men's and women's winners each taking home $35,000. Funding for the race is provided primarily by sponsors and the nearly 7,000 volunteers who help make the Ironman successful.

During the 20th anniversary of the event celebrated on October 3, 1998, Peter Reid of Canada was first across the finish line. He completed the race in 8:24:20, seven minutes ahead of Belgium's Luc Van Lierde. Last year's winner, Thomas Hellriegel of Germany, finished ninth. Natascha Badman from Winzau, Switzerland, held off a late push by Lori Bowden of Canada. They finished in 9:24:16 and 9:27:19 respectively. Paula Newby-Fraser of California, the eight-time Women's Ironman Champion, finished 11th.

Race founder Captain John Collins, who competed with his wife and son, finished in 16:30:02--within half an hour of his finish time 20 years ago. When interviewed before the race, he said, "I feel pretty good. I just hope I can finish the race." When asked how he felt, having conceived the flourishing sport of triathlon, he replied, "It just makes me feel great."

The 1998 Ironman Triathlon World Championship was broadcast on NBC on December 12, 1998, reaching more than a billion homes worldwide. In the quaint, close-knit community of Kona, over 7,000 volunteers, 400 media personnel, 1,500 athletes and thousands of fun-loving "Ironfans" will gather once again for the Ironman World Championship on October 23, 1999.

For more information, visit the Ironman Association Web site at www.ironmantri.com.

The Ironman Experience

American Fitness, May, 1999 by Greg Lane, Staci Lane

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