It’s the only official Ironman event held on African soil, and it all happened in Port Elizabeth today! 2.8km swim, 180km bike and a 42.2 km run (which is a marathon). The race was to begin at 7am and the athletes had until midnight to complete all three stages of the race. There were almost 1,800 competitors that started the day at Hobie Beach, waves were calm and it was a beautiful day! Chelsea and I woke up at 4am and left for the pier around 430am. We hauled ass on our bikes because it was still dark outside, but no one was out anyways and once we got to the main road people were already setting up camp for the long day ahead. We locked out bikes up and made our way over to the pier to get prime standing room to watch the start of the race. It was only 5am by this time, 2 hours left until the start of the race. The anticipation grew as 7am drew closer. There were so many tents set up and athletes walking around getting their stuff together. The bike transition area was crazy to look at, so many bikes. I could only imagine how much money was sitting behind the fence. We waited as the sun rose, dolphins swam, and helicopters soared all over the sky. People started to pack the pier around 630ish so I was glad we got there early. We watched as some of the racers warmed up in the Indian Ocean and finally they started to line up. The first wave, which was filled with the Pros, started in the water clear ahead of everyone else. Behind them on the beach was the rest of the swimmers ready for the gun to signal the start of a very long day. Once the gun went off, they all rushed into the water and before I knew it people were already out to the first booey and ready to make the turn. We watched as they swam their first lap, then got out of the water and ran a loop on the beach then made their way back into the water for their final lap. The first person out of the water was an Austrian followed closely by a South African and a Belgium. The front swimmers got out of the water around the 45 minute mark, which was amazing to me! We watched as a few more people made their way to the transition area and then we decided it was time to change location. We walked off the pier and tried to catch a glimpse of the racers getting onto their bikes. We couldn’t see very much, but I got a few pictures. After that we decided since we had been up so long we would walk over to the Boardwalk and get something to eat for breakfast. We met up with the rest of our group that came down around 6ish to see the start of the race, but unfortunately didn’t make it out onto the pier. I had a waffle and we all enjoyed our breakfast with the commentators voice in the background. Afterwards, Becca, Sara and I decided to go to the beach to lay out for awhile since the bike portion of the race would take awhile. There was a 2 hour and 15 minute time limit for the swim and then the bike needed to be completed by 530pm. Once we were burned enough from laying on the beach, we moved back up to the road to watch as the top three male and females made their way around the marathon loop 4 times. The top three for each group had a designated bike rider to follow them so that people knew that they were in first, second and third. Once the top male finished his third loop we made out way over to the finishers stretch. I grabbed a spot right along the fence so I could be involved in all the action, but everyone else went up to the stands to get an overhead view. The helicopters in the air followed as the top runners made their way to the finish line, so when the chopper got close we new he was making his way towards us. Everyone in the crowd was given clappers, horns and balloons to cheer the South African on, who is actually from PE. As he made his way down the home stretch, the crowd was so enthusiastic and there was so much energy!!! I took a video of him finishing and then he came back out into the crowd to give some high fives and waves! The crowd obviously loved him since he is from PE! The German was next to come down the home stretch and the South African gave him a high five and he went by to congratulate him. I still can not get over the energy all the people were giving to these outstanding racers! The music kept on bumping and then I think my favorite part of the day was when the first female crossed the finish line, breaking a world record for a woman’s Ironman! She was all smiles and just like all the runners before her, collapsed after she crossed the finish line. I will update this post with names and times when they are posted online after the races is completely over. After we watched some of the top people finish, I walked back by myself and followed the course that they were running. Most people at this point were towards the back and some were walking, but still I felt inspired by them because they didn’t give up! I think that I may have fallen in love with Ironman and racing in general this weekend. I love running and I also love biking (with my bike at home, because the one I have here sucks; I’m missing a pedal and my front tire goes flat every third day) and if I can learn to swim properly I will compete in an Ironman. I am going to focus on my 50K in July and the sprint Tri in Fairport, but then I have to commit myself entirely to volleyball for my last season ever. Afterwards, I will consider an Ironman and hopefully one day come back to beautiful Port Elizabeth to race will all the great athletes that inspired me today.
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