What the Hell is an Ironman?
Believe it or not, I still get asked that question from time to time. I'll casually mention to someone that I'm involved in triathlon, or B. will bring it up when we're out and once in a while someone will say "What's an IronMan?" or more usually "What's a triath-a-lon?" or even "I hear you do the marathon". Cue the violins, and a closeup shot of a tear rolling down my cheek as I effect a pained expression. So sad. And yet so preventable. I know that triathlon is not the most spectator-friendly sport but it still amazes me that it still has such a low profile, especially given that running (the sport formerly known as Jogging) has become so wildly and improbably popular of late.
On the other hand, if the sport remains a niche activity it will never be taken over by hordes of duffers, pikers, tourists or wannabes a la golf or running.
Now I know that YOU know what the IronMan is, because you stopped to read this blog. But just in case you're here accidentally because you were looking to buy some more Ironman action figures for the bedroom you keep in your parents' basement I'll lay it out for you.
The IronMan race is a 3 part event.
Part 1: Swim for 4 km (2.4 miles)
Part 2: Bike for 180 km (112 miles)
Part 3: Run a marathon. That's 42.2 km (26.2 miles).
This is all on the same day, one after the other. No stopping for lunch, no getting a good night's sleep between the bike and the run, no tagging a teammate and letting them take over for the next event.
The Early Days
The first triathlon was held in September of 1974 in San Francisco, and according to one of it's founders, Jack Johnstone, it was a pretty low key affair. A couple dozen entrants and some wonky distances (6 miles running, 5 miles cycling, 500 yards swimming, with the run and bike portions being non-continuous!) and the Mission Bay Triathlon was born. Everyone finished the race, and the next year a bunch more people showed up and the rest is history.
Part of that history is the birth of the IronMan, a much longer race that would eventually grow into a worldwide franchise.
The IronMan
The first IronMan event was held in 1978 in Hawaii. It was a combination of three already-existing events; the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 miles) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles). Legend has it that it was originally conceived as a way to settle which athletes were more fit, runners or swimmers or cyclists. The idea for the IronMan race is credited to Navy Commander John Collins, who evidently thought he was some kind of tough guy. The inaugural race attracted 15 men, 12 of whom completed the full distance. The winning time: 11h 46m 58s, still a respectable time today but nowhere near the low 9-hour range of today's elite competitors. Women entered the race the next year, and the sport continued to grow until today the various IronMan races around the world typically attract some two thousand athletes each. Not bad for an event that began life as little more than a bet to settle some local bragging rights!
Sources:
Wikipedia
TRIATHLON - The Early History of the Sport
On the other hand, if the sport remains a niche activity it will never be taken over by hordes of duffers, pikers, tourists or wannabes a la golf or running.
Now I know that YOU know what the IronMan is, because you stopped to read this blog. But just in case you're here accidentally because you were looking to buy some more Ironman action figures for the bedroom you keep in your parents' basement I'll lay it out for you.
The IronMan race is a 3 part event.
Part 1: Swim for 4 km (2.4 miles)
Part 2: Bike for 180 km (112 miles)
Part 3: Run a marathon. That's 42.2 km (26.2 miles).
This is all on the same day, one after the other. No stopping for lunch, no getting a good night's sleep between the bike and the run, no tagging a teammate and letting them take over for the next event.
The Early Days
The first triathlon was held in September of 1974 in San Francisco, and according to one of it's founders, Jack Johnstone, it was a pretty low key affair. A couple dozen entrants and some wonky distances (6 miles running, 5 miles cycling, 500 yards swimming, with the run and bike portions being non-continuous!) and the Mission Bay Triathlon was born. Everyone finished the race, and the next year a bunch more people showed up and the rest is history.
Part of that history is the birth of the IronMan, a much longer race that would eventually grow into a worldwide franchise.
The IronMan
The first IronMan event was held in 1978 in Hawaii. It was a combination of three already-existing events; the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 miles) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles). Legend has it that it was originally conceived as a way to settle which athletes were more fit, runners or swimmers or cyclists. The idea for the IronMan race is credited to Navy Commander John Collins, who evidently thought he was some kind of tough guy. The inaugural race attracted 15 men, 12 of whom completed the full distance. The winning time: 11h 46m 58s, still a respectable time today but nowhere near the low 9-hour range of today's elite competitors. Women entered the race the next year, and the sport continued to grow until today the various IronMan races around the world typically attract some two thousand athletes each. Not bad for an event that began life as little more than a bet to settle some local bragging rights!
Sources:
Wikipedia
TRIATHLON - The Early History of the Sport
posted by carbonman at 1:05 PM
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