This weekend the fourth in the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa series takes place in East London.
Athletes around the country have been clocking up hundreds of kilometres of cycling, wearing their running shoes thin, and churning up and down swimming pools during the holidays, when most people are resting.
This weekend the fourth in the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa series takes place in East London.
Athletes around the country have been clocking up hundreds of kilometres of cycling, wearing their running shoes thin, and churning up and down swimming pools during the holidays, when most people are resting.
And while no local athletes will be going for a podium finish, they will all have their own goals or personal best times to chase.
The half Ironman is made up of a 1.9km sea swim in Orient Beach, followed by a 90km cycle along the N2, and then its a 21km run, comprising three loops along the beach front. “Ironman has never been more popular in South Africa than it is today. It continues to grow and make massive strides towards being one of the most sought-after races on the world calendar,” said media liaison Michael Flanagan.
The only Ironman 70.3 on the African continent boasts its biggest ever field, having reached the 2 500-entry mark. Adding to the excitement of the event, for the first time, a current Ironman 70.3 world champion will be competing at the event. Britain’s Jodie Swallow will be out to prove her credentials after winning at the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater last year.
National duathlete and Rhodes University student, Michael Cannon, will be taking part in his first half Ironman event. Cannon represented South Africa at the world duathlon championships last year. He said he was feeling “pretty confident” about race day and was hoping to break five hours.
“I'd like to go under five hours, but anything under 5:15 I will be stoked,” Cannon said. His training had gone well and he had managed to train throughout the holidays, he said. Another local athlete, John van Onselen, said he was hoping to break six hours, as he had just missed that time at last year's event.
Local athletes taking part on Sunday are: Sean Swanepoel (18-24 age category) Michael Cannon (25-29) Misty Weyer (25-29) Dylan Weyer (25-29) Terri-Lynn Penney (30-34) Julie Walker (40-44) Johan Conradie (45-49) Deon Boshoff (50-54) Mike Loewe (50-54) John van Onselen (50-54).
