With only two days to go, local athletes who have undergone rigorous training will soon test their mettle as they take part in the biggest ever South African Half Ironman triathlon. The Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa, better known as the Half Ironman, will take place in East London on Sunday.
With only two days to go, local athletes who have undergone rigorous training will soon test their mettle as they take part in the biggest ever South African Half Ironman triathlon. The Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa, better known as the Half Ironman, will take place in East London on Sunday.
While many residents relaxed over the festive season, a number of local athletes were up at the crack of dawn running, cycling and swimming in preparation for Sunday's triathlon. The event comprises a 1.9km sea swim, 90km cycle and a 21km run.
Some Grahamstown athletes took part in the Eastern Province Triathlon Championships in Port Elizabeth last weekend to help prepare themselves for this weekend's event. Due to a warm sea (over 24 degrees) wetsuits were not necessary for the sea swim of the race, which left some Half Ironman entrants wondering if Sunday's event will be the same.
According to the Ironman South Africa Facebook site: “We're getting a lot of queries about wetsuits for this Sunday. For WTC (World Triathlon Corporation) races, the rule is if the water temp reaches 24.5 degrees or above, then there will be no wetsuits”. The Half Ironman is a WTC race.
While the main attraction is always the professionals chasing championship medals, many local athletes have friendly bets between themselves as to who will be the first one home.
Half Ironman athletes have been rolling into the Garden Court Hotel and will continue to do so until late Saturday, as the hotel is the registration venue for the event. A total of 2939 entries have been received for this year's event, making it the biggest field recorded in the history of the event.
Things will start to heat up on Friday with the PRO Press Conference and on Saturday morning women participants will take to the esplanade with Iron Girl South Africa, a 10km road race. All this will lead up to the main event on Sunday, the fifth Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa triathlon.
Local athletes taking part in the Half Ironman are:
- Sean Swanepoel (18 to 24)
- Andrew Lowndes (18 to 24)
- Chelsea Ann Ingledew (18 to 24)
- Charlene Donald (18 to 24)
- Janet Viljoen (30 to 34)
- Terri-Lynn Penney (35 to 39)
- Kerry Longhurst (40 to 44)
- Julie Walker (40 to 44)
- Johan Conradie (45 to 49)
- Neil Currie (45 to 49)
- Deon Boshoff (50 to 54)
- John van Onselen (50 to 54)
