Eleven locals take on the Ironman
The Ironman is seen as a test of one’s endurance, cunning, and will to press on in a three stage race set across Port Elizabeth’s shores, at Hobie Beach.
On April 6, 11 athletes from eMalahleni took on the 10th Ironman, consisting of a 3.8km swim, a 180.2km bike ride and a 42.2km run, all three stages must be completed consecutively and within 17 hours. This deems the Ironman one of the toughest one-day endurances the world has to offer.
The 11 athletes times are: Gottfried Joubert who finished in 15:10:15, Gary Bannatyne 13:23:17, Dale Bannatyne 13:23:18, Gerald Snell 14:55:20, Wesley Lynn 16:05:43, Eric Conway 15:45:49, Shelby Grant 15:45:48, Polixines Gautier 14:39:33, John Arcibald Muire 13:55:43, Erik Viljoen 12:23:37 and Rob Schmidt 16:13:46.
The event has grown to see record numbers and for the first time, selling out.
Another first is the change to course which saw the swim become a single loop of 3.8km and the bike leg become two loops of 90km each.
For the veteran athletes who have done this race multiple times this poses a fresh new challenge and for the first timers presents an opportunity to be one of the first to take on the unknown.
With these changes, the event now moves into a new era with a new look, new feel but with the same history and traditions.
