"Athletes are competing for $50,000 in prize money and 100 qualifying
spots to the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii".
....a little difference the next day for bikes eh? Roughly 1800 bikes there!
Last break - Time to suit up, grease up and psych up!
Helicopter circling ahead and down on the water course - only minutes
away 'til it starts. Some on shore, out on the rafts, treading in the 72
degree water, air temp is 50 degrees.
And the horn blows, off go the lemmings. There are divers, lifeguards and boats to assist in the 2.4 mile swim.
Next - Biking 112 miles. Here is where we get into the action!
In mere minutes me and the cameraman "Nat" are off to chase down the front runners who left before. First up, the rookie (and eventual winner) #9 Pro men-Steve Larsen, Davis, Calif.-8:33:11 We caught up to him a few miles out of town, on some heartbreaking hill climbs. He was buzzing right along, and me with him.
We also found and filmed the women biking, spending a few minutes with each one - sometimes going back and filming them again.
Things were starting to get intense. During the briefing, we were told they were two areas where vehicles are not to go down at all. I was instructed by the cameraman to go down both of them. :-) I can see why!