For nearly 10 years, Muncie, Indiana has been residence to one of many Midwest’s hottest 70.3 Half Ironman Triathlons. You may usually discover this race in the midst of July on a sizzling summer season’s day. Athletes are often greeted with non-wetsuit swim, a flat and quick bike course, and a blistering sizzling run providing no shade and simply what the physician ordered: rolling hills.
However 2021 was a little bit completely different, very similar to the remainder of life today. When Ironman races began to refill sooner than anticipated after most athletes deferred 2020 races to 2021, Ironman listened to their athletes loud and clear. They wished extra choices they usually wished it NOW. Ironman was capable of provide an additional Ironman distance race in Muncie, Indiana. Because of COVID, the 70.3 race that may usually happen in July was pushed again to October. Alongside facet it will be the primary ever Ironman Indiana.
The small city of Muncie, Indiana doesn’t seem like a spot you’ll host a triathlon of such distance. However simply to the east of Muncie, The Prairie Creek Reservoir awaits athletes, surrounded by nation roads and lingering with hopes and goals of a end line.
Race morning rolled round and the air temperature hung round within the mid 50’s. Establishing your transition space required an additional layer of garments to remain heat, one thing that usually is exceptional for this race in July. The water temperature was a balmy 65 levels. Some would possibly take into account {that a} tad brisk, whereas most would agree it felt excellent. The sunshine breeze within the air created minimal chop on the backstretch of the swim, however nothing that couldn’t be managed. After the primary loop, athletes exited the water and ran alongside the shoreline earlier than getting into the water once more for a 2nd loop. The shoreline was affected by followers. Cowbell and cheers stuffed the air. Electrical energy ran by means of athletes’ vein as they bought a style of dryland earlier than ending the 2nd half of the swim.
Exiting the water, wetsuit strippers have been now not supplied resulting from COVID. When you discovered your bike, your gear luggage awaited you and the subsequent factor you realize you entered the bike course.
The bike course exited on what was additionally the run course. Hilly, curvy, and some beat up roads meant athletes took this part a bit slower. It didn’t take lengthy earlier than the bike course took you alongside Route 35, which was completely closed to visitors (a real deal with for triathletes!) however supplied an added impediment: wind. Headwind and crosswind, it by no means allow you to loosen up. Athletes accomplished 2 loops on Route 35. Throughout the 2nd loop is when the rain started to fall. At first it was gentle and virtually nice. Inside minutes it picked up considerably and athletes have been pressured to sluggish their tempo to remain protected. Take word triathletes, that is the place bike security data comes into play! For nearly 50 miles, athlete’s street by means of wind and rain, all in hopes of discovering their trainers.
Upon entry of transition, athletes racked their very own bikes and located their sea legs earlier than beginning out on the ultimate 26.2 mile journey to the end line.
Instantly stepping foot on the run course, you’re greeted with a gorgeous downhill, adopted by a direct uphill. After which one other downhill and uphill. And that cycle is repeated again and again till you attain the primary flip round at mile 6.5. Help stations have been stocked with all the things you would hope for 115+ miles into your day. Water, Gatorade, Coke, ice, grapes, bananas, chips, pretzels, Gu, rooster broth, Tylenol, Vaseline, excessive fives and encouragement. The volunteers in Muncie, Indiana deserved the very best of reward. Everyone knows that races wouldn’t be attainable with out them. However this small city might need among the greatest. Highschool youngsters labored alongside somebody that might be their grandparent, doing all the things they might to encourage athletes like me to seek out that end line. Excessive fives and heartening reward got to anybody and everybody. Life after 2020 would possibly by no means be the identical, however working 26.2 miles on the Ironman Indiana run course was all you wanted to be reminded that there’s hope that we will return to that point, if we work exhausting sufficient collectively.
After the primary run loop (13.1 miles) athletes rotated solely toes from the end line to run the ultimate 13.1 miles to name themselves an Ironman. The solar started to set and athletes have been doing all the things they might to maintain spirits excessive and encourage one another. When it was that point, athletes veered off track in direction of the sunshine and entered the finisher’s shoot. One after the other, every was offered to the gang as the most recent Ironman in Muncie, Indiana. Leaves scattered the pink carpet, giving the end line a real fall vibe. And you realize what? It was about as picturesque as you may think about for an October day in the midst of the Midwest.
