Ten Tips Every Ironman Spectator Should Know
They say doing a half Ironman means you are only half crazy—but I wonder about anyone who signs up for these races. Swimming 1.2 miles, biking for 56 miles, then running a half marathon equals 70.3 miles—and that’s no easy feat! Double that distance for a full Ironman race and yes, I think you triathletes are crazy. But I’m married to one of those crazies, so I do my best to support him and celebrate his accompliments.
Being part of the support crew has its challenges too. Supporting an athlete in this caliber of a race warrants some advice from someone who has done it a time or two. If you have a loved one that is taking on the challenge to become an Ironman, here are a few things you should know.
Encourage Training
Very few people can complete an Ironman without proper training. There are cut off times for each event. Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate on race day. It’s tough to train for three different sports and then put them all together. So, don’t make your athlete feel guilty for doing a brick on Saturday instead of the lawn. In fact, just assume they are doing some sort of training each day.
Ask your athlete, “are you swimming today?” or “how long will you be biking?” These questions will let them know you want them to train—and trust me, they will enjoy the entire experience a lot more if they have trained.
Make Signs for Race Day
Cheerleaders make a huge difference in any sport. Knowing people are rooting for you keeps you motivated. There’s nothing better than seeing a message to encourage you to keep going when you might want to quit.
Most Ironman events have a booth at the expo for you to make a sign. You can also buy your own poster board and Sharpies. If you have kids, it’s fun to have them create their own signs (just know you are going to be stuck carrying them around all day).
Download the Ironman Tracker
Kudos to Ironman for finally creating an app that allows you to track athletes in real time!
In years past, it’s been frustrating to not know where your athlete is on the course. You wonder if they already went by on the bike and you somehow missed them. You hope they haven’t stopped at an aid station and can’t seem to continue the race.
This app shows a map of the course and you can see exactly where your athlete is. I did find it to lag just a few minutes, but for the most part, it was pretty accurate.
Take a Power Bank
Checking the status of your athlete throughout the day will drain your battery. The last thing you want to do is to use all your battery and miss filming your athlete’s finish! Be prepared to charge your phone with a portable battery.
Be Prepared for the Day
Spectating can take a long time. Half Ironman races can take someone who is super fast as little as four hours to complete. All athletes must complete the race within 8 hours and 30 minutes for a half. Fulls take much longer, obviously. All athletes must be finished by midnight.
Make sure you wear comfortable clothing and bring layers for the early morning hours and after the sun goes down. It’s a good idea to look at the weather and make sure you have the proper gear for the forecast.
Bring plenty of water and snacks. Like any event, there are concessions, but with kids, I like to bring our own.
Don’t Bother with the Swim
You should definitely go with your athlete the day before the race when they drop off their bikes at transition. But in my experience, being at the swim on race day is more of a hassle than it’s worth.
Once your athlete goes into the water, it’s tough to tell who’s who. Unless the swim start is close to the finish line, I tend to skip that part of the race and focus on getting a good spot on the bike course.
Find a Spot on the Bike Course
The bike is where the athletes spend most of their time. If possible, find a spot where you can view them a few times. Most courses are two loops so an ideal spot would be one where you see them come in and go out. On a full, you’ll get to see them four times on their bikes.
Know What to Look for on the Bike
Knowing what color of helmet, tri top and bike to look for is essential–especially for pictures. These athletes go by so fast, it’s tough to know which one is yours. Know what to watch for and tell your athlete to watch for you too—many times they can see you before you can tell who they are. Look for the things that distinguish your athlete from the others. Some people like to wear bright colors so they are easier to spot.
Be at the Finish Line
Being at the finish line when your athlete crosses can be very emotional. They just accomplished something pretty amazing!
Work your way to the back of the finishing area. There will be volunteers there making sure your athlete is feeling alright. In some cases they will hand out space blankets and waters. It’s a good idea to bring a sweatshirt or jacket for your athlete especially if it’s cool or getting close to sundown.
Post Finish
Alright, so now the race is over. You’ve been there all day! You are ready to go. Be patient with your athlete. They will need some time to recover.
Make sure your athlete gets food. Ironman competitors can burn between 8,000 and 10,000 calories doing a race. Ironman events provide cookies, pizza, chips and all sorts of food for the athletes to take in once they are finished. Eat up and replace all those calories!
Dehydration is very common after a race. Many athletes fuel with energy gels, but often don’t get the amount of water and electrolytes they need to properly absorb those gels.
If your athlete isn’t feeling right after the race, head to the med tent. This is a service Ironman provides. It’s better to get the medical attention you need while at the race, than having to seek it out later. In the med tent you will receive all the fluids you need and no medical bills.
Massages and recovery boots are offered to athletes following their race. These services aid in recovery and help with soreness. Take advantage of these services–you paid for it!
Record As Much As You Can
Take lots of pictures throughout the day. Whether it’s their first Ironman or their tenth, each race is a huge accomplishment!
It’s also a good idea to record them saying it was a bad idea and they never want to do it again. I’ve heard that several times and then a year later, we end up at the exact same race.
I’d love to hear from all you Ironwives, Ironmates and support crew members what you do for your athlete! If you have tips you’d like to add, please comment below.