Men and Women of Iron Test Their Strength in Frankfurt
July 22, 2006
Iron Man organizers are calling Sunday "the longest day of the year." And for the athletes who will be competing in the Iron Man European Championship in Frankfurt, it will certainly seem like that.
"Everyone's spirits are high and it's going to be a great event," enthused race director Kai Walter. "There are 2,000 participants from 40 countries. Whether tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands spectators come, we're happy about each person there."
A hard day's work
The race kicks off bright and early at 7:00 am with a 3.8 kilometer (2.4 mile) swim, followed by a 180 kilometer (11.8 mile) bike ride and a 42.2 (26.2) kilometer run. To put it in perspective, the run alone is equal to a marathon.
The crème de la crème will need just over 8 hours of endurance; the "slowpokes" will be asked to leave the course if they are still on it after 16 hours.
The order of the events is no coincidence: if the swim came last, exhausted competitors could drown. And a runner is closer to the ground than a cyclist if he or she collapses.
The making of an Iron Man
Daniel Mannweiler, 26, began doing triathlons just two years ago and this will be his first Iron Man.
"At the beginning, I used to train just five hours a week," said Mannweiler. "I started training for the Iron Man seven months ago. That means 15-16 hours per week and in the summer as many as 20 hours."
He often swims in the morning and either runs or cycles in the evening to split it up. On the weekends he does long distances in two sports, one right after the other.
"In training, you might do a 180-kilometer bike ride and run 30 kilometers but you never do the entire course because it's too hard on your body," explained Mannweiler, who said he, like most triathlon athletes, prefers the two drier sports over swimming.
Perks for participants
Because the event is so physically taxing, Iron Man organizers have to take good care of the participants. Water, fruit and energy bars -- but also Coke and sweets -- will be handed out along the way.
"There's lots of sugar in Coke, which is good for quick energy" said Mannweiler, "but if you start drinking it at the beginning you can't stop drinking it, otherwise your body will get a sugar shock."
Liquids will be especially important, as temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) are expected on Sunday.
But fluids and quick energy alone aren't even to sustain an athlete for so long. That's why a pasta party is planned for the Friday before the big day so the competitors can load up on carbohydrates and store the long-lasting energy.
The other side of the finish line
After a whole day of exertion, participants can look forward to rejuvenating massages and refreshments in the so-called "Athletes' Garden".
"You're totally shot after the race," said Mannweiler, who has done numerous marathons and triathlons. "You can't even go up the stairs." He'll have a good friend waiting at the finish line that can drive him home, which he won't be able to do himself at that point.
What's next?
The top 120 finishers in Sunday's race in the various age categories will be invited to start at the Iron Man World Championship in Hawaii in October.
As a new-comer, Mannweiler doesn't expect to qualify for October's competition. He's also not sure he'll do another Iron Man after this one.
"It's not healthy," he said, referring to both the physical effort and mental commitment. "Also, training for the Iron Man actually makes you slower because the distances are so long. If I want to get faster, I have to do sprints."