The 77 year old nun who has completed over 35 Ironman’s, including numerous Kona appearances. At 17:02:43 – Sister Madonna crossed the line. And to ensure they knew the crowd thought of them as Ironman’s just as much as the folks 3 minutes prior, they got the biggest cheer and welcome of the day.īut nobody left at 17:00:00 – everybody waited. But… while I’m sure it hurt – I also suspect that didn’t mean as much to the folks that finished just a few minutes later, because they had still finished and nobody can take that away from them. And with folks just out of sight, the clock strikes 17:00:00, and the race is officially over. Unfortunately…all good things must come to an end. And look at the crowds above – EVERY single person in that photo is smiling, cheering or yelling.
You’ll never see three happier soaking wet and tired people anywhere. Really – where else can you see that kind of enthusiasm while it’s pouring out? While I was a bit pre-occupied when the first place folks finished – I would take the opportunity to see those final midnight finishers come in any day – versus watching the first place finishers come in.Ĭheck out the little video I shot – you can feel the energy, quite literally as they pounded the sideboards in an effort – as mike Riley put it – ‘to take them down’! Every single person that finished was smiling – thrilled – ecstatic. He high-fived them as they would come down the chute all smiles. Mike Riley was out in the chute with an unbelievable amount of energy – cheering on and in. And… I think we delivered.ĭespite the driving cold rain – a sizable crowd filled the bleachers and lined the finishers chute and street leading into the finish area. They deserved to hear the same cheer that the first place finishers got when they made it in just under the wire – but oh so much louder. They needed to hear the cheer when they were a mile away from the finish with 10 minutes left.
#When the clock strikes midnight plus#
Plus – it’s incredible to see the emotion on not only their faces – but of their supporters and the crowd. It just seemed to me like something I should do.
They were out there moving for upwards and over 17 hours. These folks needed it – and deserved it the most. I had plenty of time to get back to the hotel and shower/eat, and thus there wasn’t any real reason why I couldn’t help cheer others on. While I finished earlier in the evening, I decided a year ago when I signed up that I would go back to the finish area after my race to watch people finish at midnight. But it does not go silently into the night – that’s for sure. Exactly 17 hours after the race began…it ends. The second and I think most defining point in the day though is at midnight. Everyone starts the day at the same place and with the same hopes of finishing. It’s one of the most amazing sights you’ll see or be part of – and incredibly emotional.
The first is at 7:00AM – when the masses churn through the water in a display that rivals the opening ceremonies. I think there are two points in the day that truly define an Ironman event.
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