Team New Zealand in the Parade of Nations Tuesday evening along Alii Drive. (Hawaii247 photo by Karin Stanton)

MEDIA RELEASE

 

On Feb. 18, 1978, 15 competitors took on the challenge that has become the Ironman. Included in the list of pre-race instructions were these final words of encouragement: “Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life!”

Last year, Ironman celebrated its 30th anniversary in style. Now we’re gearing up for the 31st anniversary of the sport’s biggest event and, once again, it’s going to be quite a week. We’ll bring you lots of stories about the men and women who are going to be taking on that challenge of 140.6 miles. Yes, you’ve all heard that everyone has a story here at Ironman. We’re going to pretty much prove that by the time we’re done.

For now, though, we’ll let the stats speak for themselves. Sent in by event timer Marc Roy, here are some of the numbers for Saturday’s race:

By Gender:

Female: 508, which will be 27.4% of the field.

Men: 1,345, which, for those who hate subtraction, is 72.6% of the field.

Number of records in total (in case you don’t like addition, either): 1,853

By Category:

CATEGORY = MPRO 101 – 5.5%

CATEGORY = WPRO 53 – 2.9%

CATEGORY = MHCYCLE 5 – 0.3%

CATEGORY = WHCYCLE 1 – 0.1%

CATEGORY = M18-24 36 – 1.9%

CATEGORY = M25-29 95 – 5.1%

CATEGORY = M30-34 152 – 8.2%

CATEGORY = M35-39 217 – 11.7%

CATEGORY = M40-44 256 – 13.8%

CATEGORY = M45-49 190 – 10.3%

CATEGORY = M50-54 112 – 6.0%

CATEGORY = M55-59 59 – 3.2%

CATEGORY = M60-64 50 – 2.7%

CATEGORY = M65-69 35 – 1.9%

CATEGORY = M70-74 26 – 1.4%

CATEGORY = M75-79 10 – 0.5%

CATEGORY = M80+ 1 – 0.1%

CATEGORY = W18-24 26 – 1.4%

CATEGORY = W25-29 53 – 2.9%

CATEGORY = W30-34 68 – 3.7%

CATEGORY = W35-39 72 – 3.9%

CATEGORY = W40-44 80 – 4.3%

CATEGORY = W45-49 57 – 3.1%

CATEGORY = W50-54 41 – 2.2%

CATEGORY = W55-59 31 – 1.7%

CATEGORY = W60-64 17 – 0.9%

CATEGORY = W65-69 5 – 0.3%

CATEGORY = W70-74 3 – 0.2%

CATEGORY = W75-79 1 – 0.1%

Countries:

There are 58 countries represented.

Birthdays on race day:

What a way to celebrate your birthday – competing at the Ironman World Championship! Have some cake and light a candle for: Arrasate, Juan – 58; Blackwell, Jeff – 52; Bosl, Michael – 30; Foulounoux, Thierry – 53; Ganter, Chris – 31; I-Jakobsen, Kaisa – 46; and Shin, Yoichiro – 36.

Youngest:

Boulder, Colorado’s (although she might be representing Canada) 20-year-old Ryann Fraser (yes, the one who grew up around triathlon and Ironman racing thanks to race director parents) is the youngest woman racing. Earlier this year, Philip Graves became the youngest Ironman champion ever in his home-country race of Ironman UK. He’s 20, too. 

Oldest:

Washington’s Sister Madonna Buder is back to add to her Kona legend at the age of 79. Australia’s Robert Southwell will try to become only the second 80-year-old to finish an Ironman.

First time Kona competitors:

395 athletes

Not her first time: 

Fernanda Keller, of Brazil, already has 14 top-10 finishes in Kona, including six third-place. She back this year, at the age of 46, having qualified for her 23rd straight start in Kona as a pro.

 

Six-time Ironman champion Natascha Badmann, of Switzerland, gets a cool ride during the Parade of Nations. (Hawaii247 photo by Karin Stanton)

 

A fire truck lets loose a water cannon spray over a group of keiki during Parade of Nations. (Hawaii247 photo by Karin Stanton)

 

Family members making signs ahead of race day. The sign-making tent is one of dozens of Ironman Village exhibits and vendors at Hale Halawai all week. (Hawaii247 photo by Karin Stanton)

 

Six-time Ironman champion Dave Scott takes questions and poses for photos Tuesday evening at Ironman Village. Scott said he has not completely given up the idea of racing in Kona again. (Hawaii247 photo by Karin Stanton)

 

The official Ironman mattress. Yes, seriously. (Hawaii247 photo by Karin Stanton)

 

Ironman Village at Hale Halawai will be open all week. (Hawaii247 photo by Karin Stanton)