We love a good sporting event at Manifesto, and we very much enjoyed seeing the elite athletes competing in the Ironman 70,3 competition in Puerto Banús.
The Ironman 70,3 is a half-Ironman, a triathlon that has seen a huge rise in popularity in recent years. The race is no mean feat, however, consisting of a 1.9 kilometre sea swim, followed by a 90 kilometre bike ride and completed with a half-marathon. Not for the fainthearted, each discipline is undertaken in order and without a break.
The event started and finished on the beach by the famed marina, with the cycle ride taking competitors far into the Andalusian countryside past Ojén and Coín to Cartáma and back. An incredible feat of endurance by itself, to then follow this up with a half-marathon along the beachside promenade to Marbella proved worthy of awe and respect from the crowds of spectating onlookers.
The streets of Puerto Banús thronged with participants as the 2,281 competitors completed the course. Taking the gold medal was a Brit, David McNamee, who finished in an astonishing 3 hours 57 minutes.
So many contestants along with their families and supporters made for a great atmosphere of celebration, with the speaker over the PA system calling encouragement to the athletes as they completed the gruelling race.
Chatting with a friend who’d completed the event, he explained that the challenge is as much mental as it is physical. In order to take part in such a punishing competition, athletes must enter a determined mind-set that forces them on when the pain starts to kick in. For the top 50 competitors, a place is assured at the Ironman 70,3 World Championships that take place in South Africa later on this year. It’s not just a young person’s competition though – incredibly, the oldest competitor represented the 70 – 74 years old category, arriving at the finish line in just over seven hours, a truly astonishing feat!
Let’s hope this is just the start of an annual Marbella Ironman 70,3 event – we’re already looking forward to the next one!
RW
Images courtesy of: Ayuntamiento de Marbella
