IronMan Lanzarote, extreme triathlon experience. 3.8k swim, 180k bike, 42.2k run

An heterogeneous group of persons is engaged in the most exacting triathlon race. Some of them hope to qualify for the Hawaiian race, they all try to finish in the time limit.

Ironman is one of the 5 official triathlon disciplines, borne exactly 30 years ago in Hawaii Island, as consequence of a discussion about which had to be considered the most strong race in the world between:

- The Waikiki rough water swim of 3,8 Km,
- The 112 miles (180 Km) bike race around Oahu,
- The 42,195 Km Honolulu Marathon.

The U.S. Navy Commander John Collins suggested to mix the three races in just one. All the others laughed, but the triathlon was born, and the hardest legendary race of this sport as well, the Hawaii Ironman, to this day the maximum world event, held every fall in Kona Island. To be admitted is necessary to be qualified in one of the 20 and more Ironman races all over the world*. Each race is joined by 1000-1500 athletes from all countries, especially from Northern Europe, where Ironman is a very popular sport. GBR, GER, FRA, BEL, DEN, SUI, ITA, are the countries with the higher number of competitors, apart the organization country. The qualification heats are divided in age brackets and the first athletes arrived, that will obtain the qualification, generally finish the race in 8-14 hours, depending on the age and the course conditions. The last arrives in the night, a few minutes before the 17 hours time limit. The prolonged effort during the race exhausts the athletes that need re-hydrations salts and sugars fluids at the end. Despite them all follow a rigorous diet and a tight training schedule, lot of them need intravenously integrator substances and, even if this way of intake is forbidden by the World Triathlon Corporation, it is a current habit. The wind, the continuous ups and downs of the bike course and the sea currents makes the Lanzarote race one of the hardest with the Hawaiian, and a good training to join the world final (this year will take place October 13th, 2007). 2007 Lanzarote Ironman winner is the Spanish triathlon athlete Eneko Llanos, his time 8:49:38.