Beth Wiggins recently achieved a major milestone that most of us could not even fathom: she crossed the finish line at the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on October 21, with an overall time of 11:47:12.

“Coming across that finish line – there’s no feeling like it in the world,” says Wiggins.
Athletes who compete in the World Championship event take part in a grueling triathlon composed of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. The mountainous Hawaiian landscape, coupled with recent heavy rains and a surprise earthquake, made for an even tougher course.

According to Wiggins, the swim was the toughest part of the event. Taking place in Kailua Bay, approximately 1,700 hopefuls dove into the choppy waters. Rather than a “wave” start, the race had a “mass” start, meaning that all athletes began simultaneously. This made for a tough race, as swimmers swam two- and three-people deep, hitting and kicking each other.

Not to mention the motion sickness from the rolling waves. “The majority of people who don’t finish, don’t finish because of the swim,” comments Wiggins. “It’s psychologically vicious.”

After swimming 1.2 miles out and turning to swim 1.2 miles back to where they began, the athletes donned their biking gear and straddled their bikes to begin the 56-mile trek to Hawi, located at the northern tip of the island. Traveling uphill to Hawi, the cyclists faced a headwind that proved formidable. However, intermittent rain showers helped keep them cool. Reaching Hawi amidst a large welcome from the townspeople there, the cyclists made the turnaround and began their descent back to Kona.

“The towns we came through gave us amazing support – I could hear the crowds cheering while I was still more than a third of a mile out,” Wiggins recollects.

The last leg of the Ironman course, a 26.2 mile run, was a mixture of invigoration and desolation, according to Wiggins. The first portion of the running course was thrilling, with the beauty of the ocean on one side and a line of cheering supporters on the other. Eventually, though, the course moved inland through miles of lava fields. “At that time, all you could hear were the steps of the runners and heavy breathing,” says Wiggins. “It was such a surreal experience.”

In the end, Wiggins finished 29th out of 62 in her age bracket, but she says that’s not what’s important to her. “It’s one of those things you do for you,” she says. “You don’t race against anyone else.”

Triathletes train an average of seven months for the Ironman World Championship, devoting between 18 and 22 hours per week to train. To win a slot in the World Championship, individuals must compete and qualify at a domestic or international Ironman. Presently there are six North American Ironman competitions held annually; however, Louisville, Ky. has just been selected as the newest North American Ironman venue. The inaugural race is scheduled to be held there in August, 2007.

A native of Peachtree City, Wiggins moved away in 1992 but returned in 2003. She attributes her Peachtree City location as playing a role in her venture into major triathlons. The large number of local triathletes, she says, has her training and participating in events throughout the year. Wiggins is employed by SMC3, a Peachtree City-based provider of pricing data, technology tools and educational programs to those who supply and utilize LTL transportation services. She and her husband have two children, ages 12 and 7.

login to post comments