Local dignitaries challenge themselves with grueling workouts to prepare for the prestigious swim, bike, run Muncie IRONMAN
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The triathlon was born in the mid-70s, with athletes combining swimming, biking, and running to test their endurance and multi-sport fitness. The first IRONMAN was held in Hawaii in 1978. It was designed as a combination of three existing races: a 2.4-mile swim, a 115-mile bike ride, and a full marathon. The bike ride was shortened by 3 miles to connect to the beginning of the run course, and the legendary 140.6-mile race was born.
Full and half-distance races sprung up all around the country in the years following. Muncie launched its own Endurathon, a 70.3 distance triathlon, in 1980, and has hosted one every year since, making it the longest running 70.3 triathlon event in the world. The event has since joined the IRONMAN brand, drawing thousands of athletes and spectators every year to Prairie Creek Reservoir.
Mayor Dan Ridenour first competed in the IRONMAN in 2021. His background as a runner prepared him for the 13.1 half marathon, but he had to train extensively for the 1.2-mile swim and the 56-mile bike. The following year, Mayor Ridenour pulled together a relay team from City Hall for the race: Prairie Creek Superintendent Dustin Clark completing the swim and City Controller Craig Wright on the bike.
Wright volunteered at the Ironman the year before he competed.
“I took it on as a personal challenge,” Wright says, who was 62 at the time of the race. He trained three to five days a week to get in shape and has continued to train this year, even though he is not competing.
“It made me focus on my personal health and fitness – I feel better than I have in 30 years,” he says.
This year, Deputy Controller Matt Wagley is training for the bike portion of the relay. Wagley has a history of biking and has been working hard to get into racing shape. Cyclists have about four-and-a-half hours to complete the 56-mile ride, which translates to about 13 miles per hour.
Communications Director Michele Owen is a triathlete as well, having completed the 2021 race and a full distance IRONMAN in 2022. She did not participate in the 2022 Muncie race, as she had just completed IRONMAN Maryland a few weeks prior, but will be racing in 2023 with one goal: To try to beat the relay team.
“I don’t think I’ve got a chance,” Owen says. “But I’ll give it my best shot.”
Less than 1 in 1,000 Americans compete in IRONMAN. So why are there five in City Hall? The grueling endurance race has a reputation for attracting CEOs, industry leaders, and other highly motivated people. Training for the race is a huge commitment, and successful competitors must have excellent pacing, personal awareness, mental fortitude and drive. It is no real surprise that people with these
characteristics are drawn to public service, and vice versa.
The race is on September 30th, and volunteers are still needed to man aid stations and cheer on athletes. Last year, Muncie’s race was voted the best participant experience out of all 70.3 distance races in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The race happens to fall on the same day as the Mayor’s Arts Awards, which celebrates local artists with an awards ceremony and full evening of events.
“I asked the Mayor if we could schedule the event on the same day as IRONMAN, and he wasn’t even phased,” Owen says. “He just has the most incredible work ethic.”
