Sportsplex Couple takes on the Ironman Triathlon

The Ironman triathlon is one of the most grueling single-day races in all of sports. Since its debut in Hawaii in 1978, the distances have become legendary: a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run. In November, a local husband and wife team from our very own Triangle Sportsplex took on this immensely challenging event.

Scott and Rebecca DeWire moved to Hillsborough in 2003 and have been coming to the Sportsplex ever since. Originally from Connecticut, they met in high school while on the track and cross-country teams.

Rebecca DeWire runs at Ironman Florida Rebecca, who works on clinical trials at Duke, stayed involved in endurance sports after high school and began competing in triathlons in 1997. Scott, a biochemist also at Duke, took a little time off after high school track. “For about 8 years I really didn’t do anything to stay in shape, but then a couple years ago I decided to get back into it, and was shocked at how hard it was to run even a mile!”

Since then, Rebecca and Scott have become regular workout partners and have run several marathons together, including this year’s Boston Marathon. Last year, after completing a half-iron distance triathlon in White Lake, NC, they decided they were ready to take on the Ironman.

Just as the popularity of short distance triathlons (like the Sportsplex Supersprint) has increased exponentially in recent years, the Ironman has also grown from just twelve competitors in 1978 to being an international phenomenon with five North American versions of the event contested each year.

The DeWire’s decided to try Ironman Florida in Panama City as it is geographically the closest Ironman race to North Carolina, and offers a flat course well suited for first timers. In fact, 48% of this year’s competitors in IM Florida were first time participants. These events are not very easy to get registered for: you need to sign up a year in advance, and they sell out fast…the 2007 IM Florida sold out all 2000 entry spots in less than 1 hour!

The Florida edition of Ironman is the last race of the season, which can make for some additional challenges. Rebecca explained, “The sun sets just before 5, so unless you’re world class, you have to be ready to do most of your running in the dark.” Ironman races have a 17-hour cut-off time, and with the average finishing time being greater than 12 hours, the majority people finish in the dark. Also, high winds on the bike course and rough water in the Gulf of Mexico made for tough conditions in this year’s race.

Scott DeWire on the bike at Ironman Florida Scott summed up the race by saying, “In Ironman, you’ve got to maintain a conservative strategy throughout the early parts of the day. I kept thinking about the upcoming marathon and that helped to keep me reigned in on the bike. The last thing you want to do is blow out a really fast bike split, then have to walk for 26 miles.”

At the end of a day’s worth of racing, the DeWire’s both had picture perfect races and finished with great times: Scott came in at 11:40 with Rebecca close behind at 11:58.

For both Rebecca and Scott, participating in the Ironman was the realization of dreams a long time in the making. “I lived in Hawaii when NBC first broadcast the Ironman on TV, and I remember my dad was calling everybody ‘crazy.’ Meanwhile, I was only six but was thinking I wanted to be one of those crazy people someday!”

Similarly, Rebecca recalls, “I remember watching the Ironman on television back in college and knew that I needed to do that. It was never a question of ‘if’, but rather ‘when’.”

Due to busy work schedules and the sheer volume of time required to train for an Ironman, Scott and Rebecca were each other’s only training partners.

They laugh as they recall the pros and cons of being a husband and wife team. “It’s great that we are so evenly matched. I’m lucky my wife is such a talented athlete. But, in some of the long workouts, especially if you’re having a tough day, your spouse is the last person you’d like to talk to!” commented Scott. Although, they both agree that having each other helped make achieving the goal a reality.

The DeWire’s also credit the Sportsplex for helping them finish the Ironman. “We did all of our swimming at the Sportsplex, and also use the facility for weight training and running. Our membership here was crucial to getting in good quality training.”

So if you have any aspirations to be an Ironman, feel free to ask our local Iron-Couple for advice!

To meet more faces at the SportsPlex, visit the Faces in the Crowd archives...

The DeWire’s also credit the Sportsplex for helping them finish the Ironman. “We did all of our swimming at the Sportsplex, and also use the facility for weight training and running. Our membership here was crucial to getting in good quality training.”

If you're interested in triathlon, the SportsPlex Triathlon Club is a great resource for SportsPlex members.

Check it out at sportsplextriclub.com

If you're interested in triathlon, the SportsPlex Triathlon Club is a great resource for SportsPlex members.

Check it out at sportsplextriclub.com