There must

be something in the water around here because we have a lot of Ironmen

and women. Fayette County sent 19 athletes to compete in the Ironman Wisconsin

competition on Sunday, Sept. 15. This is reportedly the largest number

of triathletes from any one location in the nation.

All members

of the Bicycles Unlimited team, the triathletes from Fayette County swam

2.4 miles, bicycled 112 miles and ran a marathon, which is 26.2 miles,

consecutively. Athletes have 17 hours to complete the event, from 7 a.m.,

when the race starts, until midnight.

The Ironman

was first developed by a number of Navy Seals stationed in Hawaii in 1978.

They wondered whether cyclists, runners or swimmers were the fittest.

Navy commander John Collins formed the basis for the race and stated that

the first one done would be called the Ironman. Over 20 years later, the

sport has grown. Now, races feature over 15,000 triathletes and there

are over 20 races every year on every continent but Antarctica.

The members

of the Bicycles Unlimited team are William Barnes, Jr., Louis Boone, Martha

Boone, Gary Brown, Kimberly Brown, Edward Finucan, Chuck Garwood, Kimberly

Garwood, Rob Kasper, Marion Mehl, Gary Meyer, Davie Piet, Jack Polo, Stephen

Powell, Gary Pretzer, Gerald Shoemaker, Daniel Twineham, Pam Shuckies

and Glen Shoemaker.

The team ranges

in age from 32-64, with most of the athletes in their 40s.

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