The Lollipop, PE beachfront
Port Elizabeth on the Eastern shores of South Africa is home to one of the most popular Iron Man routes in the world. I’d like to think it has something to do with the friendly people, the clean beaches, and the very very smart, efficient radio hams who line the route doubling as keen spectators.
Well we do have friendly people and clean beaches – just saying 😉
April 15 marked a day a lot of people pushed themselves. Athletes who swam, cycled, ran, and overcame. There were also radio hams and other officials who put in a very long shift to make this a world class event.
Ironman 2018 field station
This year was another long-shift down on the beach front. Getting to my point at about 05:30 and standing there until the last runner is home – or 00:00 – whichever comes first. This time it was midnight.
Once again the plan was to use the mobile repeater on the roof of the Radison Blu hotel on the beach front as a cross band for UHF along the beachfront and patching it into the Slipper repeater for the stations out on the cycle route. Unlike in the past, however, this time our normal point-man in the JOC (Tony – ZR2TX) was officially a referee and going around in his black and white stripped shirt looking all official! We were so proud of him!
Jimmy, ZS2JIM took to the role as if he was made for it. Keeping a cool head and keeping the rest of us awake too. Jimmy – a fine job, well done.
This year I had the pleasure of having my XYL Bev, and our sons Graydon ZU2GH and Michael ZU2MOO assisting me. I was joined in the afternoon by the Zulu himself – Andre Potgieter ZS2ZA. Andre enjoyed it so much and stayed with us to the bitter end.
Our English Rose we called her: Natalie, the first lady NOT to make it. Graydon ran with her from our position toward the finish line. It was always going to be tight, but it was not to be! Seconds short at the end of a very long day!
Natalie may not have won the IronMan, but she won the hearts of many Port Elizabethans. Natalie we love you!
Andre is already waiting for the (half IronMan) World Championships later this year – we going to operate again as one of the waterpoints/cheer groups/radio operators. A large number of runners in the last few hours thanked us personally for our support (verbal abuse) and said that without us they would either have not finished or would have battled a lot more.
Personally I find it incredibly inspiring – not the leaders, they professionals, but the regular Joes at the end of the day. The older ones, chubbier ones, people like me – daring me to give it a try.
My favorite chirp after the IronMan is when people ask me how I am – I reply “A little stiffer after IronMan than I’d care to admit.”
