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Published: December 01, 2008 03:33 pm    print this story   email this story  

Local man completes Ironman Triathlon

By Charles Curcio, Sports Editor

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 — A local Stanly County real estate broker has shown the courage and stamina to earn the title of Ironman.

Lee Allen of Albemarle travelled to Hawaii this past October and competed in the Ford Ironman World Championships.

Called “the world’s toughest endurance event”, the Ironman triathlon combines three different athletic endeavors into one event, a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycling course and a 26.2-mile run.

The swim started and finished at Kailua Pier, while the cycling course took over 1,800 athletes along the Kona and Kohala coasts on the island of Hawaii.

A 26.2 marathon culminated a journey of 140.6 miles to a finishing point on Alii Drive in front of over 20,000 spectators.

Over 70,000 athletes attempt to participate in the Ford Ironman Trialtholn, either through earning a qualifying spot at a qualifying event or receiving a spot through a lottery.

Allen arrived on Hawaii’s largest island a week before the competition and began to prepare for the competition.

“As we made our final descent, I was awestruck by the emptiness of the barren landscape,” Allen said.

The first few days in Hawaii, Allen became adjusted to the climate and practiced on several parts of the course that he would be facing later in the week.

At 6:45 a.m. that Saturday, 15 minutes before their start, the professionals start first while Allen and others waited in the ocean.

“As I tread water, it’s elbow to elbow, 1,700 athletes treading water all together. The next thing I know, the cannon fires and it’s pandemonium,” Allen said.

Allen finished the swim in 1:20.44, swimming at a rate of 2:07 for every 100 meters.

“Running out of the changing tent, I made my way to my bike and found NBC standing over my bike waiting for me to video my approach,” Allen said.

Reflecting in his journal on the bike portion, Allen would say “It’s desolate our here, nothing but lava fields and the ocean.”

Finishing the bike ride, Allen would hear his family call out to him before he told them, “I’ll see you in four,” meaning a four-hour marathon.

Three miles into the run, Allen’s feet began to blister and the run got tough.

Allen would reach the Ford Inspirational Mile, where a chip he had would give him an encouraging message “living your dream!”

He then had only five miles left, where he told himself, “I’ve done this so many times...let’s go get this done.”

Allen finally reached what he called “the best finishing line in all of sport.” As he crossed the line, he hears the announcer say, “Lee Allen from Albemarle, you are an Ironman!”

Allen said that his first thought was “Thank you, God, for the strength.”

That strength has led Allen to lose 50 pounds, run countless marathons, and complete his third full Ironman competition with a total time of 12 hours, 36 minutes and 48 seconds.

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Photos


Lee Allen runs near the ocean during his 26.2 marathon run at the Ironman competition in Hawaii. None/ (Click for larger image)


Allen rides his bike through the dangers lava areas, where cross winds have been known to blow bikers off their rides None/ (Click for larger image)


A happy Allen celebrates the completion of his third career Ironman Triathlon. None/ (Click for larger image)

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