The first weekend after Labour Day is the traditional date for the Muskoka Ironman 70.3. That's half the distance of a complete Ironman (and more on that later)
It takes a village to run these events.
The bike route circles the Lake of Bays. The bridge in Dorset is closed to traffic for the duration. Virtually every intersection has 'traffic control' crews on duty to ensure the safety of the bikers and the drivers.We constantly ask that people Share the Road. Let me tell you, on Race Day, when they are 'in the zone', the bikers sometimes don't stay to the shoulders. Drivers have to be patient, and vigilant. Please and thank you.
I was lucky to be working an intersection with a great crew: Julia, from Foxwood Resort, Marianne and Barry, who were guests with us at Bondi, all pitched in.
Next year, the Trisport folk plan to bring in the complete Ironman -- and they plan to hold it on August 30, which is a week BEFORE Labour Day. The bikes will be going around the Lake of Bays not just once, but twice. Even then, they don't get quite the needed distance, so the plan is to bring them down the Fox Point Road, turn them around somewhere near the church, and come back out the same road. Yikes... that will be one congested piece of highway that day!
I've been up there once or twice when it was going on. It certainly is a big event.
ReplyDelete