IRONMAN rocks the Valley – one year later > Delayed a year by the pandemic, the Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge triathlon made its debut in early June, the first event in a three-year commitment from The Ironman Group. The estimated annual impact when all the numbers are tabulated could approach ten million dollars. About 1600 swimmers line up at Carvins Cove early on June 6 for a 1.2-mile swim; then came a 56-mile bike ride (partially on the Blue Ridge Parkway) and a half marathon (13.1 miles) on the Roanoke River Greenway. The River’s Edge Sports Complex in Roanoke served as the final transition area from the bike to run portion of the 70 mile-plus event, and as the finish line. An Olympic-style Ironman Village helped attract spectators and family members waiting for someone to finish. Carilion Clinic Chief Medical Office Patrice Weiss held the tape for the overall male and female winners (Matt Schaefer and
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Blacksburg’s own Kate Buss); then she asked for an autograph from Buss. “I knew I was first on the course for most of the [final] run … when I finished, I was so excited,” said Buss. “Just to see the energy and feel the excitement,” said Weiss, “just the opportunity to see our community and so many people outside our community come together and celebrate something like fitness and wellness. I had goosebumps – it was undescribable.”
