In Arizona, Triathlon Reimagined

In Tempe, Triathlon Reimagined Photos by Steve Godwin and Kevin LaClaire Story and interviews by Jennifer Ward November 1 | 2020

On Sunday, October 18, the first high-profile triathlon to take place in the US since the coronavirus pandemic was staged in Tempe, Arizona. We interviewed more than 20 athletes who participated in this landmark event about how it looked and felt to race again in 2020.

“I knew we could pull this off—IRONMAN staff, the athletes, conscientious spectators. It took the perfect storm. It took a state that was willing to give us the green light. I wasn’t surprised at all that it was such a successful event.”

– Craig Zelent, San Diego, Calif.

“It was our first event back after the world changed. None of us were expecting any of this, and we hustled as best we could to make events happen. In the midst of everything people have been through this year, being able to look forward to an event and accomplish your goals is meaningful to a lot of people.”

– Keats McGonigal, Director of Operations, North America, IRONMAN

“I was curious and cautious. But once I got there and started seeing all the signage and going through the check-in process—I never felt in danger. I didn’t understand until that morning.”

– Jennifer Ford, Operations Manager, Mayo Clinic

“I didn’t think the protocols at the race were overly cumbersome—they were all reasonable, things I would’ve done if I’d set it up medically. IRONMAN struck a great balance between keeping the race safe while maintaining the excitement of being out there with other athletes.”

– Paul Bikhazi, Physician, Kirkland, Wash.

“There was an overwhelming sense among athletes there that it was up to us to make sure we followed the protocols, because if this race didn’t go well, there’s no hope for more in the future. I didn’t want to be the one to mess it up!”

– Stacie Cannon, Sherwood, Ore.

“I think every triathlete out there was doing everything they could to get out on a race course” – Daryl Chester

“After a whole year of canceled and rescheduled races, to be there knowing you were going to race was really exciting. I had pre-race jitters for the first time in a long time.”

– Perry Hacker, Salt Lake City

“This was a proving ground for what is possible in the future.”

– Daryl Chester

“Everyone was ready to get out and start doing the things we did before—to be able to get back into some kind of normalcy, to get out there with other people and get that community feeling.”

– Trisha Brooks, Realtor, Peoria, Ariz.

“I saw a lot of people just having fun. It was one day where we weren’t worried or talking about COVID. We weren’t talking about isolation and quarantine. We were all out there just doing what we love to do.”

– Jennifer Ford

“[The swim start] was what made people the most nervous—I thought what IRONMAN did was creative and great. It was a nice way to start the race, relieving that anxiety.”

– Perry Hacker

“Going into the swim they spaced it so well that my biggest complaint was I didn’t have anyone to sight off of that I swam in zig zags.”

– Victoria Brumfield, Chief of Staff, USA Triathlon

“It was the most normal I had felt since the whole world imploded. I was so grateful to be out there— on the bike I think I had a smile on my face the whole time.”

– Elisabeth Cenicola, La Quinta, Calif.

“All year long I think most of us were chomping at the bit. We wanted to keep training because that’s what you do, but without the certainty of having something to train for. It was really nice to be able to get out there and say ‘hey, our training has paid off.’”

– Bryan Shiflett, Boise, Idaho

“I didn’t realize how much I missed racing until I was in Tempe. I have a high stress job working in an air traffic control tower and am a disabled veteran with PTSD. Triathlon helps me cope with life’s challenges that I can and can’t control. I learned this year that running laps around my neighborhood isn’t enough for me—I need to have a goal.”

– Jeremy Withrow, Air Traffic Controller

“Sometimes I wonder whether I train because I have events coming up or because it truly makes me feel good about who I am. This summer I didn’t have any events to train for, and I still swam, biked, and ran just for the plain experience of it. I think I found a bit more of the joy in it again.”

– Victoria Brumfield

“There are two types of loneliness: emotional and social. I didn’t get emotionally lonely during lockdown because I had connections with family, friends, and coworkers. It wasn’t until I got to Tempe that I realized I was socially lonely […]

I need the connection of sharing the sport of triathlon with others.”

– Jeremy Withrow

“Training gave me something to do during lockdown, something to focus on. I was going to do a [half-distance triathlon] on my own to see if I could do the distance, but it felt better to do a real one.

It felt like I did a real IRONMAN.” – Nicole Varnell, Pharmacist

“It was my fifth time doing this race and it didn’t feel any different—I still loved it, I still celebrated after, I’d still go back and do it again. All the things we did around the race are things you have to do in life right now; the swim, bike, and run were all the same as any other year.”

– Perry Hacker

“Life’s got to go on, we’ve got to adapt, and it’s got to start somewhere.”

– Perry Hacker