Published October 5, 2011 04:57PM
Two race car drivers will take on Saturday’s Ironman World Championship.
They’ve already logged more than 10,000 miles of training — and none of it has come behind the wheel of a race car.
No, this is not some crazy IndyCar endurance challenge, it’s the next stop on their fitness tour: The Ironman World Championships at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
“It’s like the Indy 500, it’s the world championship,” said Kanaan, the 2004 IndyCar champion. “It’s not like everyone gets to do that. So it’s a big challenge.”
The Brazilians are well-known around the IndyCar circuit for being fit.
They can often be found riding bikes, lifting weights or running, only this time there’s a larger purpose.
Kanaan and Meira will be among roughly 1,800 athletes participating in the 140-plus-mile race Saturday, and unlike their day job, they won’t be among the top contenders. Most competitors qualify through sanctioned events; Kanaan and Meira were given VIP invitations, the equivalent of a wild-card entry in golf or tennis.
The goal is to show they belong in Hawaii.
Read more: Usatoday.com