Published August 9, 2012 11:34AM
By The Numbers: Ironman NYC
The inaugural Ironman U.S. Championship race will take place this Saturday and history will be made in more ways than one.
Photo: Justin Lee
The inaugural Ironman U.S. Championship race will take place on Saturday, Aug. 11, and history will be made in more ways than one. Do you think the race clock has the only numbers that matter? Take a look at some of these figures:
SEVEN: How many years it took to get all approvals to stage the race.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN (and counting): How many approvals were obtained (so far).
FOUR THOUSAND: Volunteers on race day.
1 O’CLOCK A.M.: When the first volunteer shift begins on Aug. 11.
SEVEN HUNDRED: Doctors on hand race day.
200: Cots with IV drips in the medical tent at the end of the race.
FOUR HUNDRED: Paid staff members to make the Ironman U.S. Championships happen.
TWO HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND: Cups on the race course.
FOUR: Tractor-trailer loads of water and sports drink on the race course.
FORTY TWO THOUSAND: Pounds of ice on the race course.
TEN THOUSAND: Spectators expected when the first athlete crosses the finish line.
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND: Total expected in Riverside Park on Aug. 11.
ONE: Request from an athlete to helicopter his wife around the course to spectate.
FOUR HUNDRED: Pizzas for athletes at the finish.
THREE: Pounds of sushi requested by athletes for the finish line food (the number-one request? California roll).
ZERO: Past Ironman races have served sushi at the finish line.
THIRTY MILLION: Value, in dollars, of the bikes that will be in transition on Friday night.
TWENTY: Average hours per week an athlete trained for their race.
THREE THOUSAND: People living within a 45-minute drive of the Hawaii Ironman World Championship finish line.
SIXTEEN MILLION: People living within a 45-minute drive of the Ironman U.S. Championship finish line.
TWENTY THOUSAND: Cars per hour that typically drive in the southbound lanes of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The road will be completely closed off during the race.
TWO HUNDRED: Pages in the Ironman U.S. Championship Operations & Logistics Binder.
THREE: Requests from men who want to propose at the finish line of the race.
TWO: Are sure the girl will say “yes.”