Late March 2025
Introduction
The Ironman returned to Puerto Rico in mid-March. Athletes from North and South America converged on San Juan to compete in the event. They did a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, and finished with a half marathon into and out of Old San Juan.
I live near the park where much of the activities occurred. I wandered around with my cameras and tried to get images capturing the flavor of the event, Here ae a few of them.
Preparations
I noted things happening starting the Friday before the Sunday event.
Workers constructed a ramp for swimmers to use at the end of the 1.2 mile swim. The tape is probably to prevent curious tourists from using it.
Course officials put up signage. These signs identify the line where athletes can mount their bike and start the 56 mile ride.
The tent is where volunteers will hand cups of water and Gatorade to the athletes as they start their half marathon (13.2 miles).
These competitors are bringing their bikes for a technical inspection. The bikes will then be placed on racks in a secure area for use on Sunday.
The four digit number on the bike to the right indicates the rider is part of a relay team. Relay teams are allowed but all the swimmers on relay teams start last,And note the typical bike geometry – the rear axle is held in place by two tubes connected to the seat post. Compare this to the next bike.
This bike is constructed of carbon fiber. It would be a blast to ride but I’n not sure I would trust the strength of the frame.
The Start
The athletes gathered at the Condado end of the Puentes dos Hermanos (Bridge of the Two Brothers) for the start. They were grouped by estimated time to finish the swim, with the fastest swimmers starting before the others.
The swimmers had to pass this sign as they started. I wonder what the manatees thought of all the commotion as 700 swimmers splashed their way around their lagoon.
The athletes struck various poses before the swim – some serious, some anxious, others happy to get started.
Three swimmers entered the water every five seconds,
The Swim
The swim course, marked by orange inflatable markers, proceeded to the east end of the Laguna del Condado (Condado lagoon) where the course made a U-turn and headed back west. The swimmers went under the bridge and proceeded to the ramp.
I find the swim portion difficult to photograph – I usually get a swimming cap and a lot of white water, But here are few.
The disturbance to the left is the swimmers proceeding east . You can barely make out the fastest swimmers to the right, as they have made the turn at the end of the lagoon.
Volunteers in kayaks keep watch and help redirect any misguided swimmers.
The Swim-Bike Transition
Swimmers leave the water via the ramp and proceed about a quarter of a mile to the fenced area where their bikes are stored.
Some competitors leave a pair or running shoes by the ramp, to use in the transition.
Some of the athletes choose to make the transition bare-footed.The strap on the left ankle contains electronics that communicate with the timers at various points along the course.
The athletes make their way to the bike paddock, put on their cycling gear, and head to the Mount Line to begin the bike leg.
This rider has just mounted his bike and is ready to start the 56 mile ride to Dorado and back.
The Bike Leg
The riders leave Parc Escambron by a straight road ending in an uphill left turn. The riders then traverse a quick right and left proceed for one block to a sharp left turn onto a long straight stretch. Here are some images of riders leaving the park.
Photographing the bikers has its challenges. The background is usually cluttered, with flags, spectators, and vegetation. The sun angle might be wrong. And sometimes capturing their speed is difficult, But there are some tricks I use.
As the two images above show, I can use Photoshop to remove the background. I have to play around a bit with image file formats but it works pretty well.
The riders above are just starting their ride. I had by this time watched the start, the swim, and the transition. The elite athletes had long since passed. In fact, there was a bit of a lull as I waited for the first riders to return.
The bikers cam off a long straight stretch to a sharp right turn.
The riders above were in the first five to return.
The riders then had to execute a tricky downhill left and then right going into the park.
A slight downhill straightaway took the riders to the Dismount Line.
OK, some of the images above capture speed. I can also use my film camera and pan the riders using a slow shutter speed.
Yhis is an image from two years ago. I sent my 35 mm film from this year to the lab but haven’t gotten them back yet. In any case, I think the image gives a sense of speed.
The Bike-Run Transition
This is just the opposite of the swim-bike transition. Bike riders dismount at the Dismount Line and run their bikes to the fenced area. There they don their running shoes and start the run. I used my 35 mm camera for this part of the event; the film has not yet been processed.
The Run
The 13.2 mile run is two laps into and out of Old San Juan. I have a hard time taking pictures of runners. The sun is high and the light is harsh. The background is cluttered. And the runners look like they are in agony. But here are three.
Final Thoughts
The Ironman is always fun to watch. The crowds are enthusiastic, the weather is beautiful, and the athletes seem to enjoy a well-run event.
Much to the delight of the crowd, Puerto Rican athlete Javier Figueroa won with s time of a few seconds over four hours. Kiel Bur of the US finished second in four hours and four minutes. Tara Mcwilliams won the women’s event, posting a time of four hours and forty one minutes. Click here for the offical website with complete results,
The images are all mine. I use both a Sony mirrorless digital camera, and an old Nikon 35 mm single lens reflex. I edit the images with Adobe Lightroom and/or Photoshop.