Athletes Talk Getting Ready for Cambridge Ironman

(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – The festivities are going to kick off early Saturday morning at Gerry Boyle Park. As more than 1,500 people will run across the starting line as they take part in the Cambridge Ironman.

For someone like David Quintero, who came from Buford Georgia, last-minute preparations are in order for the Cambridge Ironman with his running partner.

His seven year old son, Caleb.

“He’s just gotten into running. So the love of running and so he’s encouraging me. One of my family members to yell at me to go faster and have some fun with it,” says David.

Plenty of people are competing in this Ironman for the first time.

Yash Gupta of Dayton, Ohio tells us, “This is my first full Ironman, so I wanted to come and get a good feel of what was going on here. And I also just knew how beautiful Cambridge was. I’ve had some friends and family come here in the past and they told me how lovely it is.”

While Jacob Coleman of Cincinnati says, “Both excited and nervous. So I think we’re good though I got to do is get off the bike and have like 7 hours to try to complete the marathon. I’ll be all right.”

Race Director, Brian Snow says with all the planning, the Ironman has been building to this day with over 1,500 athletes and hundreds of volunteers.

Snow says, “I mean, it’s the pinnacle of it where we’re right in right in the trenches right now. So, I don’t know if excitement is the word or what, but there’s lots of stuff going on, lots of emotions running.”

So what are athletes preparing for the most?

“The worst part about it is getting through the water. And, you know, that’s the first thing. So, you know, half miles and I’ll be done,” says Lisa Johnson from Florida.

Zoe Conrad of Marysville Ohio says “Well, I did the practice run this morning just to get stung by a few jellyfish. So I’m not as nervous as I was.”

But they’re certainly not letting some nerves put a damper on their excitement.

“I’m doing this for me to show that I can do it. So it’s just an accomplishment to see I can,” says Lisa Johnson.

A few of the runner say they’d like to finish with a time under 15 hours.