SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For another year, Ironman California attracted thousands of athletes to the capital city for the swimming, biking and running competition.
Organizers said about 3,000 athletes embodied the spirit of endurance, strength and determination.
“Beginning of the run was good, but it got hard at the end,” said Liss Rametta, who won the women’s division in 9 hours and 15 minutes.
The event began Sunday morning where participants completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.
“The run course was awesome; I had a lot of friends out here racing,” said Kyleigh Schumacher, who made the trip from San Diego. It was also her first time visiting Sacramento.
Thousands of families and friends supported the athletes throughout the course.
“It was really hard but totally worth it,” said Kitaro Takesue, who told ABC10 this was his first time competing in Ironman California.
Takesue has been preparing for the race for four years as he and his family traveled from Torrance, California. He finished the race in 11 hours and 25 minutes, one day shy of his 40th birthday.
“Starting swimming in COVID as everyone did, and I thought I should pick up biking and running and here I am four years later,” said Takesue. “A lot of hard work and a lot of early mornings. It is hard to have a full-time job and two little kids.”
The athletes are capping a busy month in Sacramento with concerts, festivals and the triathlon competition.
“It is athletes from all 50 states and dozens of countries, it is international,” said Dave Eadie, Visit Sacramento's chief sports entertainment officer.
Visit Sacramento estimates the economic impact for Ironman California is more than $15 million.
“Downtown Sacramento continues to have some challenges with people working from home. It is a great opportunity to get everyone out and get to downtown support our small businesses,” Eadie said.
This year’s event was the first year of a five-year contract which ends in 2028.
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