JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For so many IRONMAN participants, this test of strength and willpower is the ultimate high. News4Jax Anchor Joy Purdy got the chance to go behind the scenes on race day—bringing you as close to the action as possible, from the swim start to the transition zone (and even a surprise dolphin sighting along the course).
Meet our guide: Casey Taker
Our “race-day tour guide” was Casey Taker, Ironman’s community media specialist—and an Ironman finisher herself.
Casey greeted Joy energetically, as though it weren’t really 6 in the morning. “Good morning! Happy race day!”
Casey walked Joy through how the “swim start” works, including how athletes line up based on anticipated finish time—similar to corrals at a running race—so swimmers are grouped with others who swim at a similar pace.
The swim start: strategy before the splash
At the swim staging area, Casey explained why the lineup matters—and how it helps keep the start organized and safer for athletes. Then the energy ramped up as the announcer welcomed competitors to the inaugural event, and the first athletes entered the water.
Dolphins on the course
While watching the action, we spotted dolphins in the water near the race route.
Joy spotted them first this morning. “Oh my gosh—look how many there are!”
It was one of those only-in-Jacksonville moments— and seemed like the dolphins were checking out what all the commotion was about.
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Athletes with incredible stories
One of the best parts of the morning was meeting competitors and supporters.
Audrey Drake (Wisconsin) said she’s 66 years old (turning 67 in July)—and this was her fifth Ironman.
We also caught up with Brooke Bennett, a three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer, who joked that while swimming is her strength, Ironman is a different kind of challenge.
“However –- we’re at an Ironman… and my day goes downhill.”
And Jacksonville City Councilman Raul Arias shared what it took to prepare. He’s been training, “for about a year—but hard core training the last 6 months… waking up at 5 in the morning, training for 3 hours a day.”
Transition time: where seconds matter
After the swim, we moved to the transition area—where swimmers exit the water, run up the ramp at a dock, and head toward their bikes at Memorial Park in Riverside. This is also where professional “peelers” help strip wetsuits and speed suits off Ironman participants quickly to save racers precious time.
From there, athletes hit the red carpet – which is an actual, red carpet leading into the park – then ran their awaiting bikes out toward the next stage of the race.
The bike leg begins
By late morning, the bikers were well underway—leaving Riverside and heading toward Nocatee in St. Johns County, as the race stretched across our area.
And yes—Joy admits: She tapped out at that point. After being out there from about 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., she grabbed a trolley back to her car.
A quick thank you
Joy wants to give a big thank you to her 16-year-old daughter, who served as her photographer for the morning (she was volun-told) and helped capture the behind-the-scenes view of race day!