Almost 2 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling and 20 kilometers of running. The Ironman triathlon in West Friesland demands something from the almost 3,000 participants. And warm weather makes it even harder.
‘Always’ warm Ironman in Hoorn
Due to the expected heat, the Kids of Iron run on Saturday has already been canceled, just like last year. It looks like it will be about 26 degrees on Sunday. “It almost seems like a recurring phenomenon here in Hoorn that it gets warm,” laughs organizer Loek Schreurs (29).
“We advise participants to drink a lot, also beforehand. We also call on them to put on their wetsuits as late as possible when swimming and to listen to their bodies: don’t go for a personal record when things get difficult.”
A heat protocol should prevent health problems. “We have drawn up this in consultation with security services and it comes into effect above 30 degrees,” Loek explains.
Organizer Loek himself is unwell
That protocol exists after it went wrong in 2023 due to the high temperature; then dozens of people were overcome by the heat. Some even had to go to hospital.
One of them was Loek himself. “I was working at the transition zone in the Juliana Park. I didn’t think enough about myself at the time,” he says in the video above.
The Ironman starts on Sunday at 7am. The finish will be at the City Beach. Due to the race, roads in Hoorn and the cycle route through West Friesland are partly closed. The routes and barriers are up this card to see.