Sports : Ironmen: Two area residents finish course in Madison

Nick Sagan and Kyle Schminke were among those who finished the Ironmen event in Madison, Wis.

Vinton area residents Kyle Schminke and Nick Sagan were among the participants who were able to finish the challenging course at the Ironmen event in Madison, Wis., on Sept. 13.

Participants woke up around 3:30 a.m. and began the swimming event at 7 p.m.They swam 2.4 miles, then biked 112 miles and ended the event with a marathon (26.2 miles.)

Although Kyle and Nick finished the swimming event within five seconds of each other, they never encountered each other on the course. Both finished within the 17-hour time limit, although Kyle finished ahead of Nick.

The Ironmen web site describes the course in these words:

Swim: The one-loop mass swim start takes place in Lake Monona in downtown Madison. Spectators will have a panoramic view of the swim from the Monona Terrace, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Water temperature is typically around 70F.
Bike: The bike course takes riders 16 miles out of town before beginning two 40-mile loops in rural Dane County. These loops are extremely hilly, with many tough climbs and turns on each lap. Athletes get a lift as they pass through the renowned crowds at the festival in Verona.
Run: Spectator support on this run course is unparalleled. Athletes will complete two loops through downtown Madison, the University of Wisconsin campus, Camp Randall Stadium, State Street and the scenic path alongside Lake Mendota. The run course is quite challenging with multiple hills on each lap.