IRON MAN GROWTH 1978 to 1981: FROM INTEREST TO ATHLETES
Iron Man Triathlon Founders
Judy Collins and John Collins on 2/14/77
[FORMAT: Date, Name, Entry form #Interest, #On the beach, #Starters, #Finishers]
2/18/78 Inaugural Hawaiian Iron Man Triathlon, Honolulu, Hawai’i
~ 25,18,15,12
(15 Start Swim,15 Start Bike/14 finish,13 Start/12 Finish Run)
Swim Start: Sans Souci Beach 0719
Swim Finish: Beach at Hale Kona Hotel via Hilton Channel, Waikiki
Race Director: John Collins
1/13-14/79 Second Annual Hawaiian Iron Man Triathlon
[Honolulu newspapers, newsletters of Swim Club, Run Club after 1978 IM]
~ 50, 38 on Saturday – Cancelled – Wx,
16 on Sunday
(15 Start/Finish Swim/Bike,15 Start/12 Finish Run)
Swim Start: Sans Souci Beach 0800
Swim Finish: Beach at Hale Koa Hotel via Hilton Channel, Waikiki
Race Directors: John Collins and Judy Collins
1/12/80 Nautilus Iron Man Triathlon
[After April-May Swim-Swim, 5/14/79 Sports Illustrated, June West Coast Swims Newsletter, July “Tonight Show” – mainland publicity + Honolulu newspapers 1979]
~ 150, 108, 108, 95
(108 start Swim/Bike…95 finish Run)
Swim Start and Finish: Lagoon at Ala Moana Beach Park
Race Directors: Hank Grundman and Earl Yamaguchi
2/14/81 The International Triathalon (sic) Kailua-Kona Hawai’i
[After ABC Wide World of Sports TV + Honolulu newspapers and mainland publicity]
>325, >325, “325” Finishers?
Swim Start and Finish: Kona Harbor – out and back
Race Directors: Valerie Silk and Earl Yamaguchi
Interest curve in Iron Man Triathlon:
~ 25 to 18 to 15 in 1978 Swim starts first 4 years: 15, 15, 108, >325
~ 50 to 38 to 16/15 in 1979 Finishers in first 4 years: 12, 12, 95, 325
>108 to 108 to 95 in 1980
> 325 to 325 in 1981
2 x interest, >2 x beach show-up from 1978 to 1979
(although 15 starters both years, after a 1 day weather delay in 1979)
2 – 3 x interest, 3 x beach show-up, from 1979 to 1980
3 x interest and 3 x beach show-up from 1980 to 1981
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