Latest news with #IronmanGroup
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ironman race expected to bring $2M boost to WMass
SPRINGFIELD – The winning time for last year's Ironman 70.3 Western Massachusetts triathlon was 3 hours, 58 minutes and 45 seconds. But for Springfield business, the winning number is $2 million. That, says Mary Kay Wydra, is the estimated local economic impact the race will have on the region, as it brings nearly 1,400 athletes and their boosters to the Pioneer Valley for Sunday's race. That money will be spent on meals, lodging, admission to other attractions, salaries and other things. 'Any time downtown sees an increase in foot traffic, event participation, it benefits all businesses,' said Raymond Berry, president and general manager of White Lion Brewing. 'The spillover hits the restaurants, the entertainment district, the hotels.' White Lion is in Tower Square, near the race finish line on Court Square and the 'athletes' village' in the MassMutual Center. Registrations of 1,380 heading into race week are basically on par with 2024's numbers and ahead of the inaugural race in 2023, Wydra said. Hotels in the area are full. But that might be because of other events, like high school graduations or Springfield's Pride festival. Most Ironman athletes from out of town stay over because of the need to check in at the MassMutual Center either Friday or Saturday and attend a course safety meeting. Competitors from out of town are likely to use a service like Airbnb versus a hotel, Wydra said. Top competitors have nutritional regimes and like to have access to a kitchen. Local participants include a relay team of Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe, West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt and West Springfield State Rep. Michael Finn. Finn will swim, McCabe will run and Reichelt will bike, Wydra said. The Ironman Group is owned by Advance, parent company of The Republican and MassLive. The local Ironman will have 100 additional volunteers in its third year, for a new total of more than 820 people staffing aid stations, lifeguarding, patrolling the Connecticut River in kayaks or checking in athletes prior to race day. The race begins at about 6 a.m. Sunday at the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club in North Riverfront Park with a 1.2-mile point-to-point swim in the Connecticut River. The swim will be followed by a 56-mile bicycle course that heads west into the Hilltowns and back and finishes with a 13.1-mile run from downtown through Springfield's Forest Park and back. Maps are available online at The Connecticut River is the most variable player in the day, capable of changing. Race director Roland Nel said Wednesday the water is tested for contaminants and bacteria starting two weeks before race day. But heavy rains – even rain well upriver in Vermont and New Hampshire — can change conditions quickly, said Ben Quick, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club. Spring rains had an effect on the Connecticut. 'I would say cantankerous,' Quick said. But the weather has been better, putting the river in a better mood. 'At the moment it is on a trajectory to be perfect conditions for race day,' he said. According to the National Weather Service, the Connecticut River at Springfield was at 76.6 feet above sea level on Wednesday and expected to drop further before the weekend Flood stage is 20 feet or higher. Good conditions are ideal for a high-profile event and can help get more people interested in recreation on the Connecticut. 'We consider the Ironman event a fantastic promotion for all the things we support,' Quick said. 'Which is getting people excited about outdoor, on-water recreation.' The club has about 100 participants now, a number that'll double when kayaking begins June 14. 'That is most people's first exposure ... which we are happy to provide,' he said. The Springfield Sprints rowing regatta will be held June 14, the first full-scale regatta on this section of the Connecticut River since 1985, Quick said. Dale Glenn of Holyoke is the Ironman 70.3 Western Massachusetts volunteer coordinator. This year, those helping include Scout groups, teachers and students. 'I'm proud of that,' Glenn said. She got involved because friends were competing. She wasn't able to make that commitment, but wanted to be a part of Ironman. Nel said volunteers keep the athletes going. 'We are elevating our athletes' experiences (by) getting the community involved,' he said. 'We are trying to make it so that when athletes come, they are inspired to carry on.' The Pioneer Valley event is popular with triathletes because its course mimics the twice-as-long Ironman in Lake Placid, New York, in July. 'The hilly climbs of Western Massachusetts are similar to Lake Placid,' Nel said. 'Racing here is a good indication of how the legs are feeling for Lake Placid.' Read the original article on MassLive.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Persons with disabilities to take part in 2025 StanChart Marathon alongside able-bodied participants
From left: Santoz Kumar, General Manager for Singapore for the Ironman Group; Natalie Dau, The Westin Singapore ambassador; James Walkden, general manager of The Westin Singapore; Gregory Burns, The Westin Singapore ambassador; Alister Ong, committee member of the Singapore Disability Sports Council; and Jenny Lim, director of sales and marketing of The Westin Singapore alongside Burns's artwork Runners. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO SINGAPORE – In a push for inclusivity, the 2025 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) will feature persons with disabilities (PWDs) alongside able-bodied participants, as part of an initiative titled One Race, Many Journeys. The initiative was launched at The Westin Singapore on June 4 in celebration of it being the official elite hotel for the SCSM for the third straight year, with the hotel pledging to help PWDs achieve their sporting goals at Singapore's biggest marathon. This is not the first time that the SCSM will see participation of PWDs, with wheelchair users having already featured previously. In 2018, it introduced an elite wheelchair racing category, which was also included in 2019 . James Walkden, general manager of The Westin Singapore , said: 'This year, we wanted to do more to support the community and encourage more people to get involved. Therefore, we came up with the One Race, Many Journeys initiative to demonstrate that there are many ways to get to one destination and there is no one correct answer.' Selected PWDs will receive complimentary entry to the category of their choice at this year's SCSM, those being the 5km, 10km, half-marathon or marathon categories. Showing their support at the launch were American former Paralympic champion swimmer Gregory Burns and Australian ultramarathoner Natalie Dau, both of whom are based in Singapore and ambassadors of The Westin Singapore. Natalie Dau (left) and Gregory Burns (right) are both ambassadors for The Westin Singapore. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Burns, who has been living in Singapore for the past 30 years, believes the initiative will help change public perception of PWDs in wider society. 'When I came here in 1995, there were much fewer physically challenged people out and about. But in 30 years, the physical infrastructure has got better,' said the 68-year-old, a three-time Paralympian with five medals (two golds, two silvers, one bronze). 'Singapore has developed and grown as a compassionate society and the SCSM is yet another way to show that these physically challenged people are out and about and we all can make the best of what we do.' Burns, who is also a passionate artist, unveiled an artwork he had been working on for the past month in support of the initiative. The artwork, named Runners, is a hybrid media piece that combines digital art with contemporary painting techniques. 'This is a collage painting and it's (also) a collage of a race of different people with different abilities and disabilities,' he said. Dau, who completed the second iteration of Project 1000 in May, this time running 1,000km through the Philippines over 12 days , encouraged those participating in the SCSM to be more actively inclusive. Dau, 53, said: 'There's still a big gap between the people that are starting and the people that may be a bit more experienced and I think what we've been missing in Singapore is real inclusivity and the community coming together.' 'Try to mend your passion with purpose. If you have the opportunity to run the marathon for something bigger than yourself, make the most of that,' she added. 'A lot of us don't have friends with disabilities, so if you are running next to someone who is not able-bodied, then have a chat (with them) and welcome them into the community.' After the event launch, both Burns and Dau went for a short 2.4km run with members of the public. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The 2025 SCSM will take place on Dec 6 and 7. Registration is open till Nov 30, or until all slots are sold out. The 2024 edition drew about 55,000 runners over three days, including close to 13,000 international participants from 84 countries. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
