Triathletes gear up as Ironman draws closer

Venezuela native Hannibal Garcia was among hundreds of first-time visitors who streamed into town for Sunday's ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta competition and, like many of them, he was ready.

"This will be my very first 70.3, and this is also a first-time event here," he said. "I'm all set."

Mr. Garcia, an associate at a Miami bicycle shop, predicted his best performance will emerge during the 56-mile bicycle ride, with swimming and running adding more of a challenge.

John Ambrozic, a firefighter from Sarasota, Fla., came to Augusta with about 25 fellow members of the Sarasota Storm triathlon club.

"This will be my first half-triathlon, too," he said. "I wanted to do it with a group of my friends."

As what has been billed as the world's second-largest Ironman event draws closer, athletes, their friends and families packed the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites, where a Health & Fitness Expo offered everything from free hand sanitizer to some of the world's priciest bicycles.

"This is a huge crowd already," said vendor Angie McBride, who traveled from Eagle, Idaho, to help offer T-shirts and athletic wear to visitors. "We've only been open a couple hours, and it's packed."

Triathletes wandered the halls, taking advantage of freebies and looking over running shoes, mugs, headbands, water bottles and other things that could help make a 70.3-mile adventure a little more comfortable.

The biggest sellers were quite predictable, said Augusta bicycle shop owner Andy Jordan.

"They want energy foods, performance bars -- anything to help make you go faster," he said.

Other items available included anti-chafe roll-on and heart-rate monitors.

John Woodruff, a vendor from St. Petersburg, Fla., offered commodities everyone could appreciate: Adrenalin and Glycerin. They were brand names of specialized running shoes, but they were selling well among a crowd that knows how to use them.

James Baker of Charlotte, N.C., spent his afternoon showing off specialized Giant bicycles to interested visitors. With slender Michelin tires, a lightweight frame and sleek design, the Trinity Advanced SL is the world's fastest, he said.

"It's known as a triathlon or time trial bike," he said. "It's all about cheating the wind." Its price tag: $5,200.

Local athletes enjoying the festivities Friday included 68-year-old Cobbs Nixon, who accompanied fellow contestants Billy Badger and Yvonne Davis to the expo and race orientation.

"We have a team name for these two: 'Beauty and the Beast,'" he said with a laugh. "We've been swimming the river on Saturday mornings to get ready."

The event -- which will begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Augusta's Fifth Street Marina, is expected to include 3,307 competitors, according to organizers. The crowds of vendors and family members traveling with the athletes are expected to boost the visitation numbers.

The Health & Fitness Expo also will be open today from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.