Ironman Triathlon at Falling Creek Camp

“I’m so excited but nervous,” CR said to the other guys lined up on the lower dam, getting ready to jump in the water. “Don’t worry,” said Matt, our camp chaplain, “everyone racing is nervous, you’re going to do great.” These young athletes were about to begin the challenge of Falling Creek’s 41st annual summer camp Ironman triathlon. The FCC Ironman is an optional competition that boys can choose to challenge themselves in during Main Camp. The event goes back to 1981 at camp, when it was started under the leadership of Skeet Keyes and Garrett Randolph.

Yesterday we had a mix of ages and experience levels competing, with some boys coming close to the win last year, and others trying it for their first time this year. “I wanted to try it this year because I have family in Chicago who do races like this,” Oliver said. Henry, known by his friends at camp as “Poptart”, came in a close second last summer and was hoping to earn this win this time. Boys who weren’t competing were serving essential roles as pit crew and cheer squad for their friends. Marshall was excited to be on his older brother Walker’s pit crew again this summer, helping him in the transition zones and assisting him to get his best time.

“Pow!” When the cap gun went off, a dozen boys jumped into the lake from the lower dam, making up the first wave of competitors. Water splashed and limbs started paddling quickly through the water. Each boy was competing to be the fastest one to swim across to the other side, hoping for a lead in the three-part race of endurance.

Just like the real Ironman, there are three parts to the summer camp version of the race: swimming, running, and biking. Each competitor has to prepare and practice all session long. This preparation includes going on a swim check to practice swimming the length of the two lakes, completing a mountain bike prep and “camp ride” to ensure their confidence on a bike, and running the full lap of the trail course to make sure they knew the route. After spending the past three weeks getting ready, today the boys finally raced.

To kick off the race, the boys swam across the Lower Lake, ran up the upper dam, and swam around the Upper Lake while lifeguards paddled along next to the swimmers to make sure everything was safe. When they got out at the Roller Coaster, they transitioned to the mountain bike section, quickly putting on shoes and shirts while still dripping wet and breathing hard from the swim. It takes a lot of effort to put a dry sock on a wet foot! This is when they would need the assistance from their friends as “pit crew,” helping them with anything from putting on their shoes, to getting them water, to just cheering them on as they pushed forward to the next section.

After two laps of riding, the racers ditched the bikes and headed out on a different course for two final laps of running. The running route took them on part of the old “Foo Foo Trail,” heading out toward the old apple orchard and back around to the Dining Hall. Having the course loop by the upper lake and field a few times before finishing helps make the race more spectator friendly for those who choose to watch and cheer rather than compete. The race ends on the ball field, with each racer running through the finish line and into the cheering arms of friends, cabin mates, and counselors.

As the boys finish, they run right past the landsports hut, which has the names of each Ironman winner from the past years, listed on painted wooden plaques to commemorate the victories. Finishers are given a can of mountain dew and chocolate bar to celebrate. William J. generously gave his treats to his pit crew to thank them for supporting and helping him during the race. Everyone was gathered by the finish line to recover from the hard effort, hear stories about how the race went for everyone, and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment after a tough challenge.

This summer, Henry S. was our winner! It was great to see his hard work pay off this summer, after setting this win as his goal all year. Huge congrats also to George C. in 2nd, and Wallace B. in 3rd. We’re proud of all the young men who competed in this 2022 Ironman, challenging themselves by giving it their all and preparing diligently for the race!

After dinner we gathered for Friendship Campfire, and tapped new members of the Honor Council. Henry S from Houston, TX, Luke B from Atlanta, GA, William M from Thomasville, GA, and Dan Waterland, the Robinia Linehead, from Chadds Ford, PA. These four were voted in by their peers in the camp community for consistently living by the FCC Code. At Campfire we also had the STEEL and FLINT guys stand at the front to be thanked for their service to the community. Walker L and Thomas J shared about their experiences both as a part of the FLINT program, and as campers.