PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Next month Ronald Wally, deputy director of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit here and Franklin Township native, will be 50 years old, but do not tell him that. Wally just cemented his return entry into the 140.6 mile, World Ironman Competition finals in Kona, Hawaii.
An Ironman competition is an intense triathlon in the fact that not only does a participant run the equivalent of the New York City Marathon (26.2 miles), but he or she must also swim 2.4 miles and bike 112 miles.
Participants do not have breaks in between the events and must learn to transition from the water, to the bike and then to the pavement without causing themselves physical harm.
To solidify his spot in the world championship Wally placed first in his age group (50-54) in a competition in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 30. There were approximately 2,400 participants and Wally placed 121 overall.
Each year there are 29 worldwide qualifying events and only about 1,800 are invited to compete at the world championship in Hawaii.
The age brackets in an Ironman competition are determined by how old you will be at the end of the year in which you are racing. This is Wally's first try in the 50-54 age bracket. Last year Wally participated in the 45-49 age group.
Wally said he would participate in triathlons occasionally, but it was only recently that his training intensified.
"I started training around 1983 but really picked it up in 2005. I train just about every day of the week," he said.
This is the second time Wally has made it to the world finals. Last year he placed 49th in his age group.
In 2007 and 2008, Wally also completed two half-Ironman competitions, 70.3 miles, which are held in Clearwater, Fla. In all, Wally has a total of nine Ironman competitions under his belt.
According to Ironman.com, the Ironman competition dates back to 1978 when a group of Navy Seals argued over who was the most fit athlete. Commander John Collins determined the best way to decide would be to combine the Waikiki Rough Water Swim, the Around Oahu Bike Race and the Honolulu Marathon. Whoever finished would be a real Ironman.
Wally has no prior military experience, but has about 27 years of government service here at Picatinny.
On Oct. 10, Wally will have his chance to complete his 10th competition as he competes to become the world's best and earn the title of Ironman.
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