You ARE The Voice of Ironman

Wednesday 02 April 2014
Still putting the soundtrack to the dreams of thousands of triathletes throughout the world, legendary announcer Mike Reilly looks back at his own, unique career 

They are just four words delivered to the sound of a thumping base track but act as the elixir of life for even the weariest of triathletes as they enter the finishing chute.

“YOU ARE AN IRONMAN” is the iconic affirmation delivered up to 2,000 times a race, in events all over the world, by the voice of the sport, the inimitable Mike Reilly.

For the past 25 years it is almost certain that those triumphantly finishing the hallowed 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km marathon, from the USA to New Zealand, will have been bellowed to glory by the announcer whose Twitter handle simply reads: IronmanVoice.

In a rare interview, Reilly swaps the microphone and madness of the finish line for the more intimate discussion forum as the latest legend of the sport to be interviewed by John Newsom and Bevan James Eyles on Thanyapura’s Legends of Triathlon.

In an hour-long podcast where he is as upbeat as he is on race day, Reilly reveals how he was bitten by the triathlon bug when moving from Ohio to the birthplace of swim, bike, run, sunny San Diego.

He explains how a first announcer shift taken on a whim - believing it would be entertaining to take the fun out of friends that were competing - led to putting his own athletic pursuits to one side and carving out a career calling athletes home.

Fittingly, Reilly’s first Ironman is probably the most iconic race of all-time. He recollects the 1989 Iron War of Hawaii where six-time Kona winner, Dave Scott, and the star who would take his mantle, Mark Allen, were just yards apart throughout as they rewrote the record books.

Reilly remember fondly how it was also the year Dick Hoyt pulled his son cerebral palsy-stricken son, Rick, in an inflatable dinghy, before completing the bike and run as they beat the midnight cut-off and became the inspiration for so many to follow.

With so many tales from over 130 Ironman races, Reilly provides fascinating insights into race day, from the stress of the swim, to keeping his voice fresh, to his almost constant finish line presence and the reaction of those fulfilling their dreams- including his own son, Andy.

Ever professional, his attention to details means he reads through the full start-list four or five times before the race perfecting pronunciation and linking names and anecdotes for the race to come.

But above all he emotionally reflects on the way the human spirit shines time and again, as so many achieve what they never thought possible. As Reilly says:  “They realise what they did was a monumental task. They are all ironman.”

For the full insight listen to the Thanyapura Legends of Triathlon interview by visiting www.legendsoftriathlon.com or download the podcast via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/imtalks-legends-of-triathon/id484630310
 
Victories fade, legends don’t. The Thanyapura Legends of Triathlon is a monthly podcast brought to triathlon fans by John Newsom and Bevan James Eyles.

Legends already interviewed include Mark Allen, Greg Welch, Mike Pigg, Scott Tinley, Erin Baker, Karen Smyers, Scott Molina, Simon Whitfield and Spencer Smith.
IMTalk podcast (www.imtalk.me)


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Patagonman

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

Oxman

North Canterbury, New Zealand

Fodaxman

Nova Veneza State of Santa Catarina, Brazil

HercUlean Triathlon

Konark, Puri, India

Challenge Israman

Eilat, Israel

Saharaman

Taghit, Béchar, Algeria

CHALLENGE Sir Bani Yas

Sir Baniyas Island, United Arab Emirates

Kiwiman Xtreme

New Plymouth, New Zealand

Strongman

Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan

Challenge Taiwan

Taitung City, Taiwan, China

Ironman Arizona

Tempe, Arizona, United States

Ironman Cozumel

Cozumel, Mexico

Ironman Western Australia

Busselton, Australia

Ironman New Zealand

Taupo, New Zealand

Ironman African Championship

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Ironman Taiwan

Penghu, Taiwan, China

Ironman Texas

The Woodlands, Texas, United States

Ironman Australia

Port Macquarie, Australia

Ironman Lanzarote

Canary Islands, Spain

Ironman Brazil

Florianopolis, Brazil

Oil Man Texas Triathlon

Montgomery, TX, United States

Challenge Xiamen

Xiamen, China

Hervey Bay 100

Hervey Bay QLD, Australia

MiamiMan

Miami FL, United States

Challenge Canberra

Canberra, Australia

Challenge Florianopolis

Florianopolis, Brazil

BergMan 113 Kolhapur

Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India

Clash Daytona

Daytona, FL, United States

Rotorua Suffer

Rotorua, New Zealand

Alpha Win Sarasota

Sarasota, FL, United States

70.3 Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia

70.3 Riviera Nayarit

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

70.3 Valdivia

Valdivia, Chile

70.3 Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc, Viet Nam

70.3 Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay, South Africa

70.3 Aracaju Sergipe

Aracaju, Brazil

70.3 Bahrain

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70.3 Cartagena

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