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Ironman is full of familiar faces: a local accountant, a neighbor, the stay-at-home mom from church, a local YMCA instructor.
There are professionals whose lives are dedicated to the sport, but Ironman primarily consists of age-groupers, the term used for the non-professional athletes who make up the majority of the race. They balance careers with families and hours of training, a sacrifice not just for the athletes but for their families and friends.
Some just want to prove to themselves they can finish the race, others dream of a high finish at this weekend's world championships, hoping to be among the best triathletes in the world.
Johnny O'Brien, John and Molly Wiygul
John and Molly Wiygul have the sport of triathlon - and Molly's father - to thank for their first meeting.
In 2005 at the Cohutta Springs Triathlon, John Wiygul first met Johnny O'Brien and they connected over their love of the sport. Then he met O'Brien's daughter Molly, which led to a wedding, a new business venture, and many more triathlons.
The three athletes will be back in action this weekend in their hometown at the Ironman 70.3, which is just down the street from their business, High Point Climbing and Fitness. Molly Wiygul will compete in the women's race Saturday, with O'Brien and John Wiygul taking part in the men's race Sunday.
"It is always an honor to compete in a world championship, and it makes it even better to have my dad and husband by my side," Molly Wiygul said by email this week. "It is fun to give each other high-fives or cheer for each other while in the course. I love traveling, so it is fun to be able to go to different destinations around the world that you may not of ever gone to, but it's hard to beat a hometown race."
O'Brien and the Wiyguls are no strangers to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, with each having competed in the event several times over the years. In fact, if not for the responsibilities of a Ph.D. program at Yale University, O'Brien's other child, Patrick O'Brien - also an accomplished triathlete - would likely make it a foursome for the family this weekend.
Molly Wiygul has been recovering from ankle surgery for the past 16 months, so just making it to the start on Saturday will be an accomplishment.
"I took some time off after qualifying and have been back at it for a month or so," she said. "We shall see how it goes on race day. I'm nervous because I know I am not back to where I was prior to surgery, and that has been frustrating."
While all three athletes are driven to be at the top of their sport, John Wiygul said he has seen a little father-daughter competition over the years, and he expects that to be present this weekend, as well.
"Molly and her father are a little closer in their times, and they're a little more competitive than I am," he said. "I'm not sure they'll admit it, but I think they're competitive with each other."
The separate men's and women's races for this year's world championships will change the routine for O'Brien and the Wigyuls, as they will spend Saturday cheering for Molly Wiygul before John Wiygul and Johnny O'Brien hit the course Sunday.
"It will be nice to have the race on separate days so you can really cheer the others on, but it will be weird to not see them out in the course," Molly Wiygul said. "It will also be weird having pasta dinners on separate nights and not being able to celebrate together after my race because they are racing the next day. I guess I will just get to celebrate two nights now."
After racing all over the world and in several world championships, the family is excited to be competing in such a premier event on their home streets where so many other family and friends can watch and cheer this weekend.
"It's really exciting to be in our hometown," Johnny O'Brien said. "Any time you get to race in your home city it's great because you know so many people. There are so many volunteers that are involved in this race, and it's really fun to be a part of this city and see so many volunteers that you know out on the course.
"It really motivates you, and it puts more pressure on you to perform better."