Belgian wins record-hot Ironman Chattanooga 2016 race

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Marino Vanhoenacker #2, from Jabbeke, BEL, raises his hands in victory as he wins the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Vanhoenacker won overall with a time of 8:12:22. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia. Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Marino Vanhoenacker #2, from Jabbeke, BEL, raises his hands in victory as he wins the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Vanhoenacker won overall with a time of 8:12:22. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

By David Cobb September 26, 2016 5 min read

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Belgian wins record-hot Ironman Chattanooga race

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Barrett Brandon #15, from Fort Worth, TX, leads the mens professional division as they compete in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Eric Limkemann #8, from Richmond, VA, left, drafts Barrett Brandon #15, from Fort Worth, TX, while the two lead the mens professional division as they compete in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Professional competitors draft each other while competing in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Eric Limkemann #8, from Richmond, VA, drafts Barrett Brandon #15, from Fort Worth, TX, while the two lead the mens professional division as they compete in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Spectators watch as athletes compete in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Age group competitors pass between the Market and Walnut Street Bridges while competing in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Age group competitors compete in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Nicole Schile #1515, from Overland Park, KS, passes under the Walnut Street Bridge while competing in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Kenneth Burnett #1239, from Fayetteville, NC, passes under the Walnut Street Bridge during the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Kenneth Burnett #1239, from Fayetteville, NC, swims towards a support boater to work out a cramp before completing the final leg of the swim during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Konstantine Vlasis redirects off course swimmers as they compete in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Age group competitors finish up the final stretch of the swim portion while competing in the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Age group competitors exit the water while competing in the swim portion of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Robert Starnes motivates a runner while volunteering during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Cyclists enter the bike to run transition during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Dusty Spiller #34, finishes up the bike leg during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Adam Weeks #2143, from Hickory, NC, and TinTin Rexach #437, from San Juan, PR, ride past a run mural while on the bike course during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Roger Hedlund #599, from Tabernash, CO, enters the bike to run transition area during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Chip Walters #2515, from Harrison, TN., and other runners leave the bike to run transition during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Marino Vanhoenacker #2, from Jabbeke, BEL, leads the professional field on his second loop of the run course during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Vanhoenacker won overall with a time of 8:12:22. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Jeff Symonds #5, from Vancouver, BC, celebrates with fans as he secures second place overall during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Jeff Symonds #5, from Vancouver, BC, celebrates as he secures second place overall during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Eric Limkemann, from Richmond, VA, starts the run after being third off the bike during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Limkemann finished 8th overall. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Matt Russell #4, from Sarasota, FL, heads out for his first loop of the run course during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Russell took third place overall with an overall time of 8:24:53. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Matt Russell #4, from Sarasota, FL, makes his way to the finish line during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Russell took third place overall with an overall time of 8:24:53. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Matt Russell #4, from Sarasota, FL, recovers after crossing the finish line during the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Russell took third place overall with an overall time of 8:24:53. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Matt Russell #4, from Sarasota, FL, performs a

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Finishers hats are stacked up for competitors of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Russell took third place overall with an overall time of 8:24:53. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Medals are stacked up for competitors of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. Russell took third place overall with an overall time of 8:24:53. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/25/16. Support boaters wait for the start of the 2016 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga triathlon on September 25, 2016. More than 2,700 athletes registered to compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 116-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Chattanooga and North Georgia.

Last year’s Ironman Chattanooga finish set a record for being the closest finish in the organization’s history. Sunday provided yet another record.

A high temperature of 97 degrees welcomed thousands of spectators, volunteers and competitors to the city’s third full Ironman triathlon event.

The last time it was hotter on Sept. 25 in Chattanooga was 1931, before any of the 2,500-plus competitors in Sunday’s race were born.

Athletes ranging in age from 18-80 subjected themselves to summer heat on a fall day by swimming 2.4 miles, biking 116 and running 26.2, all with the goal of hearing, “congratulations, you are an Ironman” at the end of a long day, and months – even years – of training.

Winner Marino Vanhoenacker of Belgium spent 20 minutes in a medical aid tent after crossing the finish line at Ross’s Landing in the middle of the afternoon.