On a Sunday that started out dark and rainy, the top finishers at the 2022 Little Debbie Chattanooga Ironman were able to finish the race in bright sunshine that was followed by a clear night for the rest of the almost 2,000 competitors looking to complete the 144-mile triathlon.
For much of its history since the inaugural race in 2014, Ironman Chattanooga has been held on clear days, including some years with very high temperatures. However, steady rain throughout the area cooled the course, the competitors and the volunteers until after noon.
“We were just talking (about the rain) today,” said volunteer captain Shelly Ayers, who has been a volunteer since the first Ironman in 2014. “We can only remember maybe twice where we’ve had rain during the race. The first year there was a shower in the afternoon during the run course, which was good because it was so hot. But beyond that, I can’t remember another time where there’s been consistent rain like we had this morning.”