To The Competitors, It’s the Competition & Camaraderie That Makes This A Special 4th Of July Event

Hermosa Beach Ironman winner 4th of July — Winning the Hermosa Beach Ironman is a prized accomplishment in Hermosa Beach, CA. Photo: Jack Fleming

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com South Bay Blogger

To most people in the Los Angeles South Bay Beach Cities, the Hermosa Beach Ironman is a crazy event that starts the party for the 4th of July.

After all, the final element of this Ironman is not a 50-mile bike ride or some other grueling activity but the chugging of a 6-pack of beer. While a judge watches to be sure all the beer is consumed.

But to the competitors, it’s much more than that – it’s a way to be patriotic, to share something special with other the competitors and is a special way to celebrate life and America in this idillic location.

“People who just think it’s about the drinking should be there for the national anthem,” said frequent participant Ed “Mac” MacLaughlin, a local real estate agent. “There are hundreds of people singing the national anthem and waving American flags before the start of the Ironman. It’s very moving.

“The energy of all that then transfers to the event. You should see all those people running, sprinting to get their boards and entering the water at the same time for the paddleboarding (the event consists of a 1-mile run and 1-mile paddle on a board prior to the beer chugging element).

“It’s a great start to the day. You get in a little run, you get out in the great Pacific Ocean and you hang out with your friends and watch a crazy event that I don’t think you’ll find anywhere else in the world.”

Hermosa Beach Ironman 4th of July competitor — Hermosa Beach Ironman competitor Ed MacLaughlin (left) feels the spirit of the event is misunderstood by locals.

Most spectators arrive in time for the beer chugging and the Ironman celebration, which is comprised of the competitors running seemingly amok in circles on the sand, mosh pit style, while a punk band plays on the beach.

That goes from approximately 9-10:30 a.m. The Ironman starts at 8 a.m. It takes place on the beach in Hermosa Beach, CA., by the water at approximately 25th St.

If you want to participate, signups for the 2017 Ironman are all day Monday, July 3, at Tower 12.