Annual Event Where Competitors Run a Mile, Paddle a Mile and Chug a 6-Pack Starts the Beach Party
The 4th of July in Hermosa Beach, CA, got off to its usually silly start in 2012 with the annual Ironman “athletic” competition, on the sand in front of 28th Street.
Though it involves three disciplines, this is not your typical Ironman. It consists of running a mile, padding a mile in the Pacific Ocean, then chugging a 6-pack. Of beer.
Somehow, the winners manage to do all this in 10 minutes, and for that they are rewarded with a victory ride on the shoulders of their fellow competitors.
The 2012 Ironman was much the same as the ones have been for the past 20 or so years. That is to say two hours of silly fun for the 400 who compete and the extra hundred locals who kick off their sandals and join the unique scene on the beach. There were people down by the shore chugging beers, the puking – there’s even a “best puking” winner – laughs, encouragement from other competitors and onlookers, and the post-event ride on the shoulders for the winners, followed by running around in a mosh pit to the music of a live punk rock band.
This is the one time that the “no drinking in public and on the beach” law is lifted and the Hermosa Beach Police enjoy being assigned to the event. They keep a watchful eye on everyone but let things like the mosh pit go on until it runs out of steam on its own.
The events started at 9 a.m., and was finished by about 11 a.m. And then, it was onto the party that is Hermosa Beach on the 4th of July!
Many competitors went straight from the beach to the near-by North End bar.
Enjoy the photos.
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