Filming an IRONMAN race is a thrilling yet challenging endeavor. The event, known for its grueling demands, offers a unique opportunity to capture the sheer determination and triumph of its participants. In July 2023, Port Side Productions had the privilege of documenting three triathletes from Athletic Brewing’s ambassador team as they attempted IRONMAN Lake Placid. Here's a guide on how to effectively film an IRONMAN race, ensuring you capture all the critical moments and emotions.
1. Coordinate with Race Officials: First and foremost, coordinate with the race officials and understand their requirements. This ensures you have the necessary permissions and know the guidelines for filming at various points along the course. Don’t just show up and expect you’ll have access to the course. Getting media credentials is a time-consuming process that typically happens months beforehand.
2. Review the Course Map: Study the course map thoroughly. Pay attention to the transition points, scenic vistas, and the finish chute. Knowing how runners enter the finish chute can help you position your cameras to capture those triumphant final moments.
3. Walk the Race Course Before the event, walk (or drive) the race course with your production team and create a detailed plan. For IRONMAN Lake Placid, we paired a camera operator with each athlete as they transitioned from the swim to the bike. We also had one camera operator on the back of a moped for the bike course and two camera operators on the run course. Additionally, one camera operator stayed in the pits to capture any athletes who did not finish (DNF). A photographer bounced around throughout the entire event and our producer helped coordinate between all 5 of the crew members
4. Pre-Race Meeting with Athletes
The night before the race, we sat down with each of the athletes and told them our race capture plan. The athletes should know what the capture plan is so they aren’t surprised when a camera shows up in their faces. This is also a good chance to make a DNF plan. In the event that the athletes don’t finish, having a plan in a chaotic and emotional moment can make the difference between documenting this moment or missing it. Throughout the race day, we would occasionally ask the athletes to comment on their progress, how they were feeling, etc. We made sure each athlete knew we might be asking them questions but also told them to let us know if they needed space.
5. Track Your Athletes Using the App
IRONMAN has an app that will track each athlete as they cross checkpoints throughout the race. This app can be invaluable as you’re trying to find your athletes throughout the day. As helpful as this app is though, don’t rely on it. The app can go down, cell service can be spotty. Know your athlete's kit and know their intended race splits.
6. Pace Yourself
Filming an IRONMAN race is a long and demanding day. With a finish time of 17 hours, it’s an endurance event for the athletes and the film crew. Pace yourself to ensure you have the energy and focus to capture the entire event. Keep yourself hydrated, eat regularly, and wear sunscreen. These simple steps are crucial for maintaining your stamina and well-being throughout the day.
7. Don’t Forget the Friends and Family
Grabbing an interview with the athletes isn’t always possible so in those moments rely on the friends and family spectating. Reaction shots and cheers from loved ones go a long way in helping the audience feel like they’re at the race. Some of our best moments in the film are scenes with the spectators.
8. Drones
Drones are a great way to get footage of the race but know the rules of drone usage before popping the bird in the air. Each time we flew our drone in Lake Placid we had to ask permission from our point of contact at the event.
9. Race Structure & Time Cut Offs
IRONMAN isn’t a complicated event, but there are time cut-offs and rules that athletes need to adhere to to finish the day. Find ways to communicate these details to your audience so they understand how your athletes are doing against the clock
10. It’s Not About the Physical Accomplishment
When we embarked on creating this film with Athletic Brewing we told ourselves “We as the audience should care about each athlete crossing the finish line, not because of the physical accomplishment but because of what this race represents in the context of their life.” Creating empathy and love for a character takes planning before the cameras are even turned on. Remember, race day is exciting, but it’s the stories of each of the athletes competing that make it compelling.
Check out our film project “Inches to Miles” with Athletic Brewing Company here. Photography by Riley Seebeck
