Is 17 the magic start number?
We are not talking about the bib number 17 here, this weekend 17 ACTIVE Network employees will line up at Ironman Arizona and according to ACTIVE that is the largest corporate starting group in any singular Ironman race.
"The 17 employees will join the long list of ACTIVE employees who, over the years, have competed in more than 120 IRONMAN events, including two at the recent IRONMAN World Championship in Kona," said ACTIVE in a press release.
Mike Reilly (pictured) will be busy announcing the event and welcoming athletes across the finish line with "You are an Ironman" – and among these Arizona starting ACTIVE employees who will hear that call, should all go to plan, is Mike Reilly's son Andy, who a few weeks back helped his dad announce the 2013 GoPro Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
"My son Andy who has worked here for over 3 years is doing his first Ironman in Arizona. When I think how crazy it is – he was 3 years old when I announced my first Ironman in Kona. With all these years and all the emotional finishes I've been a part of – the emotion of him finishing may be overwhelming, hope I get it out without blabbering like an idiot," said an already emotional Mike Reilly.
So what has been the largest number of corporate employees in a single Ironman event to date?