May is coming up quickly, and for some that means summer starts on the 25, but for many of the cross country runners at MCA, it’s time for IronMay. IronMay is a nationwide contest started by the Fellowship Baptist Church in Cheney, WA, in which individuals or teams participate to see how many Ironman races they can run within the month of May. A traditional Ironman race consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a marathon (a 26.2-mile run). A race participant can take anywhere from eight to sixteen hours to cross the finish line.

Thankfully, you don’t have to do that all at once; runners, swimmers, and bikers who sign up and log as many miles (and run as many Ironman races) as they can do so throughout the month of May. Whether you’re going solo, or with a few friends or family members, there isn’t any pressure to exhaust yourself beyond repair. Teams often split up miles daily or weekly to distribute their load evenly. Last year, the MCA cross-country team split up into teams of four and were able to complete one to four Ironman races per team throughout IronMay.

Love it or hate it, IronMay is a great time for health, motivation, and teamwork. Ask one of the MCA runners you know if you’re feeling hesitant to sign up, and they can tell you just how rewarding and challenging IronMay can be. The question is, are you up for the challenge?

Be sure to go to www.ironmay.com if you’re ready to sign up or contact ironmaychallenge@gmail.com if you have a few questions or would like to learn more.