For almost four decades, tens of thousands of athletes around the world have tested their mettle against IRONMAN’s grueling 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2 mile run.
But before all the memorable moments and well-know champions like Dave Scott, Natascha Badmann, Mark Allen or Paula Newby-Fraser crossed the finish line, there was the original IRONMAN — Gordon Haller.
Haller is now 65 years old and working as a programmer analyst at Walmart’s corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. However, the celebrity that comes with being IRONMAN’s first finisher back in 1978 still follows him to this day.
“It’s a little embarrassing when people know who I am,” Haller said. “I’m just a guy who had a really good day way back then.”
The race, originally proposed by Navy couple John and Judy Collins, combined the 2.4-mile Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the 112-mile Around-Oahu Bike Race and the 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon. The event moved to the Big Island in 1981 after staging the first few races on Oahu.
When Haller heard about the event, he didn’t have a second thought about entering. He embraced the test.
“I gravitated towards that sort of thing,” Haller said. “I had done a few marathons and multiday races. I enjoyed doing long distances.”
Fifteen athletes took to the water that morning, paying the $3 entry fee to take on the course, and a dozen finished.
“We had no idea what we were in for at the start,” Haller said. “There were a couple of points on the bike ride where I was questioning it.”
Haller’s time of 11 hours 46 minutes and 58 seconds was a half-hour better than the runner-up, John Dunbar. But Haller didn’t exactly get a heroes welcome when he arrived at the finish line.
“I cruised in, crossed the finish line, and there were only a few people around. Someone there actually had to ask if I was in the race,” Haller said. “Real low-key.”
Haller admits he had a lousy swim, but more than made up for it with a solid bike and 3:30 marathon.
“I remember being at the top of Diamond Head and seeing lights at the finish line,” Haller said. “I started to fly at the end. I felt really strong.”
Haller hasn’t really stopped since.
He finished fourth in the second running of the event in 1979 and was inducted into the IRONMAN Hall of Fame in 2003. He still gets out to a handful of endurance events through the year and has been to Kona to do the race. His last finish at the IRONMAN World Championship came in 2013.
Haller won’t be in the field Saturday, but didn’t rule out a return to the race in 2016. However, he did assure that he will be back in 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his historic day.
