For the past 10 years, Indian River Networks has welcomed in the month of June by helping out with the Rotary Club of Melbourne Beach’s annual Pineapple Man Triathlon. The proceeds from the race are used by the Rotary Club to benefit many different organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, Gemini Elementary School, the Rotary International Foundation, and many other charitable organizations. Hundreds of participants travel from all over to swim in the Indian River lagoon, cycle down scenic A1A, and run through picturesque Melbourne Beach neighborhoods. Indian River Networks plays a big part in helping the Rotary Club pull off this event every year.
IRN staff (and we even drag our family members along) spends the entire weekend of the race, working alongside Rotarians, hustling to get race central set up. We set up swim, bike and running courses, register athletes, hang banners, and place swim course guide buoys just before the sun is up on race day to ensure a smooth race start and smooth and fun race for participants.
While the athletes are enjoying the event, most of the IRN staff is at the water stops handing out water and cheering on the racers. It has become a tradition to take a “Pineapple Man selfie” and share your position with the rest of the IRN team. Once the last finisher has crossed the finish line, and Eric & Amy have handed out all of the awards to the top place finishers, IRN staff works again with the Rotary Club to break everything down.
Long after all the athletes have left, Eric, Amy and the rest of Indian River Networks team is there making sure every piece of the puzzle is picked back up and put into storage for next year. We love this event, and while it is hard work, exhausting, and hotter than you could ever image – the feeling of satisfaction and pride in knowing we are a part of this event makes it all worthwhile.