STATE COLLEGE — With the 2024 Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley race inching closer, one notable Centre County resident and triathlon competitor shared he won’t be competing this year.
Rep. Paul Takac is no stranger to Ironman competitions, with decades of athletic experience under his belt. However, due to his busy schedule, he was unable to compete in last year’s first Centre County Ironman and won’t be competing this year. Despite this, Takac recognizes the impact Ironman has on his neck of the woods, noting how it allows competitors to get a feel for the community.
“It’s just an iconic experience of Centre County encapsulated,” Takac said. “We were very supportive of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau’s efforts to attract the race, and the economic impact has been significant.”
The initial triathlon last summer generated $4.4 million of revenue across the weekend, according to the Happy Valley Sports and Entertainment Alliance, but Takac believes that was just the tip of the iceberg. Beyond the initial impact, he said the race opens the door for visitors to want to return to Centre County in the future.
“Once people are exposed to how great we have it here in Centre County, they naturally want to come back,” Takac said. “I think (the race) is a wonderful thing. It’s great for our local community and for our businesses as well.”
While the impact on Happy Valley is something Takac values, he’s also very supportive of the race and athletes themselves, especially due to his own experience.
Takac ran his first marathon in the late 1980s, sharing how he “always loved running.” After sustaining an injury while playing hockey and being advised by a doctor to switch to a less physical sport, he began competing in Ironman triathlons.
Over a decade ago, Takac competed in his first half-Ironman in Dallas on his 45th birthday, and he has been hooked ever since.
“I really enjoyed the training, I enjoyed the race,” Takac said. “Since, I’ve done probably at least half a dozen half-Ironmans and I’ve started seven full Ironmans and completed five.”
To compete in the grueling competitions, time and dedication are needed. Takac noted that the top Ironman athletes must complete “continuous training for years to remain at peak fitness” to finish near the top of the field.
Even for someone like himself, who views Ironman more as a hobby, it still takes quite a lot of effort to prepare for race day.
“Typically, it’s many months, at least, to build up your endurance, stamina and strength in order to be able to do it,” Takac said. “Once I was already in shape, it was probably four or five months of dedicated training, and maybe a bit less for a half ironman.”
Takac said he primarily competes for the joy of it all, and views race day as a “reward” for the time spent training. Not only does he love completing the race, he also enjoys interacting with his fellow competitors or any community members and volunteers who contribute.
With Happy Valley’s triathlon nearing race day, Takac explained how volunteers are the lifeblood of Ironman events.
“It’s a tremendous undertaking. One of the greatest things to witness is to see how the community comes together to support the athletes and their families,” Takac said. “I make it a point when I’m participating in those races to thank every volunteer for making it the experience that it is.”
This year’s Happy Valley iteration has already gained commitments from over 550 volunteers, with the window still open for community members to sign up to help.
Besides showing appreciation for those who hold the event together, Takac also said it’s important for the athletes themselves to appreciate how they got to this point. He advises all the competitors to bask in the moment and enjoy all 70.3 miles.
“My biggest piece of advice is to have fun and make it your own race,” Takac said. “If you’ve achieved your own personal goals and you’ve accomplished something, don’t compare yourself to others. Just enjoy the experience and soak it all in.”
