ZELIENOPLE — The race has no name.

Some may not consider it a race at all.

But it means plenty to the 15 athletes who will be completing a 140.6-mile Ironman event Sunday in Butler County.

“Ironman events have been canceled all over the place because of the (COVID-19) pandemic,” said Joella Baker, director of GetFit Families in Zelienople. “People have trained a long time, devoted a lot of hours to train for them.

“They deserve the opportunity to compete, even if it's against themselves.”

So Baker decided to provide an opportunity.

She set up a course for this Sunday consisting of a 2.4-mile swim at Moraine State Park, a 112-mile bicycle ride through the park, to Grove City and down to Zelienople, then a 5-loop, 26.2-mile run around Zelienople.

“I just threw the idea out there to our local endurance runners and those in the Pittsburgh area,” Baker said.

There will be 15 people tackling the course, including Kyle Ford of Cranberry Township, Matthew Bova of Zelienople and Zachary Baker of Harmony.

Bova had been training to run a Half-Ironman in Haines City, Fla., in December. When Sunday's event came up, he opted out of Florida.

“Florida is a hot spot for the virus, so I figured I'd stay home and go for the whole Ironman,” Bova, 36, said. “It's my first one and I'm excited about it.

“It may not be an actual race, but I consider it a competition. There won't be hundreds of runners on the course. This is a chance to test myself against like-minded people who will be out there because they want to push themselves. They will be fully vested like I am.”

Bova's goal is to finish the Ironman in 12 hours. Participants cannot take more than 17 hours to complete the course.

“Pros can do it in seven or eight hours,” said Kelley Morrone of Cranberry Township, a volunteer at Sunday's event. “The average endurance athlete can do it in 12.”

Morrone completed an Ironman race in 2015. She ran six marathons and two Half-Ironman races beforehand.

“You have to build yourself up to it,” she said of doing an Ironman event.

Bova has a crossfit training background and has been actively training for an Ironman race for six months.

“Mostly bicycling and running,” he said. “I haven't done a lot of swimming. I train at 4 in the morning, so it's tough to find water at that time.

“I dont keep a consistent training schedule. If I wake up feeling good, I'm exhausting the tank. If I wake up and I'm not so good, I tuck my tail.”

Like Morrone, John Ciraula of Cranberry Township will be volunteering his time Sunday. He ran the Ironman Louisville race in 2018.

“It will be an all-day thing,” he said. “I'll be life-guarding in the water and I plan to get up there early.

“Nutrition is a big part of this type of event. You have to fuel yourself. I know how important support along the course is and I just want to do my part.”

The swim at Moraine begins at 8 a.m. Morrone, Ciraula and other volunteers plan to spend 16 or 17 hours of their Sunday lending a hand.

“I will be kayaking alongside the swimmers, making sure they're OK,” Corrone said. “On the bike course, I'll work an aid station, providing water, Gatorade or food. Then I'll get down to Zelienople and run with anybody who wants or needs someone to run with.

“These athletes are inspiring. It's amazing just to watch them.”

Scott Baker, Joella's husband, is another volunteer.

“My first triathlon was 15 years ago,” he said. “I'll be there to fill needs ... sustenance, fuel, athletic support, whatever.

“For me, it's humbling, just seeing people complete this.”

Other members of GetFit Families will also serve as volunteers, yet more volunteers are sought for Sunday's event. Call Joella Baker at 724-321-4265 or email joella@zoominternet.net.