WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- First responders gathered Thursday morning for a final meeting before this weekend’s 4th annual Ironman 70.3 Western Massachusetts.

Sunday’s event is just days away and race director Roland Nel said everyone is ready. “It’s just become something that I think people, they love to be here. The bike course is beautiful, the run course is beautiful, they got a downriver swim on the Connecticut (River),” he noted.

Representatives from at least eight jurisdictions met at the West Springfield Public Library Thursday morning to go over the course, the times road closures will be in effect, and what time the finish line will be active. “We have over nine public safety boats on the river, two of which have divers. It stretches from the Sheriff’s Department right through to our actual Zodiacs from the Ironman safety point of view,” Nel explained.

Approximately 1,000 volunteers will be helping and at least 1,600 athletes will be participating.

Springfield Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi will once again be the incident commander for the event. “It’s an integrated response across Western Mass. if something were to happen at this event, so it’s important everybody knows what’s going on,” he explained, adding that his department will have extra personnel on the river and in Forest Park.

The race involves swimming, biking, and running. Last year, bad weather forced organizers to cancel the swim leg. This year, after consulting with Veolia North America, organizers said Thursday there is nothing to worry about. “We’ve been meeting with them daily to kind of get their feeling on what it is that we should be watching and they feel very optimistic about us having this race this week,” Nel said.

Sunday’s race will begin at 6 a.m. at the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club in Springfield. Nearly two dozen public safety departments will be in the area of the course to make sure everyone is safe.

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