Six Bainbridge residents are training for an ultimate challenge.

The challenge will come Sept. 27 when Liv Warren, Malee Watson, Diana Kirbo, Mona Musgrove, Larissa Carpenter and Blaine Palmer participate in a half iron man competition in Augusta.

The event will encompass 70.3 miles and include a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run. They must finish the event in eight hours.

The swimming portion of the competition, which we will do in a wetsuit, will be in the Savannah River. Palmer said the group will compete in two shorter events in June and August as part of their preparation.

“On June 27, we will be in Macon competing in an event that will include a 60-yard swim, 13-mile bicycle ride and 5,000-meter, 3.2 mile run,” Palmer said. “Then on August 15, we will be in Cordele competing in the same three events.”

As far as local training is concerned, the group is swimming in the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA pool and running and biking on Lake Douglas Road and East River Road.

“We are also doing weight training as part of our preparation,” Palmer said. “We are doing bench presses and other upper body training. The upper body tires much quicker than the lower body.”

Carpenter said she and the others planning to participate in the Augusta half iron man would like to remind local citizens to be aware of them when they are training around Bainbridge and Decatur County.

“I remind motorists to look out for us and remember that, under Georgia law, bikers and runners have the right away,” she said