How I Filmed a Full Ironman Solo (And What I’d Do Differently)

IRONMAN Emilia-Romagna · Cervia, Italy · Filmed 19 September 2026

On 19 September 2026 I filmed IRONMAN Italy Emilia-Romagna in Cervia, Italy. I wasn’t there for the event organisers. I was there for one athlete, Baar, and his personal race.

I did it alone. No second shooter, no driver, no logistics support. I was the driver, the planner and the camera operator, all at once. It was one of the hardest shoots I’ve done, and I learned a lot. This post is for two groups: athletes who want their Ironman captured properly, and videographers thinking of taking on a job like this.

The Day Before: Preparation, Registration and Bike Drop

The story starts before race day. I filmed Baar’s preparation: packing his bags, laying out nutrition and checking equipment. These quiet moments give the final film its emotional build-up.

Next comes registration. Athletes collect transition bags, a timing chip and their race number. Then they drop the bike and transition bags in the transition zone, usually the day before.

Swim Start: Chaos on the Beach

Race morning at the beach is hectic. Thousands of people crowd the start. Without a media pass you have to be proactive and stay close to your athlete.

I stayed right beside Baar to capture the nerves, the emotion and the atmosphere. Then I pushed through the crowd to film him entering the water. I ended up standing in the sea in my trainers and socks, because there was nowhere on the packed shore to leave my shoes.

Spotting your athlete in the queue is hard. Everyone wears a similar wetsuit and the same swim cap. You need to know your athlete’s build, body language and walk. I caught him going in. It wasn’t as clean as a media-zone shot, but it was usable.

The swim goes a long way out. This is the moment for drone footage. Unfortunately, I was told I couldn’t fly because of a nearby military base, even though I saw others flying.

Transition 1: Swim to Bike

In Gdańsk I ran alongside my athlete from the water exit to transition. At Emilia-Romagna that wasn’t possible. Athletes had a direct route, while spectators were sent over temporary bridges, through crowds and around closed roads.

Transition was fenced along roughly 2 km of bike racks, and there was no way to cross in time. I ended up on the wrong side, running parallel along a narrow path packed with people. I was carrying a gimbal, a drone bag and a 10 kg camera bag, on a hot day.

Use the family. Baar’s family was there filming on their phones. Ask them to film horizontally. Phone footage is completely fine for these moments, and sometimes better, because phones are quick and easy to handle.

The Bike Leg: Don’t Trust the Tracker Alone

The IRONMAN app has an athlete tracker, but it estimates position from average pace. Real pace changes with terrain and fatigue. Baar slowed on climbs and flew down descents, and the tracker didn’t reflect that. Build in plenty of margin.

With so many roads shut, I parked wherever I could: fields, church and supermarket car parks, empty lots, usually 500 m to 1 km from the course. Then I either flew the drone in or walked. Watch out for power lines.

Picking out one rider from the air among thousands is nearly impossible. What worked was this:

• Find a crossover point where the course passes the same spot twice. That gives you two chances.
• Wait at a sharp corner. Riders slow down, so you have a better chance of spotting and framing your athlete.

I waited almost an hour, and it paid off. I caught him flying past, and he was shocked to see me there.

“How did you find me out here!?”

Transition 2: Where I Missed the Shot

That shot had a cost. Driving back to the bike-to-run transition, I hit roadblock after roadblock. The final section of the bike was downhill, so riders were ahead of the tracker’s estimate. I parked a 20-minute walk away and didn’t make it in time. His family was there and filmed it on their phones, which saved the moment.

A driver would have solved this. So would a second shooter already stationed at T2.

Look After Yourself

By 4 pm I’d been up since 5:30, sweating all day, and hadn’t found a single toilet I could get to. It sounds funny, but it’s a real logistics problem when roads are closed and crowds are everywhere.

Bring:

• A small towel and a few changes of shirt
• Electrolyte drinks
• Snacks and sandwiches

You’ll need the energy, because the hardest part comes next.

The Marathon: Loops, Crossovers and Soundbites

The 42.2 km run at Emilia-Romagna was four loops, with several crossover points. That means you can see your athlete twice in one place from different angles, which saves a lot of energy.

What I filmed

• Running alongside with the gimbal. I usually left my bags with the family, but sometimes had to run with all my gear. Train for this beforehand by walking or jogging with a heavy backpack.
• Aid stations. Slow-motion shots of water being poured over heads, drinking and grabbing food look great.
• Quick soundbites. A simple “How are you feeling?” gets brutally honest answers. These are gold in the edit.

“I don’t know how I’m gonna do this for another 3 hours.”

“I’m dead.”

On the third loop, I headed to the finish line.

The Finish Line

The finish area is packed, but it clears in waves. Most spectators leave once their own athlete has crossed. When someone leaves, take their spot. I got a position right next to the line and captured Baar finishing.

After crossing, athletes go into a restricted recovery tent. I couldn’t go in, but I filmed him from outside. Then come the hugs, the tears and the time with family. These moments often end up being the heart of the film, which is why I believe a good videographer has to understand people, not just cameras.

Gear List for Filming an Ironman

• Camera with reliable autofocus
• Gimbal
• Drone (check local rules first)
• Wide, portrait and telephoto zoom lenses
• High-capacity SD cards
• Plenty of batteries and chargers
• Good running shoes
• Towel, spare shirts, food and electrolytes

High-capacity cards mean you’re not swapping mid-race. I charged drone batteries in the car throughout the day.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

1. Bring a driver or logistics person. Tracking a moving athlete, driving around closures and switching to camera gear is too much for one person.
2. Add a second shooter for the transitions, stationed ahead of time.
3. Put a personal GPS tracker on the athlete rather than relying only on the official app.
4. Ask the athlete to wear something distinctive: a bright top for the bike and run, or a colour you agree on in advance.
5. Push harder for a media pass and confirm drone rules weeks ahead.
6. Film a different athlete’s transition early for B-roll if I’m stuck outside the fence.

What Goes Into Budgeting a Personal Ironman Film

A personal Ironman shoot is a real production. Beyond the filming and editing, budget for:

• Flights and accommodation for the videographer (and any extra help)
• Car rental (essential for the bike course)
• Food and on-the-day expenses
• Optional extras: a second shooter, a driver, a post-race interview

For Baar, the project continues with a professionally filmed post-race interview to complete the story.

It’s a significant investment. But you train for months or years for one day, and having it captured properly is priceless.

Joshua Camacho (Camacho Films) is an independent, self-employed videographer and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by IRONMAN. IRONMAN® is a registered trademark of World Triathlon Corporation. This film was commissioned privately by the athlete.