Among the competitors at the 26th annual Great Floridian Triathalon in Clermont this weekend is Susan Haag. For Haag, the event is a landmark, of sorts -- it is her 99th Ironman competition.

  • Haag one of 850 athletes participating
  • 140.6 mile course includes 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and full marathon
  • Haag will compete in her 100th Ironman in two weeks

In addition to the Grand Floridian being her 99th Iron-distance race, Haag, from Jacksonville, said this is her 357th triathlon.

"My mother always says I'm probably doing some physical damage to my body but I figure we might as well use it up while we can," said Haag.

The 140.6 mile Grand Floridian course includes a 2.4 mile swim in Lake Minneola, a 112-mile bike on some of the area's known hills like Sugarloaf Mountain, and a full marathon, which is 26.2 miles.

Haag is one of 850 athletes participating this year. She told us that for her, it's not about about the finish line, but the journey getting there.

"There was a little doggie on the side of Sugarloaf so I stopped and petted it," she said. "And then I think there was a big blow up turtle at an aid station, so I stopped and took a photo with the turtle. There was a puppy down there so I stopped and took a picture with the puppy, so its all about that."

Haag plans to run her 100th Ironman two weeks from now in Panama City Beach.