Two Chilton County men are a week away from participating in the longest one-day endurance race in the world: Ironman.

Erric Price, 30, and David Reiter, 46, have traversed more than 1,500 miles over the last six months to train for the Ironman triathlon, a race comprised of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run to be completed back to back.

Price and Reiter will travel to Woodlands, Texas, to compete on Saturday, May 18.

“They give you 17 hours to get to the finish line,” Price said as he and Reiter rested at Higgins Ferry Park after a swim Monday morning. “We’re not competing to win; we’re just trying to get there in 16.59.”

Price, an investigator with the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, said he has participated in two Ironman races in the past, but his third will be different for several reasons.

One reason is Price’s friend and training partner, Reiter, will make the 140.6-mile journey across land and water with him this time.

Another reason is that the two athletes have two local groups counting on them to raise funds from individuals and businesses that support their philanthropic efforts and physical endeavors.

After paying $650 to the Ironman Foundation, Price and Reiter were able to use the Ironman name as they wrote, sealed, stamped and sent letters out to people near and far explaining the purpose of their participation in the race.

Price said all of the money he and Reiter raise from mail-outs, as well as the money they raised through a health fair held May 4 in Thorsby, will be divided between Thorsby High School and Lomax Assembly of God’s Speed the Light Ministry

They decided to organize a county health fair this year since Chilton Medical Center, which has sponsored the event in the past, was not in a position to do so after closing its doors in October 2012.

“So far, we’ve raised around $1,500 to $2,000 off of the health fair and mail-outs,” Price said. “We’re still expecting the next couple of weeks after the race to bring more money in.”

Price said their goal is to raise a total of $15,000 before they present donation checks to their three recipients at the end of May, and they hope more of the 150 mail-outs they sent to people locally and nationally will be answered with donations.

“This has not been without adversity that has made it a more difficult process,” Price said. “I never knew fundraising for charities would be this hard and stressful.”