Getting chicked in Kona

What an awesome experience, if you are a sports fan or more importantly a fan of endurance sport you need to seriously consider getting yourself over to Kona to watch this event (if not compete). Now we all know that no one does hype like the Americans, and in this case the reputation is well deserved. Kona itself is a small town on the South West coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, and it’s probably only world famous because of the Ironman that descends upon it every October. There isn’t much there, but the atmosphere during race week is not something I have experienced before....granted that most big events/races I’ve ever been to, I have flown in, hidden myself in my hotel, raced, then flown out the next day....even so Kona is a seriously cool place on race week.

The atmosphere is difficult to describe, but if you can picture an idyllic little seaside town in the tropics, then imagine it being engulfed by the world biggest tri geeks and all their tri bling. Then add in all the companies that sell the tri bling. Then add in all their new 2010 tri bling. Then add in the nervous energy of the 1800 people that know they’ll testing themselves in the most brutal conditions known to man....and all of this is on top of the American hype that is being amplified by the Ironman mothership the WTC....all in all it’s pretty special.

What about the race I hear you yelling....well in a nutshell it didn’t quite go as expected, but I am surprisingly happy with my performance. In years gone by I would have plunged myself into a trough of self-pity with the way the day unfolded, but strangely enough I am content, not pleased, but content (until next time). Funnily enough I heard the phrase ‘your first race Kona is a learning experience’ several times before I left NZ, but poo-poo’d it as tri-geek mystic...but it’s actually 100% accurate. There is nothing that you can do in NZ to prepare you for those conditions.

Pre Race Prep

To be honest the pre race preparation took all week and I could blab on forever about what we did, but in an attempt to save you being too bored I won’t delve it too much other than to say, the Gianti looked mean with its Zipp 606 wheelset, and that I found myself checking & rechecking my bike, race gear & transition bags about a squillion times before it was time to check in the bikes....nervous much?!

Race Day

The Swim - Time: 7:00am, Temp: approx 28-30C, Water Temp: 28C

What side to start on was the biggest concern for me and I’d questioned it for months - left, centre or right. I started on the right.....wrong! I was right up against the pier when the starting cannon fired right above my head leaving my ears ringing for the first 400m of the swim well it was either that or the boot I took to the face after about 50m. For the first 2km I was trapped on the right hand side of the field and every 100m or so I, along with about a thousand others were forced into the other thousand people as we had to squeeze around each buoy...which seemed crazy as swimming down the inside of the buoys is thesame distance, provided you go around the end buoy, but it is what it is....and lesson #1 learned...if there is a next time I’ll be starting on the left!

That's me in the blue swim cap

The Bike – Time 8:07am (64min swim, 3min transition) Temp: approx 33 to 46C

I came out of transition feeling pleased to have the swim behind me, and the crowd noise up Palani was a welcome change from the smash & bash of the previous 64min.The bike course does a short loop around town, then heads out the famous Queen K highway to Hawi and back. Course notes: The road surface is mint, so so smooth, and although I didn’t think the course was that difficult in terms of the terrain, it is a tough bike leg, but this is mainly due to the notorious trade winds and the heat. Even though we had about 130km of headwinds on race day, we thankfully didn’t have any of the really gusty crosswinds that have been known to blow people off their bikes and into the Lava fields, but it was hot.....really really hot, it was reported that it got up to 45C out near Waikoloa. No wonder I spent most of the ride tipping water on my head in an valiant attempt to stay cool...a hopeless battle, and at one point I accidently tipped Orange Gatorade all over my head....yuk

Overall I had a good ride, but at about 120km I did get pinged for drafting by (IMO) an overzealous draft buster - my version of events was that I was passing a small group of riders when one of them pulled out of the group and in front of me, and within 2-3 second the draft buster was alongside me showing the red card, puzzled I asked who it was for....YOU....was the answer. I shook my head in amazement, but had no choice but to take it on the chin....there is no point in arguing with them. I took my 4min penalty at the penalty box around the 155km mark, and once that was out of the way I pushed hard into the headwind all the way back to Kona. Lesson #2....be extra vigilant when passing or being passed.

The Run - Time 1:30pm (5h20 bike, 3min transition), Temp: approx 40C

The whole way back to Kona I was looking forward to getting off the bike and into my favourite discipline, the runJ. Alas, it didn’t go quite according to plan; I was expecting to feel a little rough for the first 2-3km, and then come right so I could get into my work. But after about 5-6km when I hadn’t come right, my feet had swelled up from the heat and I’d lost all feeling in them forcing me to stop and loosen my laces about 3 times...I was worried, but I soldiered on. I was determined that I’d come right, but it wasn’t until about 13km mark when I was forced to sit on an wall to avoid passing out, then a 300m walk to the next aid station I learnt lesson #3...I’d got my bike nutrition wrong and I was out of fuel. After stuffing my face with pretzels chips, orange quarters and about 10 cups of coke I set off. Thankfully I did come right about 3-4min later and I was into it, but geezzz it was hot. I made my way up onto the Queen K & out to the Energy Lab, passing runners and walkers....this was more like it. On the return journey I was looking forward to seeing the Palani St lights, and the 14 lap-posts that I’d pre counted on the climb up to them, as this signalled 3km to go. As I approached Ali’i Drive I could hear the noise coming from finish line, this lifted my spirits and as I came onto Ali’i Dr I unleashed a massive kick down (5min/km pace) on the one poor fella who was in my age group, and strode over the line.

Thank frick that is over!

Final Result:

Swim: 1:04.05

T1: 3.05

Bike: 5:20.54

T2: 3.08

Run: 3:20.21

Final 9:51.33

Place: 215^th Overall

Age Group: 39^th

Chicks: 15^th - bringing my total of times chicked to 17 (2 x 2005 Chicago Marathon, 1 x 2009 Tauranga Half IM & 14 x 2009 World IM Champs)

In summary, it was awesome experience, and I had a fantastic time on the Big Island and in Honolulu. Also I must say thanks to Michael Kelly, Richard Swan, Andrew Mckay, Jo Carrel, Lesley Anderson, and most importantly Kylie for creating such a cool little team NZ atmosphere in our super retro Lunapule Condo. Well done to Andy, Mike & Swanny for finishing, and thanks to Kylie and Lesley for being such awesome supporters, but the Cement Award must go to Mighty Jo for only letting a broken leg stop her completing the last 7-8km of the run.

Kona = 1

Ck = 0 (until next time)

Highlight:

Well, I think the highlight of the trip and possibly one of the funniest thinks I have ever seen was seeing Michael walk full stride into the fly screen door not once, but twice and derailing it both times....hysterical.

Screen Door = 2

Michael Kelly = 0