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

Slacker

I must apologise for not updating my blog for ages...I promise I'll write a race review and post it up in the next couple days.

Time well spent

Since Ironman NZ in March I have spent 93hrs 25min or 3 days 21hrs 25min swimming!! Yes you read that it correctly....swimming....and with only 3hrs of swimming in NZ left, I am going to crack the 4 day barrier....wow. That’s a lot of exposure to chlorine.

Ok now I can hear you asking, how do you know that? Well, for those who don’t know I work in the GPS Vehicle Tracking industry and I just ran a report on my vehicle...it’s a little sad I know, but I was curious.

I only hope it’s been enough to get me out of the water closer to the front of the field than I was at Ironman NZ.

Vista with a Barista

As a born and bred mainlander I am not foreign to the awe inspiring vistas our country has to offer, and over the last 3 days I have spent time in the Coromandel and today I am in Taupo....NZ is an amazingly inspiring place! Taupo is a cracking little town with spectacular views, and I have always enjoyed coming here for work or for play, and I could easily see myself living here. I never tire of this view....enjoy.

A cup of fixation coffee and beautiful view, does life get any better....thanks Mr Barista.

Island time

In just a little over 4 weeks I will be departing the chilly NZ spring for the warm summery climate of Kona, Hawaii....and I can’t wait. Despite my training going very well, I am over it. I am ready to race. I always find this the hardest part of training for any event – 3-4 weeks to go. I always end up using the countdown as a method of keeping me focused ie. I only have 12 more swims before leave.

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine told me he’d been speaking to a fellow Kona entrant, and this fella bravely stated something to the effect ‘oh Kirky will struggle on the bike in Kona because of the wind’. Now this kind of thing really winds me up. Granted I have only been in the sport about 10 months now and didn’t own a bike or a pair of speedos up until about 15 months ago....hell my idea of going for a swim was to doing bombs in the deep end, and I have only ever raced in 3 triathlons, but I have raced this particular guy (who shall remain nameless) twice, and beaten him twice....I smell sour grapes. Maybe he should stand in front of his tri-career drawing board and focus more on finding a way to beat me rather than making ill-informed comments about my abilities (or lack of them). FYI it has been pretty damned windy in the BOP this winter.

Update:

Craig Kirkwood = 6 Moros & 3 Snickers/Mars bars

Michael Kelly = 0 - but he did see a sea bird whoaaaaa.....

Cancer Society of New Zealand

It been just over 3 years now since my Dad died...he spent the last 18 months of his life suffering greatly as a result of Cancer.

He was diagnosed in February 2005, and on the 5 May 2005 he had is first surgery in an attempt to remove the tumour. The reason I remember the date is because my son Matthew was born on the 2 May. Dad was so excited about the birth of his new grandson he jumped on a plane and within hours he was in Auckland. I’ll never forget how happy he was holding his new grandson, it made me feel happy that we could provide the distraction he needed....he was scared.

Over the next 18 months he underwent the usual treatments of chemo, radiation, more surgeries etc... it was truly devastating watching the man I looked up to shrivel away to a frail & lifeless shell of the man he once was. Throughout this 18 months my mother soldiered on, providing her undivided care & attention on him. Mum is a stoic and private person and is not good at asking for help, but without the assistance of the Cancer Society of New Zealand she would not have been able to provide that level of care that she did. We as a family will be forever grateful to them.

Now, If that hasn’t brought a tear to your eye, you better check yourself for a heartbeat.

As you will all know I am going to the big island of Hawaii in 47 days, to take part/race in Kona - 2009 World Ironman Championship, and my aim is to raise $5000 for them.

To donate please visit my fundraising page. I am happy to accept any reasonable challenge . FYI - I met every single challenge at Ironman NZ.

Thanks Cancer Society of New Zealand

Get more go on Moro...

When you literally spend your whole Sunday on the bike you need fuel...and plenty of it. My latest craving has been for the good old Kiwi Moro bar. This little piece of Kiwiana has been made even more enticing with Cadbury’s generous ‘1 in 5 wins a Freebie’ deal that they have going at the moment.

This competition is a blessing for my Moro craving and is a bloody good thing too, because of the eight....yes, eight I have had in the last 9 days six of them have been FREE!

Craig Kirkwood = 6

Michael Kelly = 0

Mate I love free stuff...Thanks Cadbury