What a place to start your 1st blog – well, I did say it was going to be inspirational. Kona is the annual World Championship Iron distance triathlon held in Hawaii : a sea swim of 2.8 miles , the cycle distance of 112 miles and a marathon of 26 miles. Yes, all on the same day ! The cycle and run takes place through the vicious heat of the Hawaiian lava fields. The winners were both Australian : Chris MacCormack and Mirinda Carfrae and each had outstanding days.
The big news at the start was the withdrawal of the 3 time womens' winner Chrissie Wellington. I was able to watch coverage through the ironman.com website - which was excellent. I first tuned-in as the swim cut-off was approaching. Sadly a 56 year old lady from Birmingham Alabama was just 24 seconds short of making the cut-off time. As she struggled up the beach she was told her race was over and she'd have to withdraw. She was absolutely distraught. It caused a great debate in our household - should the organizers have let her continue? What do you think ? I guess she had to qualify somewhere in the last year and then keep training for this race. So Ironman training will have dominated her and her families' life this year. It's really tough. 24 seconds. I guess it's the world championships but ... maybe they'll give her a wild card to come back next year (with Lance Armstrong maybe ?).
Mirinda Carfrae ran a truly excellent marathon : 2h:53 but I was especially impressed by the debut of Julie Dibens. Julie has been twice X-Terra world champion but this was her first Ironman. She really attacked on the bike and it took 16 miles of the marathon for Mirinda to catch her. The 2h.53 marathon time was the fourth fastest run for a woman in the history of the event.
The men's race was perhaps more tactical. I had listened to several pre-race podcasts reviewing the chances for each of the main male athletes. In none of these was Chris McCormack considered a contender. Chris is a former winner aged 37 ; only Mark Allen has been an older winner - which gives us all hope.
In interviews Chris had made it clear that just about the only way to beat Craig Alexander (last year's winner) would be for a strategic approach on the bike. It seems that that's exactly what happened. Chris Lieto (much as last year) took the bike apart completing the 180k in 4h:23 but the chase group of Norman Stadler, Faris Al-Sultan, Raynard Tissink, Andreas Raelert and McCormack worked to minimize lost time to Lieto and at the same time increase the gap to Craig Alexander. It was the decisive move of the day.
You have to be amazed by this : McCormack and 2nd placed Raelaert ran the first 10 miles at 5m:55s/ mile pace. Just stunning. Raelart was over a minute back off the bike but gradually gaining ground on McCormack. With 2.5 miles left the two were running side by side. McCormack turned to Raelart and said "Regardless of what happens here mate, you are a champion. Best of luck."
Then the moves and counter-moves took place with McCormack surging and Raelart responding. It was at the last aid station - Raelart called for coke and water - McCormack sensed his moment and dug in. The move was decisive, despite cramps and a stitch McCormack held on to win in 8h:10:37 - the 5th ever fastest time.
If you are at all interested in this story I urge you to listen to a 2010 Chris McCormack interview from competitor radio - I'll add a link. That interview is very insightful to the man.
It was a mixed day for British triathletes, Chrissie didn't start; Cat Morrison, Scott Neyedli and Stephen Baylis posted DNFs (Did Not Finish) and Fraser Cartmel, only 29, and in his 2nd Iron distance turned in a great time of 8h.47.45, Julie Dibens was 3rd, Rachel Joyce 5th and Leanda Cave 10th. Rachel's performance was remarkable – coming out of the swim as 1st female and in a group close to the lead men + an amazing improvement in her run (12+ minutes ripped off last year's time) and all this following a recovery from tearing 3 tendons in her foot from a chainring injury earlier in the year.
For me the coverage is really inspirational. 80 year old Lew Hollander from the US finished in 15h.48 – just think about that ? Spring chickens by comparison the winners of the 69-65 male age group all finshed under 12h:20. Meanwhile the original 1978 winner Gordon Haller came back this year and finished it again. If this seems amazing to you .. well it is but you probably have the potential to do this too.
I watched a 71 year old and next a 76 year year old finish ... the next person across the line was a 46 year old. My thoughts were “great to finish : respect but you were just beaten by 2 guys in their 70's !”. That's something I need to learn : No Assumptions. The 46 year old could have been a lottery winner or who knows what's happening in his life, what injury he carries or what kind of demons he met out on the lava fields. It seems to me that this event showcases the amazing fitness potential we all have and for sure “age isn't what it used to be”.
Make a date for this event next year. Chrissie will have a point to prove & that will be “pure gold” to watch.
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