Ironman World Championship - Triathlon

The cannon went off and I started my trusty Ironman watch timer. Off and swimming the long haul to the Body Glove boat at the turn around.

Slow at first with steady big strokes, I felt fine, and moving along in open water without much contact. I was dreading a heavy contact swim with powerful Europeans trying to pound me under, but that never happened. The span of swimmers was immense, and I realized I was far from the buoy line and began moving towards the right. Amazed at the open water I had, I chugged onward to the turn around.

Feeling like I had swam forever, I could barely make out the Body Glove boat in the haze. Water was getting choppier and I was sucking in water on the left side, so compensated on my roll to avoid that. At least I could see that damn boat by now, but still a long distance till I was there.

Finally getting to the turn around, I could see people on board looking at us, I wanted to wave but could not. The path around the boats was longer than I anticipated and that took a bit of swimming to round back onto the return leg of the swim.

Upon heading back, my left shoulder started acting up. Every rotation was painful and scared me because I had A LOT of swimming to do before I finished. I started to fade a bit and felt sloppy with my stroke. I tried to get myself together and buck up to this challenge ahead. I breathed deep, exhaled forcefully to help with the oxygen flow, and concentrated on my form. My shoulder was in and out with pain, and trudged forward. I started to think what if I couldn't finish the swim ? How awful that thought was, and forced me to continue.

I swam and swam and could not see the pier. I was feeling annoyed at swimmers weaving around in front, but it was really the fact I was tired and didn't want to maneuver around them. I expected to start seeing the bottom and coral soon, but still was deep. I kept looking for the pier but could not see it still.

A rubber boat full of people came out of nowhere and surprised me. But as I looked up I thought I saw the pier. I couldn't judge how far it was to the swim exit, but I kept swimming with the shoulder pain. Basically down to one arm now, and breathing on one side to compensate.

FINALLY I saw the stairs out of the water. I was SOOO excited to be done with the swim. I swam like a robot to the stairs, and stumbled in the sand to step up. I was very very very happy to be out of the water. Yay!

Although this was possibly the most beautiful swim I've done, it was the hardest for a number of reasons. No wetsuit, although a wetsuit is annoying, and constricting, it does help improve your swim speed. Warm water, which makes it harder to swim faster, you just feel hot. And having to deal with a painful shoulder was just most difficult.

Off to T1. Long run around the cramped transition area to the tent to pick up my bike bag. Into the crowded and busy changing tent to scramble putting on the bike clothes. I fumbled around for a long time getting everything on. Finally out of the tent and ran in my bare feet to the bike, which was another long run.

Got on my shoes and helmet and headed out to the mount line.

Off to the crowds waiting to see the bikes start on their long 112 mile journey. But first was the parade of going around the town for the first couple of miles before we headed out to the Queen K.

I tried to keep it mellow for the first 10 miles. Drinking a bit and trying to spin my legs to get them “awake”. Winds were calm here and it felt easy. I was feeling ok and just so happy to be out of the water.

I tried not to concentrate on the miles so much and looked around to appreciate the morning views of the mountain slopes and the sun peeking up. It was very nice, and we went about our business of speeding along Queen K to past the airport and onto the lonely stretch to Waikoloa, about 30 miles from Kona.

Unfortunately getting into Waikoloa hit us with crazy head winds that slowed me to a crawl. I had never dealt with such horrible winds at this stage. It reminded me of the windy conditions of 2012 Honu 70.3, which was the craziest ever, until today of course! Later I heard reports of 40mph+ winds, which I certainly believe.

The winds were relentless and powerful as we struggled to get to Kawaihae. It was clearly taking it's toll and I backed off to spin as best as I could to get my legs to calm down. Getting past Hapuna beach seemed like it took forever, but I did get there finally and the winds were less, hit the intersection to Kawaihae and things were better for awhile. Tried to gain some ground as best as I could before the climb into Hawi.

Winds were deceptively calm in the base area of the climb but crested a hill and suddenly it was crazy winds again. Pummeled by head winds and cross winds all the way up to Hawi. It was quite difficult and I felt my legs taking a beating. This was bad because I still had another big challenge on the way back, expending my energy and having muscle issues would cost me on the run..

Bikers were very tired and many were weaving around, blown by cross winds easily without a warning.

I was hoping to get to the Hawi turn around by 3 hours but unfortunately it became 3:30. I had to stop at the porta potty and get myself together. Jumped back on the bike and screamed down those hills that took so much out of me.

Luckily the cross winds were not that bad and I was in decent control. However inexperienced bikers were constantly being blown across the road and I was very cautious to make my passes so we wouldn't collide.

I made good time through the downhills, which quickly ended, and with more climbing back out towards Kawaihae. A strange hooting sound started and I couldn't tell where it was coming from. I was basically alone and heard it from all directions. I thought I was hallucinating, and tried to pinpoint where it was coming from. Scary actually and was a very haunting type of screech. I was anxious to get the heck out of there and that motivated me to push harder.

Getting through the Kawaihae area, I started to feel a pain in my left knee, which I did not get during training all those long miles...why now ? I was thinking this isn't good, because I have 50 miles to go and then 26 miles of a hard run. I had heard that in Kona the bike doesn't really start until the return on Queen K. Well that's just great.

Of course the headwinds started up again and became agonizing to make decent progress. Getting past Hapuna and onto Mauna Lani was slow, distracted myself by thinking about all my Honu races.

I looked at my time, and thought it was possible to save this bike and get in with a split of 6:30. I'd have to work hard to get that, otherwise it could easily turn into a 7hr bike.

Past Waikoloa into the lonely stretch to the airport, fighting the winds, fatigue, and the knee pain, I struggled to maintain a good pace.

The heat was playing a role now, as I am pretty used to Hawaii temps, but being out there so long and being beaten up, made me feel hot and tired. I was motivated by coming up with songs and probably other bikers thought I was losing it. Also thinking heavily about “less than 30 miles!!”

I prayed for decent conditions but kept getting hit with headwinds.

Finally I got to the airport, and that was a welcome sight. Cresting the hill I planned to hammer it to town, despite my degraded state.

I was in a zombie mode, and zoomed by tired bikers. Constantly checking my watch for how much time left till 6:30 mark, I forced onward. Finally hitting Makala and ripped down to Kuakini, was super stoked to get my sore butt off this bike and be done with those crazy conditions. My watch showed me a few minutes prior to 6:30 hours total on the bike...and I was happy with that result, but to what effect would it have on my run ??

Felt great to see everyone on Palani, and headed to transition.

Dazed as they took my bike from my death grip, and I ran to the tent to get my run bag. Pulled off my bike shoes and ran in socks. Many were walking and I was like no way..

In the T2 changing tent, I fumbled around trying to get myself together and change for the run. Seemed like a waste of time, but I managed to finally hand of my bag to the volunteer, and head out the biggest challenge yet..THE RUN.

Again my plan was to take it super easy the first 10K and get my legs into a good rhythm. I felt ok despite the potential knee pain, and fatigue from the bike torture.

The loop on Alii drive was super long, I was unsure of where the turn around was and it went on and on. I stopped to stretch a few times, and plodded onward.

Finally got to the turn around and was relieved, but also to realize this was only 5 miles in. My coach was waiting for me and I was very happy to see her.

Cloud cover became more rainy looking and sprinkled some. Although it was a bit cooler, it was gloomy feeling. The aid stations were frequent at least and I walked through trying to stretch my legs with big strides.

Passed our condo again, Royal Sea Cliff, and I knew it was till 2 miles till the Queen K.

I was feeling pretty toasted by the time I got to Palani, and climbed the hill to Queen K. The crowds made me feel like a rockstar, but I knew otherwise!

Stretched again once I got onto Queen K and started my march to the Energy Lab, nearly 7 miles away.

Pretty much walked each aid station, but tried to keep up a decent running pace once I got past each one. Had to hit the porta potty at mile 14, otherwise bad things would have happened.

Heard a guy puking outside, so bad I thought he was dying. Never heard someone puke that bad. Glad to finish my business in the potty and get out on the road again, away from Mr. Puker.

Plodding along, I just was amazed at how far the Energy Lab becomes when you are tired. Like forever. Finally I saw the damn thing, as I crested the last hill. Crossed over and down into the Energy Lab descent.

Loaded with cheering stations of people, was quite uplifting since the last 7 miles was pretty dull.

The best part of being slow, was a sensational sunset as I trodded down. I felt like it was a weird movie as I climbed into the path of the setting melting butter Sun, on a dark blue carpet into the dusk turning to night. Well after the sun set, it was back to business....plod on.

Down around the bend, the Energy lab aid station by the turn around. Volunteers handing out full cans of Red Bull. Man, they were really pushing this stuff. I drank way too much. Not sure it really did anything useful but the fizz did taste good.

Very dark now and ran into a friend at the 18 mile mark. He decided to pair up and do the 8 mile death march back to town together. Which was fine with me. All my goals were gone other than to finish this Ironman, and it was pretty desolate being dark, and quiet in the night. Running in the dark plays mind games with you, let me tell ya.

We headed up the Energy Lab climb to Queen K, pummeled by flickering lights and outbursts from various delirious volunteers...lighting displays going on and off, and tired volunteers shouting this and that, adding an odd ambiance to the whole experience.

Queen K arrived and became this silent shuffle with triathletes heading back and forth. Our lights were shadows cast by random cars going by, showing us the dark cones in the road, to re-adjust our crooked paths. All sorts of people going back n forth. People on bikes cruising around, runners all over...eerily silent in the darkness of night. With blurry vision and confused minds, we tried to anticpate the next aid station.

Aid stations in the darkness, we were clued in by the smashed cups and GU packets discarded in a trash trail leading to the sponge bucket, and then water....the dreaded Perform, Red Bull, Coke, and GU/pretzels, soup and whatever else. Then as we past each aid station, we discussed moving into the run again....quads aching, knees and ankles swollen...only fueled by our mental determination to get to the damn finish line.

Finally we could see the lights of Kona, and heard faintly Mike Reilly shouting “You are an IRONMAN” and that motivated us to get moving...we were very close...only 2 miles away now.

Unfortunately 2 miles is an eternity when you are dead tired at the end of an Ironman marathon. But somehow you figure out how to muster the strength to finish...dragging yourself and whomever else is around you to the finish chute to complete this journey.

Unnatural levels of joy, and emotion filled me as I clambored onto Alii Drive for the final time and ran down the street to the blinding lights of the Ironman Finish Line.

I somehow jumped in the air over the finish line and heard Mike call my name. Finished in 13:09.

was led to by volunteers as usual. Walking fine, and feeling decent. Although any thought of food was a possible upset, so I opted for 2 bottles of chocolate milk. That seemed to go down nicely. I avoided the pizza ....

Despite my race stuggles, I was doing quite well. Although I knew the next few days would be the Ironman shuffle.


Sore shoulder on the swim, painful knee and the crazy winds on the bike, just too smoked to run fast due to the bike.


My original goal was 11:59 but that quickly faded to 12:30, and unfortunately slipped. Basically the bike smoked me, and I suffered on the run. But to tell the truth, I suffered on all phases of this race, starting with the swim. It was a race finished by sheer determination.

Being my 3rd Ironman, the euphoric finish is an exhilaration that never gets old, especially when its Kona World Championship, a dream come true.

Although it wasn't the time I wanted or hoped for, it still was the best effort I had in me that day. I am not disappointed with my efforts, as I felt I planned, and executed to the best of my ability. I have no excuses but neither regrets. I am very satisfied with the best day of my life.

Finally as a personal note of gratitude, I thank my coach Amy, for sticking with me for all the training, and her incredible support. I truly appreciate her dedication to get me through this great race.