Kona Qualifying- What it takes.. (Page 7)

bryancd - 2007-08-20 8:42 PM

JohnnyKay - 2007-08-20 7:25 PM OK, agreed.  But this is how I aim to perform in almost any race, i.e., leave it all out on the course.  Unfortunately, my current "all" isn't Kona material yet.  Doesn't mean I don't train and race to try to maximize my CURRENT potential.  I know not everybody races like this.

Ah, but you do, and that's why you are participating in this thread. And you are correct, from a race standpoint, someone like you won't do anything differently come race day. Race day is ALWAYS about being the best. The difference will be in your preperation for that day that will determine whether or not you have what it takes. That hand is dealt BEFORE the gun for the most part, that's the startegic, the race is tactical.

Sure.  I am total agreement that that is part of "what it takes".  Go back to my first post and you'll also see consistancy and quality in training.  Along with race-day execution.  All part of it as well.  I work on all of that all the time. 

I can't tell you whether I have the requisite genes or not (I believe I do), but otherwise I'm confident I'll get my shot one day if I want it enough.  But since I clearly don't have your genes or any background in running (or swimming or biking), I'm on the long-term plan. 

docswim24 - 2007-08-21 10:26 AM

JohnnyKay - 2007-08-21 10:00 AM

bryancd - 2007-08-20 8:42 PM

JohnnyKay - 2007-08-20 7:25 PM OK, agreed.  But this is how I aim to perform in almost any race, i.e., leave it all out on the course.  Unfortunately, my current "all" isn't Kona material yet.  Doesn't mean I don't train and race to try to maximize my CURRENT potential.  I know not everybody races like this.

Ah, but you do, and that's why you are participating in this thread. And you are correct, from a race standpoint, someone like you won't do anything differently come race day. Race day is ALWAYS about being the best. The difference will be in your preperation for that day that will determine whether or not you have what it takes. That hand is dealt BEFORE the gun for the most part, that's the startegic, the race is tactical.

Sure.  I am total agreement that that is part of "what it takes".  Go back to my first post and you'll also see consistancy and quality in training.  Along with race-day execution.  All part of it as well.  I work on all of that all the time. 

I can't tell you whether I have the requisite genes or not (I believe I do), but otherwise I'm confident I'll get my shot one day if I want it enough.  But since I clearly don't have your genes or any background in running (or swimming or biking), I'm on the long-term plan. 

This brings up an interesting question. Do you think there is a certain time period that most people who qualify for Kona need to train/race before they get there? I know there are exceptions but for most who qualify for Kona, have they been doing triathlons for 2 years, 5 years, 10 years? Is it possible to get there in a year or two years if you only have a background in one sport? In none of the sports?

OK.  Now I'm interested too.  I  too have no background in any of the three disciplines.   I learned how to swim (enough to go 400m freestyle without stopping for breath), bought a bike and did my first Sprint in 2006 followed by a 4:00 marathon in the fall.

This year I got semi-serious, comfortably finishing a 5:46 HIM and 2:39 Oly (I know if I want to KQ, "comfortably finishing" becomes an oxymoron).  I have Kona dreams at this point but realize I'm 4+ years off.  Shorter term goals include pushing marathon time down to a 3:15 BQ in 2009 (planning a 3:45 in Oct'07).  Continued work on other disciplines to finish a IM in 2010 under 12 hours.  Then hitting it hard (including upgrade of my $800 roadie to a full carbon lighter-than-air crotch-rocket) for a "few" years to KQ while I'm still in my 40's (currently 37).

I imagine there are A LOT of Kona dreamers like me.  The intital pages of this thread really lent some valuable perspective - mostly how that training time is purposefully spent.  I'm looking for JohnnyKay and others without backgrounds in running, swimming, biking to lend insight on the JOURNEY from Kona-dreamer to making it a realistic goal.

Brian with an "i"

Gee, aren't we a bit melodramtic this morning? 

Docswim--I imagine it all depends on what you bring to the starting table--for example, athletic background (maybe not in the 3 sports, but perhaps something else that gives you a leg up), or genes (Bryan for example apparently has an amazing aerobic capacity, so even if he's far from his limit he may be above many others).  Then it depends how you train and build your base.  I doubt there is any easy, generic answer.

Brian with an "i"--I don't think there is anything special you need to do other than develop consistency in training and continue to work on addressing your weaknesses.  Could require swim lessons and some focus time in the water.  Building run durability through gradually increasing frequency and duration.  Improving endurance on the bike through consistent long rides through the year and pushing the pace when you have the opportunity.  One note is that I don't necessarily think focusing on marathons (or IM) now is the most efficient way to get there.  I actually think it's probably better to focus on getting FASTER at shorter distances versus worrying about going LONG now and then trying to add FAST on top of it.  Do the long training runs, but race half-marathons and 10Ks.

So to make the goal "realistic", wirte it down as a long-term goal.  Then figure out how you can get a little bit faster than you are today.  Keep reassessing that "little bit" and keep on chipping away.  One day you will wake up to find that you're long-term goal has moved quite a bit closer.

What it takes??

Getting up at 4:30 this morning to start my run in a torrential downpour and pushing on to finish all 18 miles even though it sucked most of the time ..... and still do it at a 7:43 pace .......

At least that is one small portion of it.

I think we are getting to the heart of what it REALLY takes with these two posts.

That's because I'm reading this thread too damn much .......

Daremo - 2007-08-21 10:54 AM Insanity??

Let's see: "getting up at 4:30am to run 18miles in the rain is:"

to the average non-athlete: "insanity"

to the average triathlete: "dedication"

to the kona hopeful: "what it takes"

I think the bike focus is misunderstood.

It's not spending time in the saddle to have a blazing bike split.  It's spending time in the saddle so that you can get off the bike being able to back it up with a solid marathon.  The stronger your bike fitness, the faster you can do that and still be able to run.

It's not advice to train the bike in exclusion of training the run ( at least where I've heard it ), or that a superior bike split can mask insufficient run training.

The other benefit to a large bike focus is the reduced recovery time.  I can bounce back a lot faster after a 6 hour bike ride, than I can after a 2 hour run.  The run takes more out of me.  I can ramp up bike volume much faster than I ramp up run volume ( without courting injury ).  But I'm new to running ( at least at any sort of distance over 5k and with any consistency ), so the physiological adaptions to being able to run long are still coming.  As I can safely ramp up my running volume, I do.  Compared to many people, I don't run a lot, but I'm working on it. 

And getting back to the other points in the thread, I did Kona last year ('06).  It was my first IM.  And I got in on the lottery.  I'm completely and utterly hooked, and far from being burned out, am driven to be able to experience crossing that line on Ali'i again.  I need to knock about 2 hours off my time to qualify ( I finished in 12:06 ).  I've gone under 5 hours twice at the HIM distance, I just need to translate that to twice the distance now.

I think it's achievable, but I'm realistic that it's going to take at least a few more years of consistent hard work for me to get there.  I'm not blessed with a prior running background, great genes, just a stubbornness to follow through with the consistency and quality of training that I know will get me there. 

Oh, and I'll still be entering the lottery too.   

When racing IM what zone do you go for?  I've read the plan in "Going Long" but was curious about everyone commenting here has done or is planning. 

Bryan, you said you were targeting between 138 and 148 and came in at 148?  I don't believe that in Zone 1 for you,  Where would it be?