Hawai Sport November-December

My First Kona
By Crystal Banning
As a new triathlete, I have spent the past year absorbing vast amounts of
information: what makes a good swim stroke, how to improve my run
form, how to best navigate a transition area, base training, nutrition and
hydration, and endless facts about bicycles and accessories. I have swallowed
gallons of seawater, dealt with a broken foot, and wobbled my way
into being comfortable on my aero bars only to forget to clip out and
almost go toppling over. I have been so immersed in these things that
when it came time for the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona,
I couldn’t wait to go watch--to see professionals in the sport that has made
such a difference in my life working at the highest level. What I didn’t
anticipate was that it wasn’t the first finishers crossing the line that were
the most inspirational--it was the last.
I drove down to Kona from North Kohala with my boyfriend the night
before the race and, since all of the hotels for the weekend have been
booked for months, we pitched a tent in the back of his pickup and slept
under the stars. It was muggy and hot and we hardly slept a wink, but we
were determined to get there early enough to see the start. At 4:15 AM we
were up and going, parking miles away and walking toward Kailua Bay.
The sun was just rising as we arrived, and the water was calm.
When the pros’ cannon went off at 6:30 AM, it was immediately clear that
I was witnessing an entirely different level of athleticism. The speed with
which their arms moved through the water, the sheer velocity of each
stroke was incredible. Their white caps were out of sight almost before I
could snap a photo. As the age group athletes took their places in the water
by the pier, the anticipation of over 1500 people fighting their way to their
dream of finishing at Kona was palpable. The cannon sounded, and they
were off.
It quickly became clear that this year’s Kona race was going to unfold differently
than in years past. In the pro race, for both men and women, the
leaders came in from the swim in large packs. First out of the water was
Brandon Marsh with a time of 50:51, but it was Pete Jacobs in the lead out
of T1. Meredith Kessler was first out for the women after a swim time of
54:06. First time Kona competitor Andrew Starykowicz quickly stole the
lead from Pete Jacobs and led the rest of the bike leg, coming into T2 with
a time of 4:21:50 for the 112-mile stretch. The women’s race was a back
and forth affair between Meredith Kessler and Amanda Stevens with
Rachel Joyce, Jodie Swallow, and Caroline Steffen making up the chase.
By T2, however, Rachel Joyce had made her move and came in in the
lead. For the men, Luke McKenzie led for the majority of the run before
being overtaken by Frederik Van Lierde at mile 17. Mirinda Carfrae came
flying from behind on the run to take the lead, seemingly effortlessly, at
mile 15.
Van Lierde took the win for the men with 8:12:29, followed by Luke
McKenzie (8:15:19) and Sebastian Kienle (8:19:24). Mirinda Carfrae
came in incredibly strong after setting a new course record for the run with
a split time of 2:50:38 for a total time of 8:52:14. In second was Rachel
Joyce with 8:57:28, and third was taken by Liz Blatchford with 9:03:35.
I had assumed (yet another triathlon rookie mistake) that the largest crowd
would be gathered for the pros’ finish, and indeed, people lined the finish
line five people deep. As I expected, the mob thinned somewhat for the
next four hours, but then something strange happened. People began to
gather again. As the time went by, it began to rain but the crowd only got
bigger. We had already vowed to stay until the end, but I couldn’t have
torn myself away from the scene if my life depended on it. Athletes finished
the race, bandaged themselves up, and joined those gathered on the
sidelines to cheer on those still on the course. Music pumped, people
danced, and each finisher was welcomed home with a roar of applause.
The energy was unbelievable. Winner Mirinda Carfrae joined race sponsors
in handing out samples and prizes and personally greeted each of the
incoming athletes, many of whom had stories poignant and inspirational
enough to bring anyone with a soul to tears.
Gordon Haller, who won the very first Ironman race in 1978, finished in
15:37:47. Luis Alvarez crossed the finish line in 15:54:50 to complete his
100th Ironman race. Some staggered, some did cartwheels, and many
broke down into tears. As the clock neared the 17-hour mark the crowd
grew thunderous, and with just over three minutes to spare the oldest contestant,
Harriet Anderson, age 78, came around the corner to a frenzy of
screaming spectators. She crossed the line in 16:56:51, over two minutes
faster than her finish last year..
One contestant remained on the course. After losing a foot in an accident
while cycling several years ago, Karen Aydelott has been on a mission to
finish at Kona. She made it to the run in 2012 before having to drop out,
and this year was ushered into the home stretch by thousands of supporters
screaming and chanting her name. She missed the cut off by just fortyeight
seconds, completing the course in 17:00:48. Despite the near miss,
she was all smiles as she stood at the finish line. I imagine that we will see
her again in 2014.
These stories are why I love the sport of triathlon. There is no feeling like
overcoming whatever holds you back, and the Kona Ironman
Championships are the culmination of this fight. To see the determination
on each face as they neared the end and the pure exhilaration of competing
such a monumental challenge was a wonderful reminder of how strong
we can be, regardless of age or setbacks. The crowd, only growing in size
and energy as the hours wore on, welcoming those who struggled to the
finish line with even more vigor than those who won, is a prime example
of the welcoming and communal spirit of this sport. My first Kona experience,
though only as a spectator, was one that will never be forgotten. As
I progress in my training and face each new race I am reminded that I am
surrounded by a community of incredible strength and that everything I
need, I have inside.
Congratulations to each of the Kona competitors. Your dedication is inspirational
to many--you truly deserve the title of Ironman!
C rystal is a former ballerina and new triathlete. You can follow her training
and read more about her adventures at www. b a l l e r i n a s d o n t r u n . b l o g s p o t . c o m
or www. f a c e b o o k . c o m / B a l l e r i n a s D o n t R u n