Kona – The Glory Race.
So this is what most strive for when you take up long distance triathlon or Ironman. Impressive, yes it is. The organization is slick and American, the venue fantastic, the field global and yes there are a few too many guys running around in compression socks. There is more bling here per square foot than one can imagine.
This has been my second trip to this archipelago and the Big Island has a sensational feel to it. Renting a house here for a few days is definitely the way forward as the neighbours are very welcoming and friendly, plus you do get to feel a small part of this very proud community if even only for a few short days.
The week running up to race day for anyone training under Nigel Gray (www.nrgpt.com) is always very easy. You will have already put in the long rides, the punchy short sharp sessions so that five six days before any IM is always the same. Travel, get set, a few easy sessions turning over the arms and legs and anymore is deemed too much as you approach the race day. So relax, put your feet up, take it all in and watch the other Age Groupers pounding up and down Ali’i drive, or out to the Queen K. Its all rather amusing as you see guys and gals pushing hard even up to afternoon before the race. When you come this far most people have either employed a coach (at some stage – maybe not for this specific race) or had a pretty tight internet based training regime they have worked from. Why this then happens is a mystery to many. The race is on a Saturday but many have already gone too hard too early before treading water for 15 minutes awaiting the start gun come 7am on Saturday.
It is pretty hard not to be relaxed in Kona. The pace of life is gentle and despite all the talk of weather conditions if you live in HK, or have experienced a few days here in July and August, one would call it balmy. Friday morning James Lambert (Lambo), Matt Rae and I went or a final spin consisting of 15 minutes in the ocean and then 30 minutes on the bike. On the bike we bumped into Chrissie Wellington and had a chat. She was feeling good had had a great preparation and was looking forward to the race. Then, whilst Lambo was having a short run I was packing up the bikes some guy hollered down from his condos balcony, “Best of Luck Ashley.” I struck up and conversation and it turned out to be Chris McCormack’s father. He was saying it was going to be his son’s year this year too. These guys are World Champs (or related to) but despite being pushed and pulled all week everyone here is approachable and enjoying the moment, albeit in there own way. If you want to gel your hair put your freshly laundered one-piece tri-suit with matching compression socks so be it. It is not for me, but what I am trying to get at is there is something here for everyone in this weird and wonderful sport.
So all quite unexciting really although come bike check in I decided to spice it up a bit. Arriving at 4:30 pm on Friday gave me plenty of time to check the bike in and spend a little time sans kids with Cordelia. The little problem was that I forgot my bike and run gear. PANIC!!!. The closing time for check-in was 5:30 pm and I made it back a 5:35 and was the penultimate athlete to check in. A few minutes later and all that time and energy would have been for nothing. Better late than never though and another quality Dyer moment to add to the list.
Saturday had arrived and before I knew it I was standing on the small beach in the middle of Kona with Lambo. We had talked this moment many times and it was good to have him there. All my IM to date I have raced with Lambo and at sub 60kgs he floats around the track these days. Cordelia and Sam Lambert had worked out their vantage points for the day, the kids were on fine form, my old man was in the crowd supporting. I had nothing to worry about.
Swimming out to the start line with 15 minutes prior to the gun seemed a little premature until we got closer. By the time we arrived the start line was already 7 deep. The nervous energy was quite incredible. Six months of training for 2000 athletes who were top of the pile in their qualifying races. As people tried politely to push and jockey for position I knew it was going to be an aggressive start. I lost Lambo and Matt Rae who I swam out with so positioned myself a couple of lines back behind 3 women. The gun went, the melee began and the first 50-100mtrs was bad but better than I had expected. Some guy came past me and straight over the women, it was now or never so I followed him, (sorry ladies) put my head down, stuck the elbows out and after a few minutes was clear. When I looked up I knew my start was as good as I could have hoped for so I just latched onto feet all the way around. It was a little bumpy around the top turn, I lost the feet I had been on for a good 15 minutes, but soon found some more and stretched out for a tow home.
I always enjoy the swim, yet still the best part of it is arriving at the steps and putting the feet back on dry land. Transition was smooth (yes, busy in that tent) but I was through and I saw the time or 1:03:30 as I mounted the bike. Happy days!! We zipped through town, remembering to watch the watts (300max) up Kuakini, and then hammered it back down past my wife, children and dad. A sharp right into Palani and at the top was my coach Nigel. I was the first through from the HK and NRGPT athletes and it was time to get into a rhythm. My powertap was on Ave Watts and reading 242, a little high but I had a few hills to contend with through town so I watched this come down over the next 50kms to nearer 230 meaning I was ticking over at 225ish. Perfect.
I just dislike the draft police. They just make me feel guilty. And I cannot understand them. Penalties are often given are after looking at an athlete for 10 seconds while they can ride beside a large pack of 20 plus riders and after watching for 5 minutes just move on. The Europeans are the worst and yes after 30kms a pack came through. Alessandro, Jean Pierre, Gianluca, Andreas etc. all yabbbering away, working together, keeping an eye out for the draft-cops and going 3kmph faster and using 25% less energy. The choice is to latch on or not. I chose not too but it hurts as they ride off into the distance. Still all good so far and off to Hawi. Pat Lawlor called me as I travelled to HK airport on Tuesday morning and said “as you come up from the village at the start of the Hawi road if you can see white caps on the ocean to the left it will be a tough day” then promptly put the phone down. Guess what; white caps and the pace slowed dramatically around the 80-95kms mark heading into a cross wind coming at you from about 2 o-clock. I found the wind worse though coming back. Sure you are going downhill, sure its on your tail but at 55kmph being blasted by some gusts a metre across the road is not much fun. I slowed and here Lambo caught me. He was looking in good shape and we rode together for a time. Turning back on the Queen K – 50kms left and I felt good. Lambo fell away a little and I just kept my head down. After 179kms Richard Hall passed me and I followed him into transition – feeling strong and confident. My PT said 5:16 for the ride so being here at total time 6:20 a 3.5 hr marathon would suffice for my first nine handle.
The race plan run was to run at 4:40m/km, by the time I got the GPS working I was a couple of km into the run and the first reading was saying 4:20m/km. So I checked my stride and had to keep doing that for the first 5 km. Meanwhile Michael Bucek came flying by and I told him to watch his pace. He said he was feeling good so would take stick with it while he could. Cordelia and the family were on Ali’i so big smiles all round, hi-fives with the kids and a spring to the stride. Matt Rae caught up and we formed a three man group pacing 4:40m/km. Rich Hall ahead and his pace was slower than ours and we moved by. I offered him to join on and whether he was hurting here or just sticking to his plan I have yet to ask him. We were already starting to pass people and this was only 14km into the run. The Palani hill separated our three man group and Matt took about 60m out of me. I held 4:40’s until coming back from the Energy Lab and with about 12km to go although I was feeling strong the pace was just slowing a little. It’s a slog back from the Energy Lab but I knew if I ran this home I was inside 9:50. Rich Hall came past and was pushing hard. Despite Nigel urging me to push for HK rights I was pleased with what I had achieved and ran this race home. Well done to Richard Hall and Michael Bucek for holding on to take HK line honors. I stopped to kiss Cords and walked the last 50m home to soak up the atmosphere. Good times.
Ashley Dyer 9.45:27 Swim 59 / Bike 5:16 / Run 3:21 Placing 287 (AG 40-44 placing 34)