It's amazing and you should go! IM Kona Race Report

Wow, what an experience. Maybe I didn't do all my required reading, but the days in Kona were just amazing. I mean the town is dripping triathlon, it's oozing swim-bike-run out of every pore, it's lathered in tri-something and it's sweating multisport. Short: It's Tri - headquarters of the universe for one week. I know it's tough to get to, but boy - what a trip.

The days leading up to the event:

I arrived on the Big Island on Wednesday and quickly registered. Loaded (!) with my super swag (hmm - a miniature size Wheaties box, an anti fungal wipe, some band aids and a poster) I checked into our condo on Alii drive. Pretty cool place with the ocean effectively in our bed (I consider that good, others might have hated the crushing waves 24/7). That day I also picked up Nicole, who came straight from Europe and was time-warped by 12 hours and sat on 3 planes (3 = tri, you get it) for 24 hours just to get here.

The next two days I spent swimming in the morning with fellow GGTC'lers KC and Sandrine or spinning the legs on Alii either in my runners or on the bike. I really don't do much in the week before IM, just make sure that the gear works and to easy the nerves. I must say the pre-swim is pretty cool with a floating coffee-bar at the 'turn-around' which is conveniently moved closer to shore. One night we had dinner with Mary and her family who came to Hawaii to see me and to celebrate her wedding anniversary. I managed to stay on SF time, which meant going to bed at around 9 and getting up at 3 to 3.30. Perfect preparation for race day. So yes - Kona I am ready for you.

Race-Day-Ready:

3AM race day. Waking up to the classic 'Hells Bells' alarm (backed up by Nicole's melodic harp alarm). 1st task is to drink 2 cups of coffee and wake up. Then some hot cereal+banana while reading emails and the news. At 5 Nicole drove me to the start where I checked in. This process was amazingly efficient, so I had plenty of time to pump the tires and load the bike with GU's, salt and water. I left transition again to hang out with Nicole. But no matter how much time you have, the clock is relentlessly ticking away and at 6.15 I entered transition again for yet another trip to the restroom (how many times do you really need to go I ask?!?). Before I knew it I was in line for the swim start. Everyone has to get into the water via a small set of stairs and then actually go into the water as the beach is somewhat narrow. So we floated for about 20min waiting for the canon to go off. And it did! As usual I assumed that overnight I became an ueberswimmer and lined up 3rd row only to find myself being passed left and right (pretty sure also below, not certain about above). Contrary to the other races that I have done, this never stopped. Not once. I now understand when people talk about the battle of the swim and being kicked, etc. Yeah that's what happened. At one point I got hit on my right goggle and I thought the supersuction would actually pull the eyeball out of its socket. A quick release of suction prevented that ;-) It was nice to see fish and divers to keep me distracted. Like pretty much in every race now I thought about how awful this is and that maybe I should just stop. Seriously. I need to work on this. Sandrine suggested to put these thoughts into a balloon and let them float away. Neee, that doesn't work. But I didn't come all the way here to stop, so I kept swimming. So here I am at the swim exit! Swim split 1:11:41. Someone stop me from doing another one before my swim improves.

Ja aber jetzt! Now we are going to bike! Love it. Since I hadn't gone to preview the course I had no idea what to expect. I never preview the course. What's the point - I can't remember Nicole's birthday so you expect me to remember that at mile 27.4 is a good spot to eat a GU?!? Anyways, bike was a blast. Some might say it was an easy day, those I ask to TT me any day. There were plenty of aid stations, great work. I altered between Powerade and water (and water over my head/back). I had my 310XT remind me of a salt tablet every 30min, and took a GU every 45min + the XXXstrength water bottle of 800 calories Cytomax. A lasting memory will be how competitive the field was. I usually clear most people by the halfway point but this time I could see a constant line of cyclists ahead of me. I loved the climb up to Hawi, I think that's where I passed most people (Kaiser-style). I saw Kathy in her flashy Trifiniti gear cutting through the winds (which I think were strong I may add). I expected to see SFTRi-Brett, which whom I had an unofficial battle, but never did. How can you miss a tall guy wearing a Hello Kitty shirt?!?. The downhill from Hawi was a blast. Man ... really the whole bike leg was awesome. Sure we had some headwind coming back, but that's the same for everyone. I saw some clouds and had the inner laugh thinking about M2 and his words reminding me 'you want to see clouds over Kona'. There were clouds! As I was passing through the 'death zone', I thought for a moment I should try to break 5 hours because I could brag, but I opted to safe my legs for the run and came home in a formidable 5:01:44. I think it was because I chatted up Norman Stadler the day before at Lava Java. Norman you rule. Icing on the cake was to hand off my bike to Kahn who was a catcher in transition. Nice to see familiar faces on course. Next blitzed through transition, since all I needed to do was to add socks and runners, and out on the run I was.

Run: Over the last few races I always felt like a superhero and went out on the run at some super-olympic pace well below 7min/miles. This time I mentally prepared and told myself 'bad Stefan - no ice cream for you if you go out that fast'. Consequently I am eating ice cream every day since Kona and had a great run. I made sure to run around a 7.20ish-min/mile in the beginning and that was wise. Just after transition I saw Nicole on the course, who denied me a kiss because she thought it would get me disqualified - I love her! Cruising along Alii was great, tons of people there cheering you on telling you how great you look and how close to the finish you are. Are these all politicians? Mile 4 brought a quick pit stop (made my day) and after the first turnaround I finally saw Brett ... math is incredibly difficult during a race - but I was able to estimate about a 2mile lead. OK, no slouching now. The course returns along Alii and I made sure to stay hydrated, well fed and cool. I am advocating ice down the pants both back and front. It's awesome, it's fabulous, it's on the rocks, ... I truly believe that the ice cubes along the big veins (femoral vein - I am an MD) help cool the returning blood. Just as we were leaving town Nicole ran alongside with me, which was a highlight of the day. Now I was on the Queen K, essentially the first part of the bike leg, only that now you have time to appreciate the lava fields left and right ;-) I saw the top pro's come in, trying to cheer on Andy and Faris, great race guys. I started to pay attention the mileage markers and was looking forward to the turn into the famous energy lab (contrary to the name it is famous for sucking energy out of you). Here a quick descent with a bit of a flat stretch does nothing more but make you turn around to run it all back up. Second chance to high-five Brett (and time check him of course - 10min gap - ui - better keep it up, this guy can run). Here they also strategically placed the banner from the Ford Motivational Mile, which operates for drivers of all makes and models. Mine had a sweet message from Nicole (20 characters limit is a record for her). It really helps and is something to look forward to and to cherish for the rest of the race. So now I just had to make it home. Sure my pace dropped a bit, but that seemed perfectly legit (the mind is so weak). 

Turning onto Palani road is the second best feeling of the day only to be topped by the turn on Alii for the last time this year - some magic power infuses a drug in your body that would top the price of gold if it could be synthesized - it's amazing - all of a sudden you can run like you were trying to catch the Muni bus. Despite this 'triathlete-high' I actually volunteered to slow down and embrace the moment. I let the guy in front of me have his moment, I let the guy behind me pass me - sure I settle for 279th then ;-) So marathon - I beat you again - 3:23:56.
Overall time of 9:42:32 (that's a PR) and stoked to have had the opportunity to race on the big island. Aloha it was an honor. Island if you would ever want to bless me with a crown I will not throw it away! 

See me finish and hear Nicole scream:

And if you ever make it to Kona, make sure you stay until midnight. It's the biggest finish line party you have ever seen!

This joy ride wouldn't have been possible without Nicole who shares our time with this sport. Thank you for that. I was excited to see Mary and her family on the course, my friends from the Golden Gate Tri club as well as from M2: Sandrine, Kahn, Falk and Ivy. I absolutely want to thank Duane from Trifiniti for allowing me to realize ALL my triathlon dreams and providing super solid race and training advice. Kaiserliches Dank to M2 - for Kona insights and superfun bike classes. I owe much to your motivation to become a class German cyclist. Thanks to all the folks back home in SF and Germany / Europe for tracking and some serious 'mitfiebern'. Special thanks again to Brett - we never spoke about it, but it was fun to have a real competitor out on course that day. 

I've been asked what's next. Stay tuned. Blog about 2012 goals is work in progress.
Aloha!

Stefan