Oct 14, 2007 Sunday AM at Kona
One word: Ouch! So that's why there are so many pain relief vendors
here…
This course is tough and I hurt more than I have in past memory.
Where to begin. First I was on my numbers for the Bike power and I
gave everything I had and I'm not certain at this point I have better
for this course So I am very happy with my times and effort!
The disclaimer is that Norman Stadler and a couple other Pros dropped
out due to sickness cause it is going around here: me included. I got
a sinus infection of some sort Wed and spent Thu and Fri pretty much
in bed with Sudafed trying to recover. I got here to Kona and there
was no way I was not racing!!! I can say that if anyone searches for
my DNA on the bike or run course they can find it about every 5m as
I was blowing "snot rockets" quite frequently. That did cut
down on those wishing to draft off me!
The morning started early with a wait for the shuttles that never
occurred. So we had to jump in the car and drive and look for parking.
Beth and Alex dropped me off and I went on ahead to get going. It was
very organized but still took a bit of time. I got marked (they use
really big numbers on the arms so now I have perfect 557 sunburned
into my arms for a while!) and then went to check bike tires. I saw
a bunch of helmets on the bikes which I didn't think they allowed (everything
had to be in the transition bag). So I went and got mine so that there
was one less thing to carry in transition. To get into transition I
had to be escorted by a volunteer. Not bad as it is a good thing to
ensure that someone doesn't mistakenly mess up someone else's bag and
ruin their race. In transition I saw and met some people I know from
other races and the Corps and also from web forums and coaches. Pretty
cool to finally meet the people I write to and read on forums.
The swim start was getting ready by this time so I headed into the
water. My plan was to relax and let the intense folk go and just have
my swim. I lined up on the left (the right side had the more direct
line to the buoys so that's where the "fishies" went). At
the start I found a brilliant set of feet to follow (i.e. draft. The
swim draft is very significant) and was having a great swim with very
little effort on my part. I made the turn for the swim exit and was
doing great until approaching the last buoy about 700m out. The course
narrows so everyone was kind of forced back together. That's when I
got this great mark on my back and left stomach. It is a nice set of
2 welts that look like it came from a watch. I also got smashed in
the face and my right goggle filled with water. I didn't want to stop
so I swam the remainder with one eye! I had a 1:11 which was 4 minutes
faster than I expected but well within what I thought I could do.
 The transition had us come out of the water and get the Bike transition
bags which a volunteer had for me as they had called out my number
to them as I exited the water (nice!). Everyone had to enter the changing
tent and then we all had to run to the end of the pier to make sure
everyone had the same distance. My bike was near the exit to the bike
course so I had a good jog to my bike. The bike started very good and
I was on my numbers early and starting to drink and eat right away.
Since I hadn't gone too hard on the swim my stomach felt good and I
was able to get the fluids going immediately (which is critical for
the long day ahead). The first thing I noticed was that compared to
other Ironman I have raced there were a bunch of bikes missing in the
transition when I went through (a very fast crowd! Duh? The World Championships?)
The next thing was how I was getting passed and I was doing 22-23
MPH. Not usual but I remember a coach telling me that if people are
passing you then let them go because they are stupid and you will see
them again or they are faster than you and you cannot hang. They were
faster than me and I would never have hung with them! I made the first
leg on Kuakini (to the south) and then headed back and up to the Queen
K highway to go north. "Feeling good Lewis, Looking good Billy
Ray" all the way! I did see then some serious and unabashed drafting.
It is just terrible that folk will cheat but that was their problem!
I was cruising at 220 Watts which was right where I wanted to be. Got
to the turn to climb to Hawi and was right on the numbers. Now all
those that were hammering that I could beat were coming back to me
as I spun on my power numbers up to Hawi. I noticed that the heat must
be getting bad because I was out of fluids that I normally use in 2.5
hours in 1.5 hours. All my Hammer concoction (a condensed calorie product
I pack into a water bottle) was gone and I was using Gatorade and lots
of water from the aid stations which I normally never have to do. On
the way up to Hawi no whitecaps out on the ocean!!! On the downhill,
whitecaps on the Ocean…Ouch. It was still good until the turn south
on the Queen K. Then the heat and winds and rolling hills just started
to destroy. I had a choice to make: hammer for the bike split or ride
the numbers. I rode the numbers until about 20 out and then looking
at my watch saw an opportunity to still race an 11:00 so I spent a
little to get in. That probably cost me some of my leg strength but
it was a logical choice. Made the transition and Beth and Alex were
right there! Motivating!
 Quick transition and off on the run. I felt real good actually and
was holding 8:25 pace which is exactly what I wanted. I was hydrated
and felt great. I was talking t o people and waving. I had my Tri4Him
jersey on and got many athletes quoting scripture to me on the run
(their own favorite scriptures for the Ironman run I think!) Way cool!
Then the turn up to the Queen K again (insert dark, menacing music
here). I am "gravity challenged" even though I weigh less
now than I did in college. Hills just kill me and the Queen K has 'em.
That with the heat and I got slow. At every aid station they had ice
cold sponges so I used them every station and I went to Coke every
other aid station. For those not familiar there's a tradition of flat
Coke on the course since it provides pure sugar and caffeine that goes
right into the bloodstream. The problem is the crash if you stop drinking
it so once you start you have to drink it the rest of the way. I passed
a bunch of people on the run. I also got passed by a few but they were
small, runner types so I let them go…
There is a turn into the Natural Energy Lab that goes off the Queen
K and down to the beach. After that loop you've run 19 miles and there
are only 7 more to go ( OK 7.2 miles). That was the longest, most mentally
difficult stretch of run I have seen in a race. I have always heard
about it and watched it on TV but it really is like a never-ending
stretch! At that point I knew that 11:00 was gone for me so I settled
in to keep a steady pace and manage the pain. The last hill is another
killer because you can hear the finish line but can't seem to go faster,
there was little left in the legs.It
goes to the top of the Palani and from
there it's
downhill  and
only 1.5 miles to go. Made the turn to Alii drive and played with the
crowd on the finish! Way cool and the only time I get close to being
a rock star!
Lots of detail in this installment for the tri buds with I hope a
little of the color for all the supporters who followed my effort.
Beth, Alex and I stayed at the race finish (after I got a shower!)
until the end. We had dinner at a restaurant right on the finish line
(fried food and a beer!!) Really special to see it to the end. Scott
Rigsby finished so is the first double amputee to finish Ironman.
I hear that the conditions were as tough as ever. A friend who just
won his age group (men 45-49) in Brazil with a sub 10 hour time went
10:38 at this race. So being 40 minutes behind him is about right for
me. The numbers for me are 80 th of 167 in Age group and 936 of about
1800 starters overall (I think there were 1641 finishers). So I was
the 50th percentile in the World on this day and this course. Not bad.
But the best part… It was truly a day with God and I loved every minute
of it.
Dusty
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