“The Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon seems to be an inhumane attempt to tax the body beyond all comprehension and award the survivor – if any – with a trophy,” wrote Dick Fishback in the Honolulu Advertiser on Friday, February 10, 1978.
I have closed the book on another big season of racing, having just completed the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, taking 15th place and 2nd American in 8:36:25.
For the top 50 professional men, and best 2,100 amateur triathletes from all over the globe, this was the day when a year’s worth of preparation was put to the test. A day when the triathlon world watched eagerly, anticipating the crowning of champions, the inevitable heartbreak of failed dreams for some, and surprise performances and heroics that only the lava fields of the Big Island can deliver.
For me, the race just felt different this time. From the beginning, I was more relaxed and optimistic than ever before. I certainly hadn’t lost any respect for the race and my competitors, but instead replaced some of the fear with a quiet confidence. This year I felt the freedom to be proactive, instead of just reactive. These emotions sprung from many sources, but primarily from the performances I had during the year, and from my consistent and powerful training during my final preparation. Of course, I must also credit my network of friends, family, training partners, and sponsors for bolstering my psyche. Having a performance-driven supporters like Zoot, Specialized, Volkswagen, Clif Bar, Fuelbelt, Tender Belly, Infinite Monkey Theorem Wines, Zipp/SRAM, and Oakley, who not only have deep roots in the athletic world, but also understand what it takes to be the best at their craft, is invaluable.
Race day morning came rapidly after a week of sponsor obligations, final touches and acclimatization with the training, and resting with my family. Up early, I went through my routine: hydrate with coconut water, drink coffee, foam roll muscles, eat light breakfast of bagel with almond butter, honey, and banana. Off to the pier under the cloak of darkness, sun still below the ancient volcano, Hualalai. This is when the tension is humming highest: an hour before race start, nervous and anxious athletes milling about, anticipating what the day might bring. For most, an entire year of expectations, preparation, and challenges is culminating in one day of extreme endurance. I found a quiet spot to warm up for the swim, and then slipped into Kailua Bay to take one last moment and quiet the mind.
The race itself unfolds in a way that seems both faster than the elapsed time on the clock, and at moments much slower. My swim was fluid and comfortable, placing me right where I needed to be in the front group. I settled into the high pace, which dominates the first two hours of riding, trying to stay on top of nutrition while crossing the barren lava fields and wind-whipped coast. Just over halfway through the cycling portion, I had lost contact with the leading athletes, and I had to find my own rhythm with a chase group. I was disappointed to be off the front group, but knew it would be a long day, and there are always dramatic changes on the marathon.
With the goal this year of remaining consistent and strong, and prove to myself that a solid race was possible in the unforgiving heat, humidity, and wind of the Big Island, I began the run conservatively. Many of the top professionals, including a 3-time champion, and last year’s winner, took off too quickly for me in the opening miles, but I would see them again. Reciting my mantra of “make the best decision you can in this moment,” I steadily reeled back many of the fading athletes in front. One by one, step-by-step, I pulled my way into the top 15 Ironman athletes in the world. Rounding the turn onto Ali’I drive with the deafening roar of the crowd is a memory that brings me chills as I relive it now.
It was not the “perfect” race that we all dream of, but a step forward, and a confidence-builder that shows me I can be in contention at the hardest race in my sport. With many lessons learned, I continue my journey towards athletic perfection, embodying the same quality and orientation towards performance that the highly-engineered vehicles from Volkswagen exhibit on the road of life. I will be back next year to take another step forward, to again test my limits at the world’s hardest one-day endurance event.