Due to the joys of jetlag, I'm wide awake at 3:14am, cuz my body thinks it's 9:14pm. I had debated back and forth about whether I'd post a RR, and what I would include, or not. Sorry in advance if this is long, and maybe a bit of a downer to read.
Special thanks to my family and friends. In particular my wife and daugther, who are my biggest fans, and have sacrificed so much for me to do this race. People talk about what it 'costs' to do an IM, and particularly Kona, and the sacrifices that are made. I never realized the extent of what might be sacrificed for me to make it there.....
Ipo iki keiki (darling little child),
You came into our lives in the weeks following Lake Placid, and filled our hearts with hope, love, and expectation. While we only knew you for a very short time, you are and always will be a part of our ohana. One of the happiest days of my life was at 6 weeks when the ultrasound showed your little heart beating. One of the saddest was the day a month later in the Kona ER that another ultrasound showed that it had stopped...... While the nurses and doctors tried to assure me that this is something that happens, and the trip to HI had nothing to do with it, I still can't help but think that things might have been different had we not made the journey. When I got onto the bike and saw it was overcast, and actually even raining in the lava fields, I knew that greater forces were at work. Then I realized, you were protecting me, your mana was with me to give me kokua thru the day. I was thankful for the cooling rain, it helped hide and wash away my tears. I hope that means that you forgive me. I hope someday I can forgive myself. Mahalo and aloha. I will never forget you. You will always be in my heart.
Race week - arrive late Monday, in a downpour. We thankfully missed the earthquake and ensuing travel snafus, and other than my 3 y/o being awake for all but the last 10 minutes of our 10.5 hr direct flight (an endurance challenge that makes an IM pale by comparison), it was relatively uneventful. Tues we sleep in, the roll into town and have brunch at Lava Java. I get in an afternoon swim, then we go back and get settled in. Uh oh, my wife and I both now have nasty colds, with horrific runny noses - damn plane travel. Wed I get in another short swim, then we cruise up to Hawi, and my wife is shocked by the lava fields, you really have to ride thru all this? (I guess she's never seen it on TV). Have a nice lunch at Bamboo in Hawi, then do some touristy sightseeing for the rest of the day. But, we feel like crap, so no hiking, which means we missed out on some really good stuff. Thurs is one of the worst days of my life. Cathy wakes up w/ severe cramping and bleeding, and we rush to the local Urgent Care clinic, who send us to the ER at the hospital. After many hours of waiting, they get her in for the ultrasound, and then we get the bad news we'd feared..... I take Emma home (she's been a trooper all day), and we go back after the operation to take Mommy back home. Friday am I go thru the motions, I'm still gutted. What's the point? At least the SBR somewhat takes my mind off of things. Cathy wants me to do the race, so I agree that I will give it my best shot. We have a very nice meal at Jamesons that evening, and get to bed early.
Race am - I wake up, down 4 Ensures like usual, and get ready. (Silly me, set the alarm for 4:45 as opposed to 3:45, so I'm an hour behind. Didn't realize this until much later) Wanted to leave by 5:30 or so, we don't get out the door until after 6. Drive over, park way too far away, and walk down to the pier. I get there and it's already after 6:30, now I'm getting a little frantic. I drop off my pre-swim bag, then go get bodymarked. (I hear the National Anthem.) I am THE LAST person there, they are mostly packed up. (The Pros go off.) Then I drop off my bike special needs bag, head over to my bike to set up, pump up the tires, etc. I actually even remember the PT computer this time. I finally get into the water, 3 mins before the start. I swim casually out towards the line, and 20m away, the gun goes off.
The swim - ok, so I self-seeded by default. 20 mins into the swim, I suddenly realize that I don't know if I chipped in or not. Swell, this could be a very long expensive training day now. Nothing I can do about it, just keep swimming. Due to the seeding and being a crap swimmer, there is dramatically less contact during the swim, since there are a lot less bodies back here in the BOP. I hit the turnaround in 44 mins, and with a goal swim time of <1:30 (man's got to know his limitations), I think I'm right on pace and good to go. I am wrong. It takes nearly 55 mins to get back. Oy vey. I see my split upon exiting the water and know that any "smackdown" w/ Dev is now officially over, and I'm just out to finish as best I can. 1:39:41, 1549
T1 - uneventful. Great volunteer help. 3:52
The bike - I liked being able to do the shoes-on-bike mount, one less thing to deal with in T1. I don't feel all that great, but I keep on keeping on, taking it very easy. My watts are 200 +/- 20 or so pretty much all day, which is totally loafing it, but my #1 goal is to arrive fresh for the run, as I'm very fearful of the heat and humidity. I have pains in places I've never had before, my right knee is killing me, I have a hotspot on my right foot and my right big toe feels like a ten penny nail has been driven into the end of it. Amazingly it is overcast, and even rains a bit at the 20m mark at the beginning of the lava fields. I have a bit of an emotional weepy moment, but it's a long day and I can't go to pieces here. Even tho I'm taking it easy, I still pass tons of people like they have roots. I see Normann flying by the other way (didn't realize it was him, since I forgot that this year's Kuota is yellow), with a HUGE gap over the following riders. Game over, they'll never catch him. I also see Natasha is well back, wonder what's going on with her, not her day apparently. Very thankful to get to Hawi, as the descent is just what I need to take a break from the 3 hrs of steady pedaling. Hit a bit of headwind going back, but then it changes to a tailwind and I'm cruising at 25 mph and feeling good again. 2m from the end I pull the feet out of the shoes, sweet relief! 5:31:50, 1037.
T2 - uneventful, stopped for a pee break (didn't go at all on the bike) a minute well spent, and another awesome volunteer to help me in the tent. 4:03
The run - time for marathon #2. I'm zipping along Ali'i drive, dont see mile marker #1, but at #2 I'm at like 13:35, dude, you need to chill. I slow down to 7:30-7:45 pace the rest of Ali'i, and feel ok, stomach is a little queasy, but I can work around it. People are walking already - they are in for along day. My personal "new rule" - no walking on Ali'i Drive. The climb up Palani is brutal, I don't remember reading anything about this?.... and where did the damn mile markers go? That 3m stretch was 24:24, so I'm still clicking off ~8 min miles, which is all I need. Sheesh, the Queen K goes on forever, where is the damn Energy Lab?? "New rule" - no walking on the Queen K. Oh, there is is, be careful what you wish for. I hit the turnaround and I'm in survival mode, just keep moving. "New rule" - no walking in the Energy Lab. I'm just moving from aid station to aid station, cup of ice in the hat, some water, a gel here and there. Even though it is overcast, it's still pretty damn hot and humid, and my ice in the hat melts completely between aid stations in the Energy Lab. Back out on the Queen K, the prior "new rule" is still in effect, but now I'm doing some ~8:30 miles. Get back to town and absolutely fly down Palani Dr, yee ha, only a mile or so to go now! I pick it up, and see my AG # on a calf ahead of me turning onto Ali'i drive - do I chase him down? Hell yeah, it's a race. I blow past him, and then cruise up Ali'i drive, the birds in the banyan tree are almost deafening. I see 910 GO DADDIA (Daddia is my daughter's term of endearment for me) in chalk on the road, and I am psyched beyond belief. Then I see my wife yelling for me, and I high five her as I run by down the chute. 3:29:58, 752.
Overall 10:49:24, 752. I had modest goals for Kona, to have fun, to finish, in daylight, and a stretch goal of running <3:30. So, I got 'er done. Kona was a memorable experience, but frankly not one I'm in any rush to repeat. I am thankful I was able to have a decent race, as I would have been dishonoring all my family's sacrifices had I not given my best effort.
Mahalo for reading this. Aloha.
Since I sprung for the pics the day after the race, I don't think the fine folks at ASI will mind if I post these here.
float , hammer , and jog
Special thanks to my family and friends. In particular my wife and daugther, who are my biggest fans, and have sacrificed so much for me to do this race. People talk about what it 'costs' to do an IM, and particularly Kona, and the sacrifices that are made. I never realized the extent of what might be sacrificed for me to make it there.....
Ipo iki keiki (darling little child),
You came into our lives in the weeks following Lake Placid, and filled our hearts with hope, love, and expectation. While we only knew you for a very short time, you are and always will be a part of our ohana. One of the happiest days of my life was at 6 weeks when the ultrasound showed your little heart beating. One of the saddest was the day a month later in the Kona ER that another ultrasound showed that it had stopped...... While the nurses and doctors tried to assure me that this is something that happens, and the trip to HI had nothing to do with it, I still can't help but think that things might have been different had we not made the journey. When I got onto the bike and saw it was overcast, and actually even raining in the lava fields, I knew that greater forces were at work. Then I realized, you were protecting me, your mana was with me to give me kokua thru the day. I was thankful for the cooling rain, it helped hide and wash away my tears. I hope that means that you forgive me. I hope someday I can forgive myself. Mahalo and aloha. I will never forget you. You will always be in my heart.
Race week - arrive late Monday, in a downpour. We thankfully missed the earthquake and ensuing travel snafus, and other than my 3 y/o being awake for all but the last 10 minutes of our 10.5 hr direct flight (an endurance challenge that makes an IM pale by comparison), it was relatively uneventful. Tues we sleep in, the roll into town and have brunch at Lava Java. I get in an afternoon swim, then we go back and get settled in. Uh oh, my wife and I both now have nasty colds, with horrific runny noses - damn plane travel. Wed I get in another short swim, then we cruise up to Hawi, and my wife is shocked by the lava fields, you really have to ride thru all this? (I guess she's never seen it on TV). Have a nice lunch at Bamboo in Hawi, then do some touristy sightseeing for the rest of the day. But, we feel like crap, so no hiking, which means we missed out on some really good stuff. Thurs is one of the worst days of my life. Cathy wakes up w/ severe cramping and bleeding, and we rush to the local Urgent Care clinic, who send us to the ER at the hospital. After many hours of waiting, they get her in for the ultrasound, and then we get the bad news we'd feared..... I take Emma home (she's been a trooper all day), and we go back after the operation to take Mommy back home. Friday am I go thru the motions, I'm still gutted. What's the point? At least the SBR somewhat takes my mind off of things. Cathy wants me to do the race, so I agree that I will give it my best shot. We have a very nice meal at Jamesons that evening, and get to bed early.
Race am - I wake up, down 4 Ensures like usual, and get ready. (Silly me, set the alarm for 4:45 as opposed to 3:45, so I'm an hour behind. Didn't realize this until much later) Wanted to leave by 5:30 or so, we don't get out the door until after 6. Drive over, park way too far away, and walk down to the pier. I get there and it's already after 6:30, now I'm getting a little frantic. I drop off my pre-swim bag, then go get bodymarked. (I hear the National Anthem.) I am THE LAST person there, they are mostly packed up. (The Pros go off.) Then I drop off my bike special needs bag, head over to my bike to set up, pump up the tires, etc. I actually even remember the PT computer this time. I finally get into the water, 3 mins before the start. I swim casually out towards the line, and 20m away, the gun goes off.
The swim - ok, so I self-seeded by default. 20 mins into the swim, I suddenly realize that I don't know if I chipped in or not. Swell, this could be a very long expensive training day now. Nothing I can do about it, just keep swimming. Due to the seeding and being a crap swimmer, there is dramatically less contact during the swim, since there are a lot less bodies back here in the BOP. I hit the turnaround in 44 mins, and with a goal swim time of <1:30 (man's got to know his limitations), I think I'm right on pace and good to go. I am wrong. It takes nearly 55 mins to get back. Oy vey. I see my split upon exiting the water and know that any "smackdown" w/ Dev is now officially over, and I'm just out to finish as best I can. 1:39:41, 1549
T1 - uneventful. Great volunteer help. 3:52
The bike - I liked being able to do the shoes-on-bike mount, one less thing to deal with in T1. I don't feel all that great, but I keep on keeping on, taking it very easy. My watts are 200 +/- 20 or so pretty much all day, which is totally loafing it, but my #1 goal is to arrive fresh for the run, as I'm very fearful of the heat and humidity. I have pains in places I've never had before, my right knee is killing me, I have a hotspot on my right foot and my right big toe feels like a ten penny nail has been driven into the end of it. Amazingly it is overcast, and even rains a bit at the 20m mark at the beginning of the lava fields. I have a bit of an emotional weepy moment, but it's a long day and I can't go to pieces here. Even tho I'm taking it easy, I still pass tons of people like they have roots. I see Normann flying by the other way (didn't realize it was him, since I forgot that this year's Kuota is yellow), with a HUGE gap over the following riders. Game over, they'll never catch him. I also see Natasha is well back, wonder what's going on with her, not her day apparently. Very thankful to get to Hawi, as the descent is just what I need to take a break from the 3 hrs of steady pedaling. Hit a bit of headwind going back, but then it changes to a tailwind and I'm cruising at 25 mph and feeling good again. 2m from the end I pull the feet out of the shoes, sweet relief! 5:31:50, 1037.
T2 - uneventful, stopped for a pee break (didn't go at all on the bike) a minute well spent, and another awesome volunteer to help me in the tent. 4:03
The run - time for marathon #2. I'm zipping along Ali'i drive, dont see mile marker #1, but at #2 I'm at like 13:35, dude, you need to chill. I slow down to 7:30-7:45 pace the rest of Ali'i, and feel ok, stomach is a little queasy, but I can work around it. People are walking already - they are in for along day. My personal "new rule" - no walking on Ali'i Drive. The climb up Palani is brutal, I don't remember reading anything about this?.... and where did the damn mile markers go? That 3m stretch was 24:24, so I'm still clicking off ~8 min miles, which is all I need. Sheesh, the Queen K goes on forever, where is the damn Energy Lab?? "New rule" - no walking on the Queen K. Oh, there is is, be careful what you wish for. I hit the turnaround and I'm in survival mode, just keep moving. "New rule" - no walking in the Energy Lab. I'm just moving from aid station to aid station, cup of ice in the hat, some water, a gel here and there. Even though it is overcast, it's still pretty damn hot and humid, and my ice in the hat melts completely between aid stations in the Energy Lab. Back out on the Queen K, the prior "new rule" is still in effect, but now I'm doing some ~8:30 miles. Get back to town and absolutely fly down Palani Dr, yee ha, only a mile or so to go now! I pick it up, and see my AG # on a calf ahead of me turning onto Ali'i drive - do I chase him down? Hell yeah, it's a race. I blow past him, and then cruise up Ali'i drive, the birds in the banyan tree are almost deafening. I see 910 GO DADDIA (Daddia is my daughter's term of endearment for me) in chalk on the road, and I am psyched beyond belief. Then I see my wife yelling for me, and I high five her as I run by down the chute. 3:29:58, 752.
Overall 10:49:24, 752. I had modest goals for Kona, to have fun, to finish, in daylight, and a stretch goal of running <3:30. So, I got 'er done. Kona was a memorable experience, but frankly not one I'm in any rush to repeat. I am thankful I was able to have a decent race, as I would have been dishonoring all my family's sacrifices had I not given my best effort.
Mahalo for reading this. Aloha.
Since I sprung for the pics the day after the race, I don't think the fine folks at ASI will mind if I post these here.
float , hammer , and jog
Last edited by:
Murphy'sLaw: Oct 31, 06 3:23