Kona report 21st October 2009
Morning everyone,
Well I just want to let you all know how Kona went last weekend for my mate ( Andreas Raelert ) that I've been helping train since he was with me in Palmerston North all summer this year. As I said to you all after the Final World Championship Series race on the Gold Coast, my racing year may have finished but my year was far from over with Andreas racing in Kona.
My plan had been to head straight to Austin Texas to train with Andreas before his big debut in Kona. That all went south when I got sick before the Gold Coast and then got even more crook after the race. So instead of heading straight there and risking passing anything to Andreas we decided to just meet up in Kona 12 days before the race itself. Everything had gone well in his build up and so it was all about resting up and ticking off those last key sessions before race day.
For me I had an idea and expectation of what this race would be like. From the atmosphere, the course, the conditions and most of all the people racing it. But to say that it was to my expectations would be a lie! it more than exceeded that and gave me an idea to why people talk about this mythical place so fondly.
Andreas in my eyes always had a chance here. Everyone says you cant come here and win first time round but I never believed that. You may have to pay your dues along the way, but if you prepare with insight on what you will face I feel you can defeat anything.
This race is a long one no doubt! Its not 2 hours of 180 heart rate and above but more a case of pace judgment and precision timing of effort through 8 hours of exercising. You can have so many good and bad moments throughout the day and still race well. With those 8 hrs plus of racing things can happen, and they generally will.
Andreas got off to a great start and put himself in a great position throughout the swim. He exited with the main players and then set out on the 180k cycle ride. Its brutal to ride on the Big Island with all the lava fields and open highways. Its hot, its windy and its all before a marathon! The game plan was always to maintain contact with all the good runners mainly defending champion Craig Alexander during the ride. He did that well and managed to eat and drink everything he had too. He arrived at the end of the bike 12 minutes behind the lead athlete ( Chris Leito ) but together with the main group of 10 or so guys. He started the Marathon in 17th place and within the first few miles he and Craig had found a great rhythm between themselves. They ran side by side, breaking down the field one by one. I followed most of the run on my bike, stopping and giving splits and any positive vibes I could get across to make the pain ease.
As they hit 30k they both looked great and had moved into 2nd and 3rd on the road with the leader just 2 minutes in front. At this point there is a section named the energy lab. During this 6k section you cant follow any athletes. They are simply at the mercy of themselves. They went into the Lab together and we all sat and waited for there return. When the leader came through I started to wonder how much time did they take from him while in there. Then the next figure I saw was Craig, and no Andreas. I waited as patiently as I could, I can now imagine how my coaches must feel in these situations. As I caught sight of him I could see he was struggling big time. Now I was about to learn something I never thought I would have learnt before coming to Kona. I tried everything I could to give Andreas the advice and feedback I thought he needed to get him through the last 8 or so k's. When you are fighting for every meter in a situation like that, its so easy just to stop and say enough is enough, please no more. And then comes that little something inside you that says you have to keep fighting! you've come too far to give in now. Riding that last 5k with Andreas was about seeing that emotion from the outside in. I've been in that position as an athlete so many times before, and it hurts bad. But to see it from the other side was intense. He did everything to hold onto 3rd and he did. In his first ever Hawaii Iron-man he had made the podium. It was an amazing result for him and something for sure he can build on in the years to come.
There were also some great races from all the Kiwis out there. Right from the elite to age group alike. Some were more happy than others, but I'm sure they will all be back to play this crazy Ironman game once again next year.
For me heading towards London and 2012 this view of the Iron-man did nothing but scare me!! Really a huge amount of respect from me to all those athletes that were out there. I found that watching the elite athletes particularly was very rewarding for me mentally. Having been emotionally involved to an extent during the race, gave me a different appreciation to it all as I watched during the day. It was yet another prospective of why I love this sport " Triathlon", and why I love to race as hard as I can every time. Because when the body says please no more, and the mind responds with tough luck where not done yet. What is there to do but to keep pushing!!
For know its moving time here in Boulder, Colorado. I've flown over during my "semi triathlon Break" to help Bevan ( Docherty ) move his life to his new hide out in Santa Cruz. Think its going to be a fun road trip, along the way we are going to make a stop at the site where Bert Munroe's took his famous Indian flat out, The Bonneville salt flats. Maybe I can get the Avanti or the Suzuki out and clock up a pass also!!
Until then take care.
Cheers,
Kris