We had a very nice condo on Ali’i Drive about a mile and a half south of the Kailua pier. On the third level of the building, it had a lanai deck that was within feet of the ocean. Birds flew by and we could hear the waves crashing all day and night. We arrived late Tuesday night and went straight to bed thanks to the 6 hour time change. On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, I went for a swim from the pier with about 1000 other athletes. I couldn’t believe the corral and fish that were visible below. About 500 yards out, there was a floating espresso bar that featured swim-through service! The scary part was that our condo was about in line with the turn-around buoy for the swim, a long way south of the pier!
I had two rides and two runs in the days before the race, during which I rode with Chrissy Wellington on the Queen K and blatantly robbed the GU tent on Ali’i drive. Before the big day, my dad and I drove out on the Queen K to see what I was in for. It was barren, hot, and windy, just as described. That night, my mom made my pre-race favorite of linguine with chicken and broccoli. After a good stretch, I got to bed around 7 or 8pm with less trouble that I had anticipated.
Race morning I woke up at 4:45am and had cereal and a banana, but was a little too nervous to eat more than that. We headed into town at 5:30 or so. I got body marked, with the real-deal ink stamps: lucky number 1792. I went to the bathroom, then made my way down the steps to the beach and waded in for the National Anthem.
Out at the starting line, I lined up in the middle, about 5 rows of people back. After treading water for about 10 minutes with no room to move, the cannon went off. I remember swimming between people, over slower people, and not having any space! I was getting knocked around most of the way out to the turn around, but made it there in a little over 27 minutes. Going around the catamaran at the turn around, the water was choppy and I must have swallowed some salt water, because I got so sick on the way back. I drifted to the outside a bit, and heaved a few times before finally throwing up a good bit of my morning nutrition! I felt better after a few minutes, but had lost some time. I got kicked in the goggles with a few minutes left, but I fixed them and exited the water just under 1:01. I had wanted to be a few minutes faster, but it was no big deal.
In the first transition, everything went as planned. I put on my HRM, my top and got my nutrition, before running to my bike with my shoes and socks. I could have put on more sunscreen, but the changing tent was a zoo.
I got out on the bike just fine. The first 10 miles were around town and everyone was moving pretty fast. Once on the Queen K, I started eating my first clifbar, since I had lost everything else on the swim…. I quickly understood why everyone talks about the “Queen K peloton” since there was so much drafting, and there wasn’t really even an opportunity not to draft! When the officials came by on the motorbike, I made an effort to look like I was trying to drop back. The first 25 miles were nice and fast with a good tailwind. I think I came through the 40km in about 1:07. It got a little windier and hillier over the next hour, but I was still feeling good. I was still averaging around 20.5 at that point, but it got pretty windy and hard after that. Going up to the turnaround at Hawi, there was a tough headwind with probably 40mph gusts from the side. The last couple of miles up the hill were very tough. Nobody was happy and everyone I was riding near was grumbling about it. Somewhere between 40 and 60 miles in I saw all the pros pass with the helicopters and NBC cars following. At Hawi, we got our special needs bags, and I stopped briefly to situate myself and put a leg down. I was still feeling fine, but there was a windy 52 miles to go. Coming down the climb from Hawi on the way back, the tailwind pushed speeds to over 30mph, but the crosswinds were terrible. I couldn’t eat or drink anything for a while, and it was scary just holding onto the aerobars.
At the aid stations I tried to keep grabbing a bottle of water each time even if I didn’t need it. I would pour it on myself and drink some since temperatures were in the 90’s. My super concentrated bottle of infinite worked well. I would take a sip of it, then take a few sips of water. I never got the headache that I had during training, so that was good. There were a few long hills on the way back that were grueling. I would be going about 12mph for the 5-10 minute climbs along the way, hence my drop in speed over the bike segment. I finished the bike in 5:49:44 at 19.2mph. I had wanted to stick to 20mph, but I was still satisfied after experiencing the wind.
In transition I got some help from the awesome volunteers. They put sunscreen on my back and helped me with the stuff in my transition bag. I took a short bathroom break then was off.
The first 10 miles on Ali’i drive were hot. There was limited shade. I hit the first two miles in a little over 7:30 even though I thought I was being conservative. The jello legs weren’t too bad, but I couldn’t judge it very well. I was walking the aid stations to make sure I got enough water in me. I took GUs at miles 4, 8, and 12. I walked Palani Drive because it was way to steep to waste my energy on. I cheered Chrissy Wellington in as she went the opposite direction. Out on the Queen K It got cloudy from the volcanic ash and even rained briefly. When I was running I was alright, and I was very good about making it to the aid stations before walking again. As the race progressed, though, I had more and more trouble getting going after the aid stations.
Out by the energy lab, I was still chugging along. The turn around seemed to take forever, but I made it and saw 8.7 miles to go… getting closer. They lost my special needs bag and didn’t seem too concerned: “it’s not here” “what do you mean it’s not here!?! How am I going to finish this race??” I took probably 5 minutes worrying about it until they searched the discarded bags for GUs for me. I got on my way, but that was unnecessary.
Coming out of the Energy Lab, there was a digital screen that showed a message after I crossed a mat. That was cool to know that even out there, there were people cheering me on. I got darker coming back on the Queen K, but I never got a glow stick. I talked with a few people on the way back; they were all very nice and grateful to even be racing. At the top of Palani, I could see the lights and hear the music from the finish line. At that point, the pain in my pounding quads went away, and I motored down to Ali’I Drive. There were people everywhere. When I heard them cheering and I was alone, I knew it was for me and it was a great feeling. I saw my parents at the beginning of the finish chute, and heard my name in over the speakers. Pumping my arms over the finish, I crossed in 11:38:17. I was satisfied and grateful to have completed the Hawaii Ironman.
Post race, I was carried off to the massage tent, where I mostly wanted to lay down. They were reluctant to let me go to the medical tent since I seemed okay, but I guess that’s a good thing. I finally borrowed a phone to call my parents, and they found me as I got my medal. Wearing the official medal with the finisher’s lei was pretty special. I knew I had done it and it felt good. In the end, my legs hurt uncontrollably, my chest was tired from my heart and lungs, but I knew what the Hawaii Ironman was all about. Doing my first Ironman the right way was awesome!
