Race Report – Hawaii Ironman – 23 Oct 99
Executive Version
Second Ironman, First Kona Ironman, Lottery Entry
Overall 15:51:55 (Swim 1:45:04, Bike 7:49:21, Run 6:03:44)
Enjoyed this well supported and well-run race.
Background
I am a weak
swimmer, but improved sufficiently last year to attempt and complete Ironman
Switzerland. You may recall my race
report with “Jaws” as my secret weapon to overcome the difficult climbs on the
bike course.
This year I
planned another assault on the Ironman distance and for scheduling convenience
planned to race IM Lanzarote. However 3
weeks before the race I was deployed to Albania in support of US Army
operations in Kosovo. For the next
several months I was not able to swim or bike and could only run during the
last few weeks of the deployment.
While deployed
to Albania, I checked the Internet on 16 April and learned that I was selected
in the lottery for IM Hawaii. For the
next several weeks, I waited for orders to return to Germany so I could begin
training. In July, I returned home only
to be sent to Egypt with the Multinational Force and Observers for 1 year. The good news was that I could restart swim,
bike, and run training, the bad news was that all of my training would be in a
25-meter outdoor pool and on a 1 mile x 1 mile base camp. This meant a maximum 4-mile run loop on
sandy roads and a 3-mile bike loop on paved road.
The Odyssey
The trip to
Hawaii began with a flight to Frankfurt to join my wife and kids and then
onward to Kona for all of us. I printed
copies of IM Canada and Lake Placid Race Reports to inspire me on the trip to
Hawaii. This report is in partial
thanks for all of your inspiration and words of wisdom.
We arrived in Kona on
Sunday evening to a soaking rain and saw rain for the next 3 days. I spent several mornings swimming at Dig Me
Beach and rode a small part of the bike/run course. I was surprised how many athletes were engaged in intense running
and cycling up until the day before the race.
The registration process was efficient and the pasta party was
inspiring. There were several
opportunities to meet Tinley, Paula, and other celebrities at the Expo and
autograph sessions. I found that my
anxiety about the swim grew through the week.
I felt good in practice, but was surprised how far 1.2 miles looks.
I had 3 goals
for the race. First was to complete the
swim. I never went this far before
without a wetsuit and I was uncertain what pace I was swimming in open water. Second, I wanted to finish the race. Finally, I wanted to go sub-14 hours, which
would be a 30-minute improvement over IMS.
The Race
Race morning
was cool and calm. The Royal Kona
Resort had an early athlete’s breakfast (0330) followed by a trip to the pier
for body marking and tire pumping. About
15 minutes before 7, most athletes entered the water. I chose a spot at the back of the age groupers, treading water
rather than waiting on the beach. The
crowd became louder as 7 approached and then the cannon boomed. I took several breast strokes and then began
an easy freestyle. Almost immediately,
I encountered a steady stream of swimmers to follow all the way to the turn
boats. From my perspective, the swim
was gentle and the surf boarders kept us on course with little wasted effort on
errant navigation. I felt great joy
when I reached the Fair Wind at 49 minutes and realized that I could complete
the swim well within the cut-off. I
secretly worried that I’d miss the cut-off and my journey would end here. I became tired during the last 500 yards,
but triumphantly swam up to the ramp at 1:45.
We were warned that the boat ramp could be slippery so I carefully got
to my feet. I guess I was too careful
because one of the medical folks stepped-up and wanted to know if I was
OK. I assured him that I was fine. Note, they take your picture as you step out
of the water. Not realizing this, my
swim picture shows me shaking my head to get the water from my ears. I swam up the ramp right behind Judy Molnar
and saw her again on the bike and run.
The Hoyts were right behind me at the beginning of the swim, but I’m not
sure when they finished the swim.
The bike
begins with the climb up Palani (Pay-and-Save) Hill and then a turn North
toward Hawi. The ride to Hawi was
smooth with some stiff crosswinds and a typical headwind into Hawi. I drank a bottle of Gatorade at each aid
station and a Clif Bar early in the ride.
The sun was bright and I burned despite 2 applications of
sunscreen. I felt good at this stage
and again experienced the great joy of competing in the Hawaii Ironman. The downhill ride from Hawi, with a
tailwind, was exhilarating. Things
began to unravel about 70 miles into the ride.
I wasn’t urinating and I did not eat enough. I experienced cramps during hard efforts and slowed considerably. When I finally stopped at a Lua at 80 miles,
I cramped so badly that I could barely get off the bike. The remaining ride into Kailua was a slow
and painful slog into a headwind.
Finally the headwind eased and overcast developed as we rode into town
for the last 7 or 8 miles of the ride.
My wife and kids saw me pass the Royal Kona and worried that I was
bloated and looked very tired.
I was whipped
as I began the “run.” Running resulted
in leg cramps and I was most efficient power walking the first half of the
marathon (with some running on the downhills).
With fluids and Powergel I slowly overcame my dehydration and bonk. Except for a couple blisters, I comfortably
ran the last several miles into town and down Palani hill. As you reach the bottom of the hill, you
turn onto Ali’i drive and encounter the noise and bright lights that are a
signature of this race. Again, the
great joy returned as I ran the last few blocks to the most famous finish line
in triathlon.
My wife and
kids were at the finish and I waited so my wife could put the medal around my
neck. My favorite picture is our family
standing together in the finish area.
Reflections
I am overjoyed
that I could participate in this event.
I have a completely new perspective and respect for the Ironman course,
Kona, and our professional and age group champions. The efforts of the Hoyts were phenomenal. I’m glad I had my family with me to share
the moment. My greatest moments of joy
on the course occurred as I overcame my fears.
I have room to improve on my training program, particularly my hydration
and nutrition plans. If time for
training permits, I’d like to race an Ironman-a-year to continue to challenge
myself and sample several of the Ironman courses.
Jim Bruckart, M.D.
