PUBLISHED 03/27/2006
If you came to Kona to win (and who here wasn't competitive?), then you got as close as you could to the start of the first event, the swim, and took your chances. At 7 a.m., a race official shouted "Go!" and fists flew and arms pounded in the mass start. Rich took a few hits; I stayed in the back and hoped I wouldn't drown. The swim was out-and-back around two large vessels, returning to the Pier. I entered the transition area and was greeted by my very own set of volunteers. Four pairs of hands lathered me up with sunscreen and sent me on my way with food and fluids. I felt like an elite athlete, until I noticed that most of the bikes were already gone. Then I felt a bit lonely.
The bike course led us from Palani Road to Kuakini Highway, making an in-town loop before heading out on the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. At about 45 miles into the ride, the legendary ho'omumuku winds are known to kick in, blowing from the volcanoes to the sea and varying from steady to heavy blasts. This year, the winds were kind as we approached the seven-mile climb to the turnaround point at Hawi. But the mood was still intense. On the ride back, no one spoke. The only sound was the swoosh of the wheels.
The marathon began at the transition area at Kailua Pier and headed south on Alii Drive, looping back to Kuakini Highway. The course continued up the Palani Road hill to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway where you head out of town for probably the most grueling miles of the entire day. The Big Island is supposed to be the best spot on Earth to view the heavens, but I didn't notice. It was dark (6 p.m.), hot (90 degrees), and the only light guiding me was that of my glow-stick, which the race provided.
But the end of this granddaddy of all triathlons is worth its weight in volcanic gold. Once back in Kailua-Kona, you run down Alii Drive to the finish line, where the street is packed with more than 25,000 cheering fans. Germany's Faris Al-Sultan, who finished third at last year's championship, won the men's race in 8:14:17. Switzerland's Natascha Badmann captured the women's title in 9:09:30, becoming the fourth triathlete ever to win six Ironman Championship titles. As I crossed the finish at 12:43:30 (Rich finished ahead of me in 11:32:57), the pain of my aching and exhausted body faded as thousands of spectators chanted, "You are an Ironman."
