I finished the race, and that’s what counts. It took me 17 hours, 44 minutes, and 42 seconds to complete it all. While I’m not an official finisher because I exceeded the 17-hour cutoff, being welcomed by the cheering team and seeing my Ironman friends and my wife, Donna, made it special.
Pre-Race Preparation: The Early Start
My day at Kona World Championship began at 3:30 a.m. with a two-mile walk to the start area. I checked my bike, pumped up the tires, and made several trips to the porta-potties. I waited with 2,399 of my closest male triathlon friends, as the women had already raced in Nice, France.
Swim: Into the Ocean Blue
Finally, it was time to queue up for my wave, #5, which included all the old men aged 60+. In the 75-79 subset, there were supposed to be 14 of us, but only 13 showed up. Seeing Donna and getting a good-luck kiss was a great start. The pros began at 6:25, and my wave started at 6:55.
The swim was a 2.4-mile journey with stunning fish below. I took 1 hour, 48 minutes, and 54 seconds to complete it, covering slightly more distance than necessary. But hey, I got it done.
Transition 1: Ready for the Bike
Running through the bike bags, I found mine and headed into the changing tent for a complete change. I dried some parts and left others wet. Donna was there in the VIP area, taking pictures, as well as Cindy Clark, Ironman VP. It was a long run to get the bike, but off I went.
Bike: Battling the Elements
Happy to have the swim behind me, I set out on the bike. Around town, up Palani Hill, and onto the Queen K Highway, I was averaging about 15.9 mph until the climb into Hawi, which was challenging due to headwinds. The pros had almost no headwind, and records were broken.
The wind gusts made it difficult to stay in aero position, forcing me to grip the handlebars tightly. I reached Hawi, had a PBJ from my special needs bag, and descended with fierce side winds. After 112 miles, my legs and butt were glad to be off the bike, with a time of 8 hours and 13 minutes.
Transition 2: Preparing for the Run
Racking the bike, I grabbed my run bag and changed into dry running clothes. Cindy Clark cheered me on as I set out for the run. My transition took 12 minutes and 32 seconds, but I was ready to tackle the marathon.
Run: A Test of Willpower
Starting off with lots of cheers, I soon faced muscle cramps. At one point, both legs locked up, but I refused to give up, walking and running as best I could. I calculated I needed 15-minute miles to finish within 17 hours, but decided to walk the remaining miles due to the persistent cramps.
Nightfall came, and with my small flashlight, I navigated the dark roads. My watch quit at mile 23, leaving me to focus on finishing. Completing the marathon took 7 hours, 19 minutes, and 42 seconds.
Finish: A Triumphant End
With a half-mile to go, a volunteer encouraged me to hurry. I shuffled towards the finish line, where announcer Paul Kaye recognized me. Celebrated by Ironman leaders like Diana Bertsch, Andrew Messick, Scott DeRue, and Mark Allen, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Donna was there, and we headed home, walking at my race pace.
After a long day, I finally enjoyed a shower and chocolate milk before collapsing into bed. While I finished 4th or 5th in my age group unofficially, I’m thrilled with my 17-hour, 44-minute, and 42-second finish.
