The Big Day in Kona
I know I am a freak tri-addict because I spent my day yesterday shuffling back and forth between soccer practices and other kid related weekend activities....and every time I was home I was glued to my computer screen watching the Ironman World Championships live on a measly 2x3 inch window on the screen. I even got to see Macca win about 9 EST last night. He finally got his win. Kudos to him and Chrissie Wellington, women's champ.
I also saw that Scott Rigsby, double amputee from an accident, finished in 16:40. A few athletes I know from the Raleigh area also had great races. Very cool. My coach, who I now understand is a sick-athlete-freak-of-nature, finished in 10:07 at age 40. Unreal.
I take a few items away from watching and thinking about the Ironman in Kona.
1) I'm not sure I have the will or the way to ever qualify for that race but it sure would be unbelievable to be there and race.
2) Training for one single event only can lead to disaster. Norman Statler and Faris Al Sultan, two ex-champion athletes expected to be in the mix for the win, both exited the race due to stomach flu. That illness, while only lasting a couple days, really sucks. Can you imagine how those guys will feel next week...totally healthy and knowing they missed the event they spend their lives preparing for. What do they do? Go win some "lesser" Ironman events? Start thinking about training for a race that is 350 days away?
3) Anything can happen in Ironman. While Macca's win was no surprise there were many surprises behind him. Many of the top rated women had tough days (ie not in top 10 even...) and the top 10 men were also a mix of new and old names including the 1/2 Ironman world champ taking second place in his second Ironman and first trip to Kona. Perhaps its all about super-solid training...and mostly who has "their day" on race day.
4) Its time for me to start thinking about the 2008 season. If I want to continue to improve in 1/2 and IM distance the time to begin light base preparation is about now. 2007 will close shortly with the Emerald Isle ocean swim sprint triathlon and the ING NYC marathon. I can't believe I am not treating the marathon as an event to train for but instead a season ending, really fun, training day.
Time for a 15 mile run.
I also saw that Scott Rigsby, double amputee from an accident, finished in 16:40. A few athletes I know from the Raleigh area also had great races. Very cool. My coach, who I now understand is a sick-athlete-freak-of-nature, finished in 10:07 at age 40. Unreal.
I take a few items away from watching and thinking about the Ironman in Kona.
1) I'm not sure I have the will or the way to ever qualify for that race but it sure would be unbelievable to be there and race.
2) Training for one single event only can lead to disaster. Norman Statler and Faris Al Sultan, two ex-champion athletes expected to be in the mix for the win, both exited the race due to stomach flu. That illness, while only lasting a couple days, really sucks. Can you imagine how those guys will feel next week...totally healthy and knowing they missed the event they spend their lives preparing for. What do they do? Go win some "lesser" Ironman events? Start thinking about training for a race that is 350 days away?
3) Anything can happen in Ironman. While Macca's win was no surprise there were many surprises behind him. Many of the top rated women had tough days (ie not in top 10 even...) and the top 10 men were also a mix of new and old names including the 1/2 Ironman world champ taking second place in his second Ironman and first trip to Kona. Perhaps its all about super-solid training...and mostly who has "their day" on race day.
4) Its time for me to start thinking about the 2008 season. If I want to continue to improve in 1/2 and IM distance the time to begin light base preparation is about now. 2007 will close shortly with the Emerald Isle ocean swim sprint triathlon and the ING NYC marathon. I can't believe I am not treating the marathon as an event to train for but instead a season ending, really fun, training day.
Time for a 15 mile run.
posted by Lucky at 7:03 AM
1 Comments:
I get inspiration from watching Kona every year, and hope to be there myself in a year or two.
home fitness
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