Kona is KILLER
By Don Ryder
Oct. 9, 2007 -- No, I don’t mean it is harmful and will kill you, but rather in the sense of the surfers we see chasing the waves in parts of Kailua bay, “Cowabunga dude, that was a killer ride!” Since we live in a world and a sport of acronyms, I thought I would create one for Kona. Acronyms,in our sport, run the gamut from good ones such as PB’s and HRM’s (to keep us in the aerobic zone), to ones that are sort of neutral, like IV’s at the end of the race, which depending on your point of view, are either very useful, but not so good if you don’t like needles, all the way to the bad ones, like DNF’s, or even worse, the dreaded DQ that brands you as a cheater.
So, what does KILLER stand for?
“K” is for “Kailua-Kona”. This beautiful town on the Kona coast is the place where dreams become reality. The annual pilgrimage here creates an experience unmatched in the sport, because of the significance of it’s tradition and history. While it is the place where neither the first, nor the largest triathlon in the world has, and continues, to occur, it is, without a doubt, the place where the sport first captured people’s imagination, much like Everest does for mountaineering, and where some of the most mythical and magical legends have been created. Simply put, it is the mecca, the pinnacle, the one that every triathlete, whether they admit it or not, aspires and pays homage to, every October.
“I” is for the Ironman. A sporting spectacle that is a unique combination of Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. The Super Bowl reference has elements of being the best, of titanic struggle, of amazing athletes, and crowning champions, both professional and amateur. The Mardi Gras refers to the unique and heartfelt celebration of the triumph of the human body, mind and spirit of the athletes that takes place all day long, and culminates in the party atmosphere at the finish line. Music, dancing, scwhag tossed out to the crowd – just like Mardi Gras.
“L” stands for “Lava”, the unique ingredient on this island. Love it or hate it, the black lava is omnispresent and it must be dealt with. Yes, pieces of it can and do cause the occasional flat, and it certainly, does hold and retain some of the heat from the sun. On the other hand, there is a stark beauty to the landscape. As well, supporters can leave messages for the athletes, placing white rocks in the contrasting lava, in order to cheer them on.
The second “L” stands for “Lava Java”, which along with Dig Me Beach, is the place to go and connect with fellow triathletes, and meet or make friends from all over the world. On any given day, you will see past champions to nervous Ironvirgins, taking in their daily dose of caffeine. Not only that, but the homemade cinnamon buns are a guilty pleasure to die for. It is THE place to see and be seen.
“E” stands for “Energy Lab”, the dreaded black hole of the course. Both psychologically and physically, it is widely considered to be the toughest part of the run course. Not only does it have some of the highest temperatures, due to the lack of vegetation, and therefore shade. To add insult to injury, it juts out into the ocean, which exposes the athletes to the constant winds on this island. Since it is an out and back, at some point that wind will be against you, and that can be hard to manage in the latter part of the run. The isolated location means that there are few spectators present to lift the spirits of the competitors and encourage them home. For those who don’t finish before sunset, the added challenge is the pitch black night, as there are no street lights here, and dark is most often when one’s fears and doubts start playing tricks on your mind. The slope down to the turnaround, though not too steep, is long, and the way back out to the Queen K can seem to be an endless journey.
“R” stands for rewards. Without a doubt, there are many rewards to doing an Ironman, especially the World Championships. The obvious one is the sense of accomplishment, and excitement, that comes from finishing this fabled event. I mean, let’s face it, anyone who knows anything about the sport asks any triathlete they meet the 3 famous questions. First is, “Do you do triathlons?” Following that is, “Have you ever done an Ironman?” And the final question is (drum roll, please!) “Have you ever done Hawaii?” There are, however, more subtle rewards. The ways this event changes people’s lives for the better.
For some, the reward is their new healthy body that comes from the training regime, whether they are able to finish or not. For others, it is the attainment of a challenging goal, with the benefits of added confidence and the belief that “Anything is Possible.” For others, it is the example they set for their family and friends, and the influence they have to inspire others to improve physically, mentally and spiritually. There is a broader, and perhaps more important and lasting benefit. That is the gift that is fundraising. Whether it is for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, cancer research, MLS, the local YMCA, or dozens of other deserving causes, this sport has a history and tradition of giving back to others, in order to improve life for all of humanity. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised for various causes over the years,and many lives have been changed dramatically already as a result of those efforts. So, I say “Bravo and mahalo” to you for your unselfish gifts.
To all Ironman triathletes competing here on Saturday, I wish you a “killer” day, dudes.
Don’t forget to check back tomorrow as race week officially kicks off later today with the Parade of the Nations, and the Iron Expo opening right afterwards. The next best place to being here this week is reading and watching it on the web. And in just over a month, you can watch the Emmy award-winning television show with it’s awe inspiring images and stories.