Legendary Winds and Heat
So what makes Kona so hard?
Legendary Winds and Heat…
From Alii Drive to the airport, a seabreeze blows from the ocean across the Queen Kaahumanu Highway approximately 10-12 mph. During the evening, this wind reverses and blows from the mountains. From the airport area to Hawi, you will be biking into the legendary Ho'o Mumuku headwinds that are most noticeable on this portion of the bike course north of the airport. These winds blow 5-35 mph and, in extreme conditions, can gust to 60 mph. After the Hawi turnaround, you will usually have these winds at your back to Kawaihae and side winds again along Highway 19.While air temperatures may register in the high 80’s to low 90’s, temperatures along this section of the course may exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit due to the reflected heat from the lava and asphalt.
…And Humidity
Once off the blast furnace of the bike course on the Queen K highway, runners will experience not just the heat, but leg fatigue, and 70% or higher humidity. Then back onto the Queen K, and down into Hell On Earth: the Natural Energy Lab, the most feared stretch of marathon in the Ironman universe. It’s a natural human frying pan, a low spot in the lava fields where heat reflects mercilessly onto runners, who are already into the mentally-toughest part of the day. The only upside is, once you leave the Energy Lab road and are back on the Queen K, there’s only 10k to go. However, if you want to have any chance of a good finish, this is where you have to ramp up the pace, and the suffering.
The Best in the World
The triathletes racing in Kona had to qualify to get there, by racing in one of 28 World Triathlon Corporation-sanctioned events held around the world, and finishing roughly in the top 4% of their age group. The larger the age group, the more spots available, thus a lot of males in the 35-39 and 40-44 age groups.
The age-group breakdown is as follows:
Male 18-24 29
Male 25-29 99
Male 30-34 188
Male 35-39 233
Male 40-44 226
Male 45-49 172
Male 50-54 109
Male 55-59 52
Male 60-64 39
Male 65-69 27
Male 70-74 15
Male 75-79 9
Female 18-24 21
Female 25-29 49
Female 30-34 69
Female 35-39 74
Female 40-44 61
Female 45-49 52
Female 50-54 34
Female 55-59 22
Female 60-64 13
Female 65-69 7
Female 70-74 2
Female 75-79 1
Handicapped 6
The professional triathletes had to qualify to get here as well. Here is the pro breakdown:
Male Pro 89
Female Pro 58
There are exceptions to the above qualifying rules: All Hawaii age-group champions automatically qualify for the following year. In addition, the top three male and female pros qualify, and the 4th place through 10th place pros qualify conditionally (They must complete a WTC-sanctioned event prior to the next Ironman World Championships.)
When John Collins sold the rights to Ironman to WTC, he insisted that there still be a way for “the common man” to get into Kona. Therefore, there are approximately 100 lottery spots available. Anyone can enter, but must complete a half-Ironman distance event if their name is drawn.
No Wetsuits Allowed
Due to the warm water temperatures, wetsuits are not allowed in Kona. Those of us who rely on our buoyant cocoons at qualifying races are therefore at a bit of a disadvantage to the naturally strong swimmers. Luckily, Ironmans are seldom won on the swim. (It’s only 10% of the race. All my strong-swimming friends are now gritting their teeth.)
All-Consuming Stress
Most of the athletes here are not just type A individuals, but type A triathletes, and there is nobody on earth who is wound tight as a guitar string, than a triathlete in Kona. It’s pretty hard not to feel the need to assert your fitness, when everybody else looks so fit. It takes a lot of discipline to keep the ego in check on that easy training run, and keep the powder dry for race day.
Madame Pele Wants To Make You Hurt
Madame Pele is the legendary goddess of the Big Island. If you don’t honor her presence, she will wreak vengeance on your soul.
As if the elements aren’t enough, a vengeful goddess is awaiting? Hey, it’s the Ironman World Championships, it’s supposed to be hard!
From Alii Drive to the airport, a seabreeze blows from the ocean across the Queen Kaahumanu Highway approximately 10-12 mph. During the evening, this wind reverses and blows from the mountains. From the airport area to Hawi, you will be biking into the legendary Ho'o Mumuku headwinds that are most noticeable on this portion of the bike course north of the airport. These winds blow 5-35 mph and, in extreme conditions, can gust to 60 mph. After the Hawi turnaround, you will usually have these winds at your back to Kawaihae and side winds again along Highway 19.While air temperatures may register in the high 80’s to low 90’s, temperatures along this section of the course may exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit due to the reflected heat from the lava and asphalt.
…And Humidity
Once off the blast furnace of the bike course on the Queen K highway, runners will experience not just the heat, but leg fatigue, and 70% or higher humidity. Then back onto the Queen K, and down into Hell On Earth: the Natural Energy Lab, the most feared stretch of marathon in the Ironman universe. It’s a natural human frying pan, a low spot in the lava fields where heat reflects mercilessly onto runners, who are already into the mentally-toughest part of the day. The only upside is, once you leave the Energy Lab road and are back on the Queen K, there’s only 10k to go. However, if you want to have any chance of a good finish, this is where you have to ramp up the pace, and the suffering.
The Best in the World
The triathletes racing in Kona had to qualify to get there, by racing in one of 28 World Triathlon Corporation-sanctioned events held around the world, and finishing roughly in the top 4% of their age group. The larger the age group, the more spots available, thus a lot of males in the 35-39 and 40-44 age groups.
The age-group breakdown is as follows:
Male 18-24 29
Male 25-29 99
Male 30-34 188
Male 35-39 233
Male 40-44 226
Male 45-49 172
Male 50-54 109
Male 55-59 52
Male 60-64 39
Male 65-69 27
Male 70-74 15
Male 75-79 9
Female 18-24 21
Female 25-29 49
Female 30-34 69
Female 35-39 74
Female 40-44 61
Female 45-49 52
Female 50-54 34
Female 55-59 22
Female 60-64 13
Female 65-69 7
Female 70-74 2
Female 75-79 1
Handicapped 6
The professional triathletes had to qualify to get here as well. Here is the pro breakdown:
Male Pro 89
Female Pro 58
There are exceptions to the above qualifying rules: All Hawaii age-group champions automatically qualify for the following year. In addition, the top three male and female pros qualify, and the 4th place through 10th place pros qualify conditionally (They must complete a WTC-sanctioned event prior to the next Ironman World Championships.)
When John Collins sold the rights to Ironman to WTC, he insisted that there still be a way for “the common man” to get into Kona. Therefore, there are approximately 100 lottery spots available. Anyone can enter, but must complete a half-Ironman distance event if their name is drawn.
No Wetsuits Allowed
Due to the warm water temperatures, wetsuits are not allowed in Kona. Those of us who rely on our buoyant cocoons at qualifying races are therefore at a bit of a disadvantage to the naturally strong swimmers. Luckily, Ironmans are seldom won on the swim. (It’s only 10% of the race. All my strong-swimming friends are now gritting their teeth.)
All-Consuming Stress
Most of the athletes here are not just type A individuals, but type A triathletes, and there is nobody on earth who is wound tight as a guitar string, than a triathlete in Kona. It’s pretty hard not to feel the need to assert your fitness, when everybody else looks so fit. It takes a lot of discipline to keep the ego in check on that easy training run, and keep the powder dry for race day.
Madame Pele Wants To Make You Hurt
Madame Pele is the legendary goddess of the Big Island. If you don’t honor her presence, she will wreak vengeance on your soul.
As if the elements aren’t enough, a vengeful goddess is awaiting? Hey, it’s the Ironman World Championships, it’s supposed to be hard!
posted by Myles Gaulin @ Tuesday, October 17, 2006
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