Twenty-one triathletes from the Washington area set out to compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, Oct. 10. The race consists of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. Here is a recap of how they did: Kelzie Beebe, 11 hours, 9 minutes, 28 seconds
My first Kona turned out to be an overwhelmingly positive learning experience with a pretty decent result. The conditions and my mind ended up being my competitors. The heat, humidity and wind are unlike what you would encounter in D.C., so I turned inward and focused on being consistent and keeping cool. It paid off as I had a relatively enjoyable race and a huge smile — and now a burning desire to go back and really race it.
Bill Beyer, 13:56:45
It was a hard day. I burned my feet and then ran the marathon portion. The wind and sun, the burn. What should I expect for the hardest one-day race in the world? I am so excited about qualifying for next year. It is a beautiful day — we get to be in the presence of the best athletes in the world, competing in a spectacular venue. The water is clear, the bike is stark and intense, the wind never dies, the run is tough. It is a day I will relive until the next time I am in Kona.
Leslie DiMichele, 12:42:19
I had a difficult day. I knew there was a chance that I would struggle because I had qualified at Ironman Louisville only six weeks prior. The swim went well; I exited the water still feeling strong. But out on the bike course, things just weren’t coming together, and I finished sunburned and sore. By the time I got to the run, my legs were stiff and I started having stomach problems. I had to walk a good portion. The struggle made the finish so much sweeter.
Maureen Forsyth, 12:46:41
To finish my first Ironman at the World Championships was quite an experience. It is truly an honor to race not only with the top competitors in the world, but to see people dealing with incredible disabilities. There were definitely a lot of highs and lows, but I never doubted that I would get across that finish line. And I had the perfect ending to my race experience — my boyfriend and I got engaged our last night on the trip.
Michelle Harburg
After much agonizing indecision, I decided not to finish. My hip started to be painful around mile 70 on the bike. I got through the bike, stretched and hoped it would not be there on the run. However, I limped/ran the first 10-ish miles and decided to stop. I didn’t want to risk long-term injury. I am disappointed but all in all very happy I tried since I learned a lot. You win some, you learn some. This was not my race today.
Hunter Hobson, 11:36
My goal was simply to finish, as I was a lowly lottery winner and it was my first attempt at an Ironman-distance triathlon. I was hoping to finish the race in under 12 hours. I didn’t take in enough calories on the bike. It was just too hot to eat or drink anything other than cold water. I paid a serious price on the run, but I started feeling better by the end. I would love to go back.
Van Moffatt, 12:17:23
I was very satisfied with how my day went. Finishing in 12:17:23 was pretty close to my goal considering the heat and winds. The swim was a scrum, and although I planned to come in about 10 minutes faster, I could live with 1:24 — it was going to be a long day! The bike was great until mile 80, when the strongest headwinds really hit me. I stayed conservative on the run to ensure a strong finish. The run down Ali’i Drive felt like a blur.
Mark O’Brien, 14:24:04
Finish was my goal, finished is what I did. The swim portion went better than expected. The bike was a blast with the Pacific and the lava surrounding you, but with 35 miles to go, the wind hit. In the run, I knew I would finish and did not push it. In my last mile, I felt great, but it was due to the enormous energy the crowd brought and knowing the finish line was near. Having my four kids with my parents in Hawaii for the race made it even more special.
Matias Palavecino, 9:49:09
A month later and I still have tan lines from that day. Boy was it hot, head-boiling hot. I had a great swim, excellent bike, but came up a little short as the run was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Every sensor in my body screaming at me to walk, but you never give up no matter how ugly it gets.
Rob and Shandra Richardson, 11:05:00
It was a very special day. Our hope and goal was to finish together, and we did! I completed the swim in one hour, and made Rob work a little bit to catch up to me on the bike. He caught me at mile 68 and then stayed behind me. The last 40 miles were tough as the wind picked up quite a bit. We ran side by side the entire marathon, and it was amazing to run down Ali’i Drive, see my parents and our daughter cheering us on and then crossing the finish line together. Words truly can’t describe the feeling.
Brian Shelden
Less than an hour after arriving on the island, I was hit by a car while on a training bike ride. I was unable to put running weight on my right hip, but I was able to swim and ride. I got talked into trying to walk the marathon, which turned out to not be the best idea. I dropped out at mile 16. My orthopedist tells me the hip is broken. No running for three months. Looks like an excuse to work on my swimming, and ease into running next year.
Tom Shinners, 11:57:25
I’ve done better and I’ve done worse. The swim start that I worried over turned out as advertised. Although I avoided collisions, I sliced my forearm on the fin of an escort surfboard. The famed winds did not howl out on the bike course, but the sun and heat were constant challenges. My run became an all-too-familiar Kona Shuffle. With 13 Ironman Hawaii finishes down, I look forward to the challenge of making No. 14.
Carlos Silva, 13:07:08
It feels great to say that I did an Ironman. It’s not that I just did an Ironman, I did the worst, hottest, most brutal one. If I never do anything else, I’ll know that I’ve done that.
Mark Yost. 11:18:37
I was told to expect slower times because of the ocean swim, as well as heat, humidity, sun and wind on the run — and it’s true. The swim was spectacular — I must have spent more time gawking at the fish and the incredibly fast swimmers. The bike course was challenging — at one point, I was pedaling downhill at 12 mph! As for the run, it went well because I hydrated, and took salt and electrolyte pills regularly. The Big Island is mystical and alluring, but the sun and wind can be brutal. Can’t wait to go back.
