Greetings Boys and Girls -
I came. I saw. I
faded. I rallied. I ran down Alii Drive for
the second time in my Ironman career. I don't think I smiled
when I crossed the finish line,
though.
The
gory details are going to have to wait for the race
report, but I did want to get a little something
out.
I had
goggle issues during the swim. I had headwind
issues for the last 30 miles or so during the
bike. I had potty issues early in the
run.
I
changed my overall goals for the race several times
during the day, ending with breaking eleven hours and
getting a Boston
Marathon qualifying time.
Here
are a couple of chuckles from the run.
Early on, heading out on Alii Drive towards Keauhou,
maybe three miles in. I passed a group of
spectators and one of the guys told me to go catch that
chick (his words) in front of me. I asked what I
was supposed to do with her when I caught her.
Jump towards the end of the run. The aid station
just after mile 22. The volunteers are asking me
if I want water or coke or Gatorade. I ask if they
have a taxi. No, they say, but they do have
beer.
|
“ |
Let her finish
in front of me. She slows down. Screw this. I pass
her with about a hundred yards to go and finish
strongly. 10:54. I ran a sub-7:00 last mile. Alii
Drive finish
line adrenaline, what a great
drug
.'” |
|
|
— Steve
Noone |
I
forget exactly where I was when I started doing actual
calculations for getting my Boston time. The clock
was right around 7:30 when I started the run. I
wasn't feeling very good so I didn't think about it
then. The first five miles weren't too bad.
Then I had the aforementioned potty issues. And I
was walking through aid stations. It wasn't until
I was out of town, on the Queen K at about the eleven
mile mark that I was able to run steadily and
comfortably. The big clock at the half marathon
point was at 9:18. I thought then, that if I break
eleven hours, I'll get my Boston time. I need a
1:42 half marathon. I couldn't do the calculations
to come up with a minutes per mile pace, so I just
decided to run. It was probably around the 16 mile
mark, which is before entering the Natural Energy Lab,
that I figured I needed to run eight minute miles.
I had still been walking through most aid stations, but
I told myself I couldn't do that if I wanted a 3:30
marathon. I decided I'd run through two aid
stations drinking just water, then walk the third taking
in Gatorade and coke. And I'd try and repeat that
pattern for the remainder of the
run.
And it
worked. I had cramping issues heading up the last
hill on the Queen K before turning onto Palani Road, but
I was able to shuffle through them, not having to resort
to a walk. I was praying mightily that my legs
would work properly as I ran down the steep hill that
was Palani Road, hoping to avoid face-planting in front
of all the spectators. (I am a good downhill
runner and I was moving pretty quickly and semi-easily
down the hill, passing quite a few people in what, for
the bike, had been the no-passing zone.) There was
a big clock with a sign that said one mile to go.
The clock said 10:47 and change. I figured I had a
12 minute mile in me. It wasn't quite time to
jockey for position for the finishing photo. Pass
a bunch of people on Kuakini Highway. Pass a few
more on Hualalai Road. Turn onto Alii Drive.
See the mile marker for 26 miles. Pass a couple
more people. Ok, let's see where we are.
Entering the barriered off section. One chick (my
words) in front of me. No problem. Let her
finish in front of me. She slows down. Screw
this. I pass her with about a hundred yards, I'm
guessing, to go and finish strongly. 10:54.
I ran a sub-7:00 minute last mile. Alii Drive
finish line adrenaline, what a great
drug.
Thanks
to everyone who's been reading my daily journals and
sending positive words and vibes my way. Thanks to
a great bunch of friends cheering here in Kona.
But, most of all, thanks to my beautiful wife
Renate. Your support and enthusiasm for this
lifestyle I've, we've, chosen makes everything
worthwhile.
