Honu 70.3 was always on my bucket list as I have a special
love for that road called the Queen K : ).
This race was a particular challenge as it was my only opportunity to
qualify for Kona 2013, and for the first time in ages, I was going into the
race with not 1, but 2 injuries. I spent
the 3 weeks prior to race day exploring every possible therapy, and arrived in
Hawaii at least not limping…so I was happy, but a little apprehensive about my
running abilities!
Getting back to Kona and sharing the experience with my
husband, Dean, who also raced, was very special. We were excited about race day and ready to
rip it up!
The swim was smooth sailing for me. As is my usual tactic, I just found some feet
and cruised at a comfortable pace, saving my energy for the bike and run. I was out of the water 5th in my
age group, having expended very little energy, but the run to my bike hurt on
every step, and I prayed somehow my foot would magically feel better after a
56-mile hammer fest on the bike.
The bike was awesome!
Windy, but nothing I wasn’t used to from IM Hawaii…. except for this one
gust around mile 40 where my life flashed in front of me! I think a small tornado hit my bike,
accompanied by swirling dirt flying across the road. Other than that, the winds were my friend and
I just stayed aero and went as hard as I could, knowing my run was a complete
unknown.
I entered T2 and started out on the most painful half
marathon of my life. Every step on my
foot with plantar fasciitis was painful and I spent half the time praying that
my fascia would not tear completely through.
The run course was incredibly brutal!
I remember seeing each mile marker, thinking these were the longest
miles I have ever run. It was scorching
hot and the wet grass made for 100% humidity combined with the boiling Kona
sun. The golf course running was loaded
with short steep up and downs and sharp turns….pure torture for the foot! Even without the foot injury, I would
describe Honu as the toughest 13.1 miles I have ever run! Fortunately, I was able to hang on and keep a
solid lead to the finish, securing my spot to the big show in October. Woo hoo!
A very successful day, and fun watching friends and my hubby cross the
finish line. In his usual fashion, Dean
took time out of his race to help a passed-out competitor on the road to
nowhere at mile 10 of the run. A good
time was had by all and the success of the day was capped off with
MarkAllenOnline teammates finishing 2nd and 3rd in my age
group and two more MAO athletes qualifying for Kona! Wow!
What a day! Now…time to heal up
that foot of mine.
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