LUKE WHITMORE "Professional Triathlete"
Hawaii IronMan - 2008
Back in Honolulu today and ready to be a tourist for a few weeks. Well what a crazy week it has been, all ending with a result I was quite happy with at Ironman Hawaii. Arriving in Kona on Tuesday last week was very scary, I tried to run twice in Honolulu in the previous days and cramped up both times after five minutes of running. Which naturally lead to me shitting myself and getting angry, poor Tarryn had to put up with me. The same thing then happened unloading my bike from the taxi and carrying it to the third floor of out hotel. Panick was setting in.
After calming down the next day I rode some sections of the bike course without any problems, making me feel better. Kona is a very intimidating place during Ironman week, everyone looks like they are fit enough to go under nine hours, there is people running and riding all day in the heat and then there is 2000 plus $10,000 dollar bikes and aero helmets kickin around town. The carbo party was amazing with traditional music and dance and big names everywhere.
The swim was the roughest most competitive start Ive ever done. I couldnt get clear water for about 1500m and severe chaffing had set in. A tip for young players, use body glide in salt water non-wetsuite swims. The swim was slower than expected 1:01 but I think that was the case for all.
The start of the bike I had a very tight hamstring, which took about 10km to sort out, after some gels, drink and salt tabs I was under control. It was definitely hot but I felt good on the way out reaching Hawi turnaround (95km mark) in 2:30, thought I was a chance to break five, considering I next 10km was down hill! Not to be. The trade winds kicked in. It was a cross wind all the way down literally throwing me two metres across the road at times, and the direction was consistent either. At the 140km It got hard. The next 20km would be into a fierce head wind and it was approaching 42 degress so I am told. I lost a lot of time in this section of the course and my 5 hour bike time was blowing out. Ended up with 5:21 and have never looked forward to running a marathon so much!!!
A quick transition I was off and felt great. First 10km was just under 40minutes and I was trying to hold back thinking I might blow up. I hit a flat patch between 15km and 21km but started on the cokes at the halfway point. First half marathon time was 1:28, felling good I had a second wind, spurred on by Tarryn who was chasing me on her bike so I saw her every few kms. At 30km I picked up the pace again and the energy lab did exactly what its name would suggest. By this time it was nearly 4 in the arvo and still 32 degrees. I stormed home just missing breaking 3:00 hours by 14 seconds. But made a conscious decision to enjoy the finish rather than sprint for the line.
9:30 finishing time. (14th in 25-29, first Aussie), (108th? Overall and 9th Aussie overall), (3rd fastest age group marathon and 33rd overall) (2nd Victorian over the line). Really happy with my day and glad to say Ive done Hawaii on a hot and bloody windy day.
Mahalo to everyone for all the support. Especially Tarryn, Mum, Dad and Beaudy who where there to spur me on.
Lots of Aloha to you all,
Luke.
