I'm guessing Steve Chavez should finish right around midnight Eastern time. I'm gonna try to stay awake and see him, but man, then I really gotta go to bed!
Swim was about an hour of underwater boxing. I had a great start, got on fast feet and was maybe 10 people back from the lead SUP, but about 5 minutes in I realized I was going way to hard and would not be able to hold that pace for the entire time so I backed off and got swam over and on top of for the next hour.
Bike started out great. I came out of the water pleased with my swim and got on the bike happy and was going to execute to plan. I hit 56 miles in about 2:28 and was under my power and HR targets feeling awesome. I was actually averaging 23.1 mph until the Hawi climb into a cross/head wind but I was ok with the head wind thinking I was earler enough to get a tail wind on the way back. Mile 58, the crazy gusts pushed a cyclist I was passing right into my handle bars, I quickly turned left to avoid crashing and hit the reflectors in the middle of the road. Back tire blew out and went flat instantly. Fix a flat worked for about 3 seconds and the white foam went every where through the hole of the tire. I checked the tire and rim strip and found a good sized hole in the tire. All I had was a patch so I put that in the tire to cover the hole and put a new tube in. I made it about 30 feet down the road and it went flat again, this time I inspected the tire and rim strip, but still looked fine so I looked at the rim... I dented the rim so bad that were was a sharp edge hiting the tire that made another hole. Put a patch on that hole, then wraped multiple patches around the rim to cover the shap edge. Luckily I was across the street from specail needs now so I got my other spare tube and CO2 (glad I put them there). Off I went. About 16 to 18 minutes of down time, but thats not the worse part. While I was there rain moved in and the winds shifted directions, so I was fortunate enough to get a head wind almost all the way back to Kona (but the rain only lasted 5 minutes and then it get REALLY hot fast. The even better part was my wheel was thumping with every rotation thanks to the multiple patches, bike tech was no where to be found, and my rear brakes barely worked because of the patches. I was the most scared I have ever been on a bike going down hill out of Hawi. With a head/crosswind pushing me all over the road, basically no rear brake, the thumping and a wonderfull speed wobble if I went over 30 mph. So I sat up with a death grip on the bars and my front brake on the entire way down. I made it and the rest of the ride was just hot and windy.
I felt great on the run, but after the bike mess I decide I just wanted to enjoy the day and not suffer. I jogged the entire marathon, stopped to hug and talk to Theresa, Abigail, and my Mom twice. Thanked every volunteer, and smiled about 22 miles of the marathon. The energy lab was direct sun and really hot, so that sucks and I just slowed down and took it easy. After that I just didn't have the desire to push myself and jogged it in on the Queen K.
I have mixed emotions and need to think a few things through over the next few days before I share my thoughts and a full report. That said, it could have been so much worse and I am thankful I was not injured and enjoyed most of the day. The finish was truly magical and I am glad I was able to smile and enjoy it.
The good news is once again I didn't actually run the marathon so my legs feel fine and I can now enjoy a week of vacation without limping around :-)
What a great day on a bad day. Perspective, composure, poise, resilience, determination. Awesome execution in the face of objective hazards. Congrats, Matt.
Nope, results were wrong, that was a dude! She won it!!! Closest, she says, of ever breaking 10 hours! She RULES.
Re matt--sorry about the mechanicals. Can't help but put my WI experience into my reaction--SH*# happens. That's sometimes the price we pay for racing on a mechanical piece of equipment. Cost of doing business, and it stinks and leads to disappointment. But you finished, and I was not able to. And that's all I'm going to say about that.
Congrats to everyone. Fantastic mojo for all of us watching and cheering you on!
Thanks Linda! I briefly thought about dropping out but I first realize that Al and Trent would never even consider it so I decide I was finishing no matter what. I then also thought about you and others who have had much worse mechanicals and did not the option to continue.
Thank You to each of you for motivating me and I wanted you to know I was thing about you out there.
Ugh! Very frustrating mechanicals for you Matt A. But you looked great coming across the finish line. Please enjoy your wonderful family and the rest time you will all have. Congratulations!
Matt - those reflector buttons can really mess up a tire and apparently a wheel very bad. I am a similar experience at Half Ironman California when Lisa Bently passed me in a narrow section (why they had the old guys starting BEFORE the pros, I'll never know) and I hit one of those buttons - BAM!
Anyway, Ya done good, and we're all so proud you perservered and stayed calm. I know how scary those winds and wobbles downhill from Hawi can be espcially for someone your size. It's great you got to finish and enjoy the day. Your smile at the finish did come through across the internets.
Lis broke 45-49 course record by 25 mins and 40-44 record by 2 mins. No woman over 40 has ever gone faster in Kona!!!
From Todd on FB! Official results still not fixed he said. I heart Lis. I cannot even imagine! We talked about her training in the run up to Kona--like all of us who try to do as well as we can, she worked her butt off for that result. She faced it down every day, and inspired me to keep going on the comeback to WI training. So cool!
@Matt - it was great seeing you cross with a smile on your face. Can't believe your luck. We all know how hard you worked the last year and can understand your disappointment, but you made the best of it and finished happy. That's very inspiring. Like Al, you will have many more Konas in your future. And like Al, you will have your revenge.
Matt-- 1st off it was just a great display of perseverance through all the obstacles. Espacially when you are gunning for a good result and things happen it can really make the thoughts come into the head to just hang it up. So great example for all watching to show the never give up attitude.
I'm sure if you are like me when you have goals in mind and you see what the results may have been and then things happen to botch it all up it can be disappointing. But it is all a game we are just all lucky to be able to do and things like your wife and kids are what make life. On the other hand I'm still in AWE of reading the fact you go 5:17 and have 17 to 18 minutes in your issues...freaking sub 5 bike at kona in reality is incredible!!!
I also like how you just jog the marathon in a measly 3:33:xx. You are young and you'll be back just savor the moment for what it is
Lis broke 45-49 course record by 25 mins and 40-44 record by 2 mins. No woman over 40 has ever gone faster in Kona!!!
From Todd on FB! Official results still not fixed he said. I heart Lis. I cannot even imagine! We talked about her training in the run up to Kona--like all of us who try to do as well as we can, she worked her butt off for that result. She faced it down every day, and inspired me to keep going on the comeback to WI training. So cool!
A quick update on my Kona experience, more to follow in a full race report.
The whole week has been a wonderful experience. A beautiful location, amazingly fit people everywhere and gracious locals happy to have us here!!! The course was a new high for me in the humbling factor. I took the swim at easy paced swim and had some leg cramps on the last mile. The bike was an event all by itself. Wow words can’t describe the winds on the bike – white knuckle insane!!! To add some extra fun to the bike I had a mechanical that resulted in a crash – OUCH. I licked my wounds and resolved the mechanical issue and got on with the day. On the run I knew it was going to be a long day when the quads were screaming at mile 2. The hills were not steep but always present. Seeing Matt A flying on the run course was an inspiration!
I achieved one on my One Thing List and only waked the aid stations. Running in the dark on Kona was a wonderful experience. Running down Ali’I Drive to the light and finishing – Priceless.
Overall I am please with my results, I had higher expectation but truly did not appreciate the one two punch of course and conditions. Also I can now see the impact of three IMs in 14 weeks on these old legs. I hope I am privileged again another day to experience this assume event.
Thank you all for the support you have provided me, without EN I would not be at Kona. Matt
Congrats Matt. You earned the right to be there, and we are all glad you finished. I'm struggling in my second build for the year and you've already got 3 IM's done...WOW!
A quick update on my Kona experience, more to follow in a full race report.
The whole week has been a wonderful experience. A beautiful location, amazingly fit people everywhere and gracious locals happy to have us here!!! The course was a new high for me in the humbling factor. I took the swim at easy paced swim and had some leg cramps on the last mile. The bike was an event all by itself. Wow words can’t describe the winds on the bike – white knuckle insane!!! To add some extra fun to the bike I had a mechanical that resulted in a crash – OUCH. I licked my wounds and resolved the mechanical issue and got on with the day. On the run I knew it was going to be a long day when the quads were screaming at mile 2. The hills were not steep but always present. Seeing Matt A flying on the run course was an inspiration!
I achieved one on my One Thing List and only waked the aid stations. Running in the dark on Kona was a wonderful experience. Running down Ali’I Drive to the light and finishing – Priceless.
Overall I am please with my results, I had higher expectation but truly did not appreciate the one two punch of course and conditions. Also I can now see the impact of three IMs in 14 weeks on these old legs. I hope I am privileged again another day to experience this assume event.
Thank you all for the support you have provided me, without EN I would not be at Kona.
Matt
Wow! A hearty congratulations to you, my friend. So happy for you!
A quick update on my Kona experience, more to follow in a full race report.
The whole week has been a wonderful experience. A beautiful location, amazingly fit people everywhere and gracious locals happy to have us here!!! The course was a new high for me in the humbling factor. I took the swim at easy paced swim and had some leg cramps on the last mile. The bike was an event all by itself. Wow words can’t describe the winds on the bike – white knuckle insane!!! To add some extra fun to the bike I had a mechanical that resulted in a crash – OUCH. I licked my wounds and resolved the mechanical issue and got on with the day. On the run I knew it was going to be a long day when the quads were screaming at mile 2. The hills were not steep but always present. Seeing Matt A flying on the run course was an inspiration!
I achieved one on my One Thing List and only waked the aid stations. Running in the dark on Kona was a wonderful experience. Running down Ali’I Drive to the light and finishing – Priceless.
Overall I am please with my results, I had higher expectation but truly did not appreciate the one two punch of course and conditions. Also I can now see the impact of three IMs in 14 weeks on these old legs. I hope I am privileged again another day to experience this assume event.
Thank you all for the support you have provided me, without EN I would not be at Kona.
Matt
I don't know if we could be any more thrilled for you! Congratulations and looking forward to the RR. You so earned the right to be there, and you did yourself proud.
Comments
Matt just crossed, smiling, in about 10:09
I just saw Matt cross!
What that just Steve across the line? I just saw an EN kit!
OK- really, I gotta go to bed!!!
Hm. I wonder who that was. It definitely looked like old school EN kit.
Matt looked pretty good, for a guy who six weeks ago had no clue he'd be running down Ali'i tonight. Way to stick with it, Matt.
The quick story is:
Swim was about an hour of underwater boxing. I had a great start, got on fast feet and was maybe 10 people back from the lead SUP, but about 5 minutes in I realized I was going way to hard and would not be able to hold that pace for the entire time so I backed off and got swam over and on top of for the next hour.
Bike started out great. I came out of the water pleased with my swim and got on the bike happy and was going to execute to plan. I hit 56 miles in about 2:28 and was under my power and HR targets feeling awesome. I was actually averaging 23.1 mph until the Hawi climb into a cross/head wind but I was ok with the head wind thinking I was earler enough to get a tail wind on the way back. Mile 58, the crazy gusts pushed a cyclist I was passing right into my handle bars, I quickly turned left to avoid crashing and hit the reflectors in the middle of the road. Back tire blew out and went flat instantly. Fix a flat worked for about 3 seconds and the white foam went every where through the hole of the tire. I checked the tire and rim strip and found a good sized hole in the tire. All I had was a patch so I put that in the tire to cover the hole and put a new tube in. I made it about 30 feet down the road and it went flat again, this time I inspected the tire and rim strip, but still looked fine so I looked at the rim... I dented the rim so bad that were was a sharp edge hiting the tire that made another hole. Put a patch on that hole, then wraped multiple patches around the rim to cover the shap edge. Luckily I was across the street from specail needs now so I got my other spare tube and CO2 (glad I put them there). Off I went. About 16 to 18 minutes of down time, but thats not the worse part. While I was there rain moved in and the winds shifted directions, so I was fortunate enough to get a head wind almost all the way back to Kona (but the rain only lasted 5 minutes and then it get REALLY hot fast. The even better part was my wheel was thumping with every rotation thanks to the multiple patches, bike tech was no where to be found, and my rear brakes barely worked because of the patches. I was the most scared I have ever been on a bike going down hill out of Hawi. With a head/crosswind pushing me all over the road, basically no rear brake, the thumping and a wonderfull speed wobble if I went over 30 mph. So I sat up with a death grip on the bars and my front brake on the entire way down. I made it and the rest of the ride was just hot and windy.
I felt great on the run, but after the bike mess I decide I just wanted to enjoy the day and not suffer. I jogged the entire marathon, stopped to hug and talk to Theresa, Abigail, and my Mom twice. Thanked every volunteer, and smiled about 22 miles of the marathon. The energy lab was direct sun and really hot, so that sucks and I just slowed down and took it easy. After that I just didn't have the desire to push myself and jogged it in on the Queen K.
I have mixed emotions and need to think a few things through over the next few days before I share my thoughts and a full report. That said, it could have been so much worse and I am thankful I was not injured and enjoyed most of the day. The finish was truly magical and I am glad I was able to smile and enjoy it.
The good news is once again I didn't actually run the marathon so my legs feel fine and I can now enjoy a week of vacation without limping around :-)
Awesome execution in the face of objective hazards. Congrats, Matt.
I'm just so impressed! Congratulations. Thanks for inspiring us all!
Nope, results were wrong, that was a dude! She won it!!! Closest, she says, of ever breaking 10 hours! She RULES.
Re matt--sorry about the mechanicals. Can't help but put my WI experience into my reaction--SH*# happens. That's sometimes the price we pay for racing on a mechanical piece of equipment. Cost of doing business, and it stinks and leads to disappointment. But you finished, and I was not able to. And that's all I'm going to say about that.
Congrats to everyone. Fantastic mojo for all of us watching and cheering you on!
Thank You to each of you for motivating me and I wanted you to know I was thing about you out there.
Matt - those reflector buttons can really mess up a tire and apparently a wheel very bad. I am a similar experience at Half Ironman California when Lisa Bently passed me in a narrow section (why they had the old guys starting BEFORE the pros, I'll never know) and I hit one of those buttons - BAM!
Anyway, Ya done good, and we're all so proud you perservered and stayed calm. I know how scary those winds and wobbles downhill from Hawi can be espcially for someone your size. It's great you got to finish and enjoy the day. Your smile at the finish did come through across the internets.
Lis broke 45-49 course record by 25 mins and 40-44 record by 2 mins. No woman over 40 has ever gone faster in Kona!!!
From Todd on FB! Official results still not fixed he said. I heart Lis.
I cannot even imagine! We talked about her training in the run up to Kona--like all of us who try to do as well as we can, she worked her butt off for that result. She faced it down every day, and inspired me to keep going on the comeback to WI training. So cool!
Enjoy your vacation.
I'm sure if you are like me when you have goals in mind and you see what the results may have been and then things happen to botch it all up it can be disappointing. But it is all a game we are just all lucky to be able to do and things like your wife and kids are what make life. On the other hand I'm still in AWE of reading the fact you go 5:17 and have 17 to 18 minutes in your issues...freaking sub 5 bike at kona in reality is incredible!!!
I also like how you just jog the marathon in a measly 3:33:xx. You are young and you'll be back just savor the moment for what it is
Continue to inspire!!!
The whole week has been a wonderful experience. A beautiful location, amazingly fit people everywhere and gracious locals happy to have us here!!! The course was a new high for me in the humbling factor. I took the swim at easy paced swim and had some leg cramps on the last mile. The bike was an event all by itself. Wow words can’t describe the winds on the bike – white knuckle insane!!! To add some extra fun to the bike I had a mechanical that resulted in a crash – OUCH. I licked my wounds and resolved the mechanical issue and got on with the day. On the run I knew it was going to be a long day when the quads were screaming at mile 2. The hills were not steep but always present. Seeing Matt A flying on the run course was an inspiration!
I achieved one on my One Thing List and only waked the aid stations. Running in the dark on Kona was a wonderful experience. Running down Ali’I Drive to the light and finishing – Priceless.
Overall I am please with my results, I had higher expectation but truly did not appreciate the one two punch of course and conditions. Also I can now see the impact of three IMs in 14 weeks on these old legs. I hope I am privileged again another day to experience this assume event.
Thank you all for the support you have provided me, without EN I would not be at Kona.
Matt
Wow! A hearty congratulations to you, my friend. So happy for you!
I don't know if we could be any more thrilled for you! Congratulations and looking forward to the RR. You so earned the right to be there, and you did yourself proud.