Home› Races & Places 🏁⛺

Tom’s IM Kona 2011 Race Report

Tom GlynnTom Glynn
in Races & Places 🏁⛺

 

As a Kona newbie I took everyone’s advice and enjoyed the day.  After qualifying in Texas I told myself that there would be no time goals or other pressure.  The only goal was to finish the race with a smile.  Well, I succeeded!

I didn't get a lot of high volume training in the summer.  I swam 2-3X a week; only two long bike rides; an 88 and 80 miler.  Long runs most weeks of 18 miles or so, but only 3-4 runs per week. I felt confident I could finish the race. 

This was probably the easiest IM of the 8 so far.

I was most concerned about the swim after a rather long 1:39:xx in Texas.  I’ve never had it so good.  Right from the start it was wide-open, calm ocean water.  I think I may have slightly touched a few people along the way, but certainly no bumping or swimming over/under/through anyone else.  Kayaks were every 100 feet or so and I just followed them along.  I even managed to have 3 dolphins swim under me at one point. Out of the water in 1:29:xxx, 10 minutes faster than TX.  I was a happy guy!

I took the bike fairly easily cruising along at a 0.64 IF, way below my IM TX effort.  My main concern was being blown off the bike coming back from Havi, but that never materialized.  It certainly was windy in spots, but nothing like I had heard from prior years veterans. Final time of 5:35 was good enough for me.

The run was very interesting to me.  The first part is a flat out and back 10 miles and I clipped along a very comfortable pace.  The next section  of 16 miles was a steep uphill on Palani Drive and then out to the Energy Lab near the airport and back.  I was sure we were climbing slowly right to the turn around, but when we turned to head back into town, I was sure that was uphill too.  Very odd indeed! I slowed a little on the final 16 miles but ended up with a 3:50 final time, about 18 minutes better than IM TX.

All in all I was very happy to be able to compete in such an event. 

Will I be back next year?  I hope so, but with fewer slots at next year’s IM TX, I probably need to knock 30 minutes off my time.  After Kona, I think it’s possible, but I guess I’ll have to wait and see. If I do make it, it’s going to be much more focused on a better time.  Watch out CoachP !

I’ve got to thank my support crew of 16 or so folks.  Family arrived from Florida, California, Canada and American Samoa.  Great bright shirts made them the largest, loudest cheering section for the whole day. Go Team Tom!

 

Comments

Sign In or Register to comment.