 |
| Team Hoyt |
 |
| Day dreaming! |
Kona is done and dusted and it was epic in all ways. Crystal and I learned a very valuable lesson that vacationing with an 18 month old is the exact opposite of relaxing! Bodhi was a rockstar but it was still non stop and never time to just put the feet up and relax unless he was sleeping and his sleep sched was turned upside down.
He did amazing on the flights and I thought it could of been much much worse. Crystal and I are truly blessed with this little dude and he has brought a level of joy in my life that I never new existed.
 |
| Hawi Climb |
We took the direct Flight from Denver to Kona and it was 7 hours and 40 mins of high anxiety fun. I didn't know what to expect with Bodhi and he only slept for 45 mins the whole flight but he was awesome. At the airport I ran into the
Minimalist documentary guys and they gave me their signature hug. We then ran into endurance legend
Dick and Rick Hoyt grabbed a pic with them and told him he is a true inspiration he commented about my son and it was a pretty sweet moment. The plane ride went by relatively fast considering it was over 7 hours. Another highlight of the flight was chatting with 6X World Champion
Dave Scott some more encouraging words and before we new it we where on the big island.
 |
| B-VanMev |
 |
| Dig Me |
We arrived at the Sheraton Kona and got settled into our room, Bodhi was over it and was asleep by 6pm Hawaii time 10pm our time. He was up several times throughout the night and it was a blur. The next day I met up with legend
Bryan VanMeveren and we drove out to Kawaihae parked and rode the climb to Hawi. Back to the Resort to try and relax. The next day we took Bodhi to the beach and got his first experience of the Pacific Ocean. I got a ton of GoPro footage and will be putting together a video in the next week or so. The next couple days we spent at the resort swimming with Bodhi and trying to get him into some form of a routine. Crystal is such a badass mom and can always handle any situation like a boss!
 |
| Herbalife24 Party! |
Tuesday I went swimming at Dig Me Beach got checked in and spent the day at the pool with the family. Wednesday Bryan and I hit swim course again and went for a quick 5 mile jog on Ali'i Dr. It was then back to the resort for more pool time with my two favorite humans. Wednesday night We got invited to the
Herbalife 24 condo for a party for
Team Wattie Ink athletes racing the World Championships. It was a blast Flanny, Wattie, and
Heather Jackson were there broing down with everybody. They put on a tradition Hawaiian ceremony where Kumakahi and KumuHula Aunty Tutu chanted, sang, danced and gave a Hawaiian blessing not only to HJ but to each of the team members that qualified for Kona it was unreal and am truly grateful to be on Wattie team and be supported by such an amazing company such as Herbalife 24. It will be an experience that I will never forget.
 |
| Best Mate! |
Thursday we chilled at the resort hit the pool and relaxed as much as we could. We went to the 'E Koma Mai Banquet for some grub and to soak in all the Ironman Kona atmosphere. Left early to put the Bodhi down. Friday I got some alone time to get my bags and bike dialed in for the drop off. The bike and bag drop off was not nearly as hectic as I remember. I was back home to the room to put the feet up and eat 4 avocado sandwiches. No need to set an alarm Bodhi was up by 3 am then next morning. We snagged Bryan on our way to get body marked. I really tried to be in the moment and soak in every aspect of the pre race it is really a trip to be going through body marking and realizing this is the World Championships and in disbelief that I am here to compete.
 |
| 1:02!!!??? |
Crystal and Bodhi had VIP passes and went out on the Pier to watch us start, I said my goodbyes and blew a kiss to my two worlds. I teared up and was ready to get into the salt water, as I stepped down the famous stairs in Dig Me Beach I tried to just be grateful that I am here it was unbelievable. I swam out to the right of the midline and lined myself about 5-10 rows back treading water and listening to the Helicopters and the crazy drums it is truly an experience that you have to witness yourself.
Swim 1:02:17
Coach
Eric Neilsen at FAST Masters has made me a strong swimmer in the last two years and my goal was to come out between 1:05-1:07 to see 1:02 on my Garmin blew me away and I did not feel that fast. The start is always hectic but I tried to get into a groove and not get sucked into any emotional outburst that can happen when you get hammered from all angles. I found some feet to draft and tried to just stay there. As we approached the half way point I glanced at my watch and it said 29 I was pumped and just wanted to stay smooth for the return trip. I was concerned because I started feeling hot while in the water and my swim cap was rubbing me raw and the back of my head. I got to wear my super sleek
Blue Seventy PZ4TX+ Swim Skin and I had no rubbing issues and set a PR in the IM Swim over 20 seconds faster then Boulder with a wet suit. I Popped out of the water and felt warmed up and fresh. T1 was a nightmare and I had to sit on the floor to get my stuff on. T1 took way to long and I wanted to make sure I had everything ready, I put on my Custom Wattie Ink Aero top and cooling sleeves, grabbed some
Zealios sunscreen on my neck, threw my cycling shoes, ran to my bike, and put on my
Rudy Project helmet and was ready for battle.
Bike 5:16:23
My motto was conservative, patient, conservative, drink, conservative, electrolytes. The first 8 miles are crazy and seem like you are racing a sprint tri and everyone is blowing their loads before getting on the Queen K. I had three bottles of
Herbalife 24 CR7 Drive and started slamming them, this is my favorite product from Herbalife 24, taste amazing, easy on the gut, and loaded with electrolytes. I lost one bottle heading down Kuakini Hwy, no worries I can drink the course electrolyte no problem. My other bottle I had was 3 8oz bottles of Ensure +, 350 calories per 8 oz just to sip on until I got to special needs bag in Hawi, where I had another bottle of 3 Ensure+. It is hard to get down when it is so hot but I knew I had to drink 6 of them on the bike to keep my caloric intake up. I also tried to drink an Electrolyte bottle almost every aid station along with 2 waters one for spraying on me to keep cool and the other for sipping. I felt as it was hot hot hot and I couldn't seem to keep my core cool and really wanted to ride as easy as possible to be able to try to put a consistent run in. I have only had one 100 mile ride since Boulder and my other longest ride was a 3.5 hour trainer ride.
I didn't have the time nor did I want to spend time away from my wife and son when we had time off together. The winds at Kawaihae seemed to be worse then 2015 so I just tried to keep my HR in check and stay up on drinking. Hawi came and went and it seemed that the last 32 miles back to the pier where all up hill in a stair step manner. The last hour on the bike took forever and I was self checking in with myself and I felt surprisingly pretty good. My bike split was 8 minutes slower then 2015 but that was my plan to be conservative to try to run and not be a member of the walking dead.
T2 also took way to long and got some more sunscreen and was ready to run 26.2 miles.
Run 3:42:27
 |
| Ali'i Dr |
When I got out of T1 I was feeling light and strong, the heat was def on and I could feel the fatigue of the day building. Mile 1 clicked off 7:51 and felt pretty good, I wanted to stay between 8-8:30 and be consistent for all 26 miles. Mile 2 felt really hard and was 8:29 I started getting worried about how I was feeling and just told myself that I don't even get warmed up until mile 4-5 just stay smooth. Crystal and Bodhi where camped out around mile 4 on Ali'i and I got a kiss from them that instantly recharged me. I tried to keep it fun and thanked all the volunteers. At the 5 mile turn around I checked in and felt good not great but good enough to maintain sub 8:30 miles no prob. Mile 6 I stole another kiss and stayed in the moment with each mile getting closer and closer to the finish. I broke the race down in segments 1-5 out on Ali'i 5-10 back on Ali'i mile 11 Palani Hill. Mile 12-16 Queen K. Mile 17-20 Energy Lab. 21-26.2 Queen K to Finish. My strategy was to walk up Palani Hill and keep my HR as low as possible. Once I got on the Queen K I tried to get into a flow and made sure I held ice in my hands between aid stations and it seemed to keep me sane and something to focus on instead of how hot it is. As I approached the Energy Lab I saw a NoCo guy Brent Phinney and somehow was able to run by him as we descended towards the ocean down the Energy Lab. It was fun racing with so many familiar faces out there. I hit my special needs bag with a nice and steamy hot Ensure+ def did not hit the spot but I needed the calories and kept me in the fight for the last 8 miles.
The highlight of the race as we headed back to town on the Queen K was this guy named Williams was projectile vomiting and still running it was awesome he prob threw up 10+ times and rarely slowed down...epic! I cheered him on every time he let them rip. Coming down Palani Hill was painful but so much more enjoyable then 2015. I got on Ali'i Dr and slapped hands and tried to soak in every moment because who knows if I will ever be able to race this iconic race again. Crossing the finish line at the IM WC is something that I will never forget I next got to see Crystal and Bodhi as they gave me a lei and a mega hug, we walked and I sobbed with the emotions of the day rushing out we went to a grassy area sat down and just finally took a breath of relaxation.
Total Time 10:11:55 (12 mins faster then 2015)
 |
| Pumped! |
 |
| Finish Line |
The race is over and I am pleased with my result, 95th in 30-34 division and 492 overall placing me in the top 20% in the world...pretty rad and still can't believe this is my life. Not a blazing fast time but for my life I am satisfied. After having a slow shitty race at 70.3 WC in Chattanooga I felt all I wanted to do was be in the fight mentally and be consistent on the day. I don't have any desire to go back to Kona anytime in the near future, I don't have the time to train appropriately for this race. My job is awesome but I can't train all day and get paid, plus financially the Kona race is ridiculous and it is unsustainable to try to keep chasing a time or placing. I know I will never be a podium threat at a WC race I'm just pumped I get to do what I love and chase and accomplish my dreams. I'm glad I never had Kona fever because I feel that it can blind you and make you focus on a KQ above everything and not the little things that get you to the island.
 |
| Last Sunset in Kona |
My wife is so next level it isn't even funny, her ability to put up with me is unbelievable and I am so truly grateful she is my wife, she is so far out of my league it isn't even funny! We made a ton of memories and took so many pics and vids of our experience I can't wait to share it with Bodhi as he gets older. My life is like a dream and still can't believe we are able to do what we do. It is time to reset this off season and spend as much time with the little dude because I'm going to blink and he will be in school.
There are so many people that put the Kona puzzle piece together and make it obtainable.
Muscle Restoration Mark and his team have kept me healthy this back half of the season and can't thank them enough.
Coach Eric Neilsen at FAST masters has helped my swim more then I can imagine and have never felt stronger. Tori at
Mountain Elevation Massage Therapy for giving the best rub downs in FoCo. Patrick at
Rocky Mountain Multisport for keeping Walter White dialed in. Zack and Whitney Allison at
Source Endurance Training Center of the Rockies for the amazing facility and top notch service and workouts, they have made it possible to ride 180K on a bike at a high level of speed with less training then ever.
Herbalife 24 for the best nutrition on the market and thank you so much for the party in Kona it was a blast.
Wattie Ink for the best looking kits on any course and being a rad dude.
Team Wattie Ink and Flanny for all the support and everything you do for the team. All the sponsors that support Team Wattie Ink.
Sponsor links:
Not sure what the future of racing holds I know I will still compete but there is more to life then Triathlon, I'm a Dad and Husband first and foremost those two things are number one for me, I do triathlons for fun and as a hobby, sometimes I am able to put together a decent race. I know I am so lucky to have my life and try to never take a second for granted, life can be hard and I know what the other side of good looks like I am just so grateful for everything and can't express that enough. Cheers!
 |
| Ash Dragon!!! |
 |
| Beach Life! |
 |
| Seriously so lucky!!! |
 |
| Walter White Racked! |
 |
| Hawi Climb with Bryan VanMeveren |
 |
| Bodhi and the new King of Kona!! Patrick Lange |
Coach Eric Neilsen at FAST Masters has made me a strong swimmer in the last two years and my goal was to come out between 1:05-1:07 to see 1:02 on my Garmin blew me away and I did not feel that fast. The start is always hectic but I tried to get into a groove and not get sucked into any emotional outburst that can happen when you get hammered from all angles. I found some feet to draft and tried to just stay there. As we approached the half way point I glanced at my watch and it said 29 I was pumped and just wanted to stay smooth for the return trip. I was concerned because I started feeling hot while in the water and my swim cap was rubbing me raw and the back of my head. I got to wear my super sleek Blue Seventy PZ4TX+ Swim Skin and I had no rubbing issues and set a PR in the IM Swim over 20 seconds faster then Boulder with a wet suit. I Popped out of the water and felt warmed up and fresh. T1 was a nightmare and I had to sit on the floor to get my stuff on. T1 took way to long and I wanted to make sure I had everything ready, I put on my Custom Wattie Ink Aero top and cooling sleeves, grabbed some Zealios sunscreen on my neck, threw my cycling shoes, ran to my bike, and put on my Rudy Project helmet and was ready for battle.
The highlight of the race as we headed back to town on the Queen K was this guy named Williams was projectile vomiting and still running it was awesome he prob threw up 10+ times and rarely slowed down...epic! I cheered him on every time he let them rip. Coming down Palani Hill was painful but so much more enjoyable then 2015. I got on Ali'i Dr and slapped hands and tried to soak in every moment because who knows if I will ever be able to race this iconic race again. Crossing the finish line at the IM WC is something that I will never forget I next got to see Crystal and Bodhi as they gave me a lei and a mega hug, we walked and I sobbed with the emotions of the day rushing out we went to a grassy area sat down and just finally took a breath of relaxation.
