Back to Reality...

First off, I realized I forgot to mention some very important TPPF contributors on yesterday's blog post video. First and foremost, I want to thank DRog (Derek).

Not until I was on the plane on the tarmac of Minneapolis Airport, his hometown, did I realize I forgot to give him a “shout out” from Kona. I got my list from PayPal and I forgot Derek made a $100 EBay donation, which is now a Coors Light patio umbrella that sits proudly on my deck. Thanks Derek.

I also forgot to thank some donations I received while I was in Kona, specifically from Derek Dean, Matty O (his second), Scott K (Ree_ti_ree) (his second), Doru (his 3^rd or 4^th) and Al Nolan (his second). Thanks Guys.

I especially want to thank Al Nolan who is now my new best friend with a $201 donation to the TPPF. Sorry Paul, you're now my number two best friend.

I’ve known Al since we were kids and when he makes a donation that big, it means something. Al, is well, frugal, to say the least. I’m sure this money came from his “baby sitting” bank account when he was a kid. Thanks Mr. O-gallan.

I sure hope I didn’t miss anyone else, if I did, drop me a line and I apologize in advance, I was rushing to get packed and return from Kona and was a little “scatter brained”.

We finally did make it to the Kona Airport and barely got on the plane. We were the last passengers and they were ready to close the doors. The delay was at check in and I was concerned about security being able to put my bike case back together properly after inspection, so I sat and watched. It’s a little tricky to do properly.

Alice, Reid and I were not able to get seats together and as luck would have it Dave Anderson was in the seat behind me, which was cool, we got some time to chat. I felt sorry for the people beside me, I was talking to them with beer and cigar smell on my breath. I had bought beers for the hotel mini-fridge and tried to drink as many as I could before we left.

I always request an aisle seat. I’m a major airplane “pee-er” on the best days. Put a few beers in me and I’m wearing out the carpet from my seat to the lavatory. Instead of an aisle seat they gave me a window seat beside a mother and daughter from Wisconsin.

Before the flight left and I sat down, I relieved myself. I then told both of my row neighbors that I pee a LOT and prepare. I then ordered two more beers. I was hoping they got “the message” and would trade the aisle for a window. They didn’t and I figured, “too bad, so sad, you’ve been warned”.

In total, I think I made them stand and get out of the row three times. The worse was when the mother beside me was “fast asleep”. I was polite and waited as long as I could for her eyes to open. I then set a limit of 15 minutes before I woke her up. Just before the deadline, her eyes opened slightly and I “pounced” on the opportunity. This time I could tell they weren’t impressed they had to get up in the middle of a red-eye flight.

The funniest part was they were on the next connecting flight that I was taking and when I walked down the aisle I saw them and there was an open window seat beside them. I could see the “dread on their faces” and envisioned them saying to themselves, “not again!!!"

As I walked by, I said, don’t worry I’m not in that seat, you got lucky. They politely smiled. I’m sure they’ll be talking and complaining to others about me when they get home. I don’t feel bad they were warned.

Our flights were Kona to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Minneapolis, and Minneapolis to Toronto. I only got a 90-minute sleep on the first flight and was so tired I slept from take off to touch down on the second flight. I love when that happens. It’s like falling asleep in a car when you’re a kid and the next thing you know you’re home. It’s the equivalent of “time travel”.

All our flights were on time and the layovers were minimal. It was an easy ride home, unless you ask Reid. He feels sick again and he likes the holiday and hates the travel time to get there. Now he’s saying he never wants to go on holidays’ again. Kids.

Since I’ve got nothing but time on the plane, I decided to write a comparison between Kona and other Non-Kona (NK) Ironman races.

What can I say, Ironman Kona doesn't disappoint. In fact, it was even beyond expectations. If you ever get the chance to do it, do it.

With that said, Kona is not the “end all be all”. It’s just “different” than most other Ironman races. Aside from it being the “Mother of all Ironman’s”, it’s the caliber of athletes that make the difference. Virtually every athlete is an “Uber Elite” age group athlete.

Would I want to do Kona again? Damn right I would. Would I want to do it every year? Damn right I would, providing I had the time and money.

I love Kona and I love NK Ironman’s. I may even like the later more and it’s not because I place higher in the non-Kona Ironman’s. The reason is the people.

In the NK Ironman’s, the participants are primarily regular folk that have set a “Big Hairy Ass Goal” to do an Ironman. These are people who in many cases have overcome incredible odds just to be at the start line. They are not “DNA superior athletic superstars", they’re people like your neighbor, your kids teacher, a guy you work with, someone from church, a stay at home mom, basically everyday people.

One of the first things to catch my attention at Kona was the “lack of Ironman tattoos”. That surprised me. I thought it would have been opposite; after all, these are the people who “eat, breath and sleep racing Ironman”.

Whereas, at NK Ironman’s I see a LOT of Ironman tattoos. Most of the guys and gals I know planned on getting the Ironman tattoo as part of there finish line reward. I know I felt that way when I did my first Ironman and I still do today. I now have three Ironman logos on my body.

Basically, if you’re going to do something “sacrificially great”, why not celebrate it and show it off?

If I was asked, if you could only select one race to do a year for your lifetime, would you want to do Kona every year or a NK Ironman. As unbelievable as this sounds, I’d have to pick NK Ironman.

Why you may ask?

I prefer the “energy of excitement” of a NK Ironman. At Kona, you don’t see anywhere near the “amount or deepness of smiles” that you would see at a NK Ironman.

In Kona, generally, the participants are “serious first” and “fun maybe”. I judge a race by the amount of “smiles and welcoming gestures” shared between the participants. Kona definitely has them, but not to the same level when you pass each other on the street. At NK races, the norm is a “smile or to say hi” as you pass by other athletes.

I find a NK Ironman is a “personal journey” shared among “kindred spirits”. Most of the participants are not “natural athletes” and have a common bond of “fear and doing something extraordinary by just finishing”.

Kona is the Olympics of Ironman. Athletes are “internally focused on performance”. Which makes sense, these are the thoroughbreds of our sport. Most aren’t just coming to finish; they’re coming to race.

There are two things that make Kona great. The first is the caliber of athlete and seeing what “a finely tuned human machine” looks like and amazed how fast they can race. The second is the “pomp and circumstance”. Most of the smiles and fun come from the scheduled events, such as the “athletes parade” and “underwear run”.

Every serious brand sponsor is also present. The streets are lined with banners, exhibitor’s tents or temporary rented retail space. Free shirts and samples are everywhere. For one week, Kona is “Ironman Mecca”.

Aside from the “Brand Sponsors” there is the week long schedule of events. There is the “Parade of Nations”, the “Underwear Run”, the multitude of exhibitors at Ironman Village (many more than any other NK Ironman) and the Pre and Post Ironman banquets. Not to mention all the other “private” events hosted by the Brand Sponsors.

Even on training runs down Alli Drive, there are energy drink sponsors tents handing out free samples of their products, similar to an aid station on the race course.

For NK Ironman events, what they don’t have in “Brand Sponsors and as much expanded pre-race events”, they make up with it in “Ironman Enthusiasm”. Which I judge by the amount of “smiles towards each other, loudness of chatter and Ironman tattoos”.

At Kona, you don’t see many people “worried about the swim” or “struggling on the bike” or “walking the run”. What you do see is “highly focused individuals that are in their own personal zone trying to beat the clock”. Walking is definitely a sign of weakness and embarrassing, unless you’re older.

At NK races you see athletes engaging with each other more often during the race, “cheering each other on” or even “chatting with each other or the spectators”. You see “big people, little people, fit people and slightly overweight people and people struggling and hurting and persevering”. The spectrum of athletic abilities is much broader.

I’m not making a case for one race over another, that’s not my objective. My position is they are both “just different”. For the ultra-competitive and extremely dedicated, they may prefer Kona. For me, “I like to visit, but don’t need to live there every year”.

I get as much, if not more joy from doing NK Ironman events. With that said, I think every Ironman who is not capable of qualifying, at one point get a chance to experience Kona.

If I were in charge, I’d implement the following changes. First off I’d increase the race size from 1900 to 3000 and keep the same lottery ratio. I think it’s a nice mix and doesn’t water down the quality of the event.

The second change I'd make is allowing only previous Iron Distance race finishers to apply and thirdly, if you got in on the lottery once, you’re not allowed to apply for the lottery ever again. The idea is to “make room” for the people who have never been.

I’d also make a rule that if you applied for 10 years straight and were never selected; you get to go, or somehow are given even better odds.

I DO like the idea that Kona is the Ironman World Championships where the “best of the best compete”. Besides being the birthplace of triathlon, I think the “superior” competition is the key to keeping the “mystic and exclusiveness” of Kona.

Personally, I don’t need to go every year. If I was to script my visits, I’d like to go every four years, just like the Olympics or World Cup. That way, every time I went, I’d be in a different age group and not Kona for granted.

My feeling is a NK Ironman does NOT take a backseat to Kona. They are just different experiences and I could do a NK Ironman every year and if given the choice, I’d rather do Kona once every 4 years.

However, with that said, if I qualified again and if I had the “money and time”, I’d probably go to Kona as often as I could.

If I'm lucky enough to qualify again, I'll race it hard.

No Training – Kona Recovery and Travel Day

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