In the morning, swim...the main attraction! I think swimming's hard work, monotonous, and not much fun (and the lane lines eat my fingers) BUT in Hawaii it's irresistible! I never want to stop... it's warm, clear, buoyant (I actually float like a real swimmer), and, best of all, mesmerizing by the spectacular view of coral ledges and living seascape moving below me. I spot a sea turtle for the first time!

Stop by Chet's, one of the leading island massage therapists. Chad Hawker introduced me to him last year. Chad's red Kestrel is out front, I get to catch up with him. He tells me of his 3rd place finish 5 days ago at the duathlon world championships in Japan! He got a chance to talk with the winners about what it means to them to win, his input was surely insightful to them. Keep glorifying God, Chad!

Saturday, registration.

Get my number, timing band, and turn in run gear. Hang out with fellow triathletes from the mainland and hear list of race rules. So great to have these racing buddies here, we know each other's goals and love of the sport and it's make us all try harder. Familiar faces of Chad Hawker, John Dougery & his dad, John Keating, Trisha Roads, Mark & Marco, Muddy Waters, Jim Grant and Christine Heilman, Tracey Gleason, Cheri Poff, Mike & Marty Greer (race directors for Buffalo Springs Triathlon), Todd LaBerge & Cristin Reichmuth (doing her 2nd half Ironman after 1 year of triathloning), Kevin Kennedy and Ed, John & Shari Lauer, and Randy "The Animal" Caddell (wheelchair racer, just finished Ironman California a week ago!)

I make a pasta dinner in my little kitchen and get a good long sleep...

Sunday, Race Day

My race goal is to qualify for the Hawaii Ironman, Oct 14th. There's 3 slots, instead of 4 my last time here in '96. I was 4th then with 4:27:37 but it's harder now and I think a 4:19 is needed. I think I could better my 1:34 run leg by 9 min. But I'm also going to try pushing harder on my bike since I've been feeling better on it. I'm really not sure of much, except to keep my focus on God, seek His guidance, and be joyful in Him no matter what.

The Competition

I only know about 9 of the 95 in my age. Jim Grant, he's tough, but off-n-on. A top swimmer and runner. Just won my age group at Wildflower by 5min! Surely guaranteed a spot here. Brent Imonen, 4 time winner and course record holder here. I think he's "pro", but I'm not sure. Ryan Huckaby, back from a bad crash, but just took 10th in the pros at Wildflower, but not sure if he's officially "pro" again. I don't even see him at the start area. Mark Cosgrove, he's faster and faster due to a new top coach, Muddy Waters. He just beat me in a run race but last week I was able to beat him in a sprint triathlon.

It's a mass start so we all get to race together. There's 4 others, not in my age group (thank goodness!), that I'll be focused on during the race. Chad Hawker, won overall here last year and gets to wear #1 (In the body marking line I noticed it saves a lot of time when they only have to draw "1"s all over you). John Dougery, won his age group last year, he's a total hammer on the bike and loves the Hawaii heat, but I can usually get out of the swim before him. Kevin Kennedy, fellow teammate (we're wearing the same yellow/black suit), just qualified in March in New Zealand with a 9:45 Ironman, he's a faster runner and he's just gotten much stronger on the bike. And Marco Campagna, a much faster swimmer & runner (like Jim Grant), I often finish within a few seconds of him at triathlons, but he's also being newly coached by Mr. Waters.

The Swim

We wait for the 6:30 start while floating in the warm water, stretched across the bay, out beyond the sharp corral. John, Chad, and Kevin are nearby. Horn sounds! Good start. Behind a good fast group. Now they're closing in. A fist hits my face. 1 goggle is twisted. I can't see straight and run into more swimmers just to get beat up some more. Panic starts to set in that my race is going to be ruined, but I hear God's teachings to "persevere" and not lose hope easily. I kick hard, that gets 'em off me (I hope one of them wasn't John). I quickly stop and fix goggles. I swim wide, spot a yellow suit and jump behind. Is this Kevin? Man, he's swimming good. Struggling to stay close. His feet kick in front of my face, through the clear water I look for the Ironman tattoo on his ankle. I see a tattoo, but it's a different one, not Kevin's. The ocean floor drops away and the swells pick up. We turn back after .6 miles. I feel smoother but can't see the buoys in the bright sun, so I head into it and follow "tattoo man". Volunteers direct us through the coral, onto the beach. Scampering through the bustle I hear the cheers above my heavy breathing. I see Chad jumping on his bike so my 31min swim was pretty close to target.

The Bike

I grab Daniel (my bike) and take off with a push from a volunteer. I had taped my food to the frame to save a few seconds picking it up. But in transferring it to my back pocket I drop my power bar! Can't go back. Will get more food at the 5mi aid stations. Wow, 26mph along Alii Dr feels great! My intent is to push harder then ever on the bike and maintain for the run. Passing many bikes. From 50th to 30th. But I've got to be top 10 for a chance at a slot. Muddy is on his scooter "Where's Marco?", I ask, "He's WAY up there!". I hope to catch him before the run. It's hot. Pouring water over me already. I see Christine Heilman. I spray water on her as I go by (I hear her words of past telling me "relax, Troy"). I'm averaging 25mph. I see leaders coming back. Jim's in 4th. Chad 6th. I'm 22nd. I keep asking for food. Aid stations aren't handing any out. Kevin catches up to me. And a pack. We work off each other and leave the pack behind. I yell to the volunteers across the road "Do you have food?! Please have it ready". I loop at the turnaround and swing by..but they're still empty handed! I eat my only GU (was saving for later use) Pushing into the wind now. I catch Marco on his new Calfee. I need to eat more. I'm getting desperate. We're pushing harder than ever. I know it will be miserable on the run if I can't eat. At 38mi I grab another water...and then I see her... a volunteer holding a single orange wedge! Food! 25mph, already holding a bottle in my right hand, I reach towards her. Snag! Caught between my 3rd and 4th fingers. Amazed & thankful, I pull it towards my mouth, my lips touch it, then it drops. Sudden despair sweeps over me... and then again I feel God's comforting, "you did what you can, now be still and trust me" and I actually feel relieved and push on. Kevin & another guy keep attacking. Wind getting strong. Muddy rides up on his scooter, "How you doing, Troy?". "Great. But I need food". He rode ahead and talked to the aid station... and there it was, a PowerBar held out for me! Yum! Kevin makes an attack but I feel great now and surge, keeping both of them behind me as I race jubilantly through the spectators in Kailua town. Coming into the transition at 2:54 (a 2:22 bike, 24.3mph), it's announced that I'm in 15th. Perfect!

The Run

In 36 secs I'm in running shoes, loaded up with Gu packets, and out before the others in transition. Mile 1. We climb immediately. Now is where the heat gets bad. I expect Kevin and the others to catch me soon, but instead I catch runners ahead that look totally wiped out from the bike. Mile 2. I keep drinking, pouring water over me, and putting ice in my hat early on. I think about my great run at Wildflower. It gives me confidence. Chad is leading out of "The Pit" and looks great! Jim is 8th. It's hot and steep down here. I'm 10th and feeling really positive and remembering to keep smiling. Mile 3. Back up the hill, I get to see those behind me. They don't look happy. John tells me I'm doing great. This is a boost! It's hard to believe I'm ahead of him. I don't see Kevin anywhere. Mile 4. Downhill! By all the spectators. Right on 6:30 pace. Feel great. Mile 5. I start eating GU's every 2 miles and continue drinking. We now run down 'n back on the rolling hills of Alli Dr. Mile 6. I'm falling off pace, getting too hot, I can't see anyone ahead to catch. But then a bike goes by and tells me Jim is up ahead and slowing. I have a new focus. Then I see him. On the grade near my studio, a stretch I practiced on before the race. Mile 7. I know he wants a slot as bad as me. But I'm not happy to see him struggling, he's a 6:10 runner going about 7:30 pace. Something must have gone wrong. I'm in 9th and pushing hard for the turn-around, figuring, even if I slow down later, the sooner my competition sees me coming back the less they'll think they can catch me. Mile 9. On my way back. Feeling better actually. Terrific seeing friends coming the other way telling me I look strong, even though I feel like you could push me over with a finger. But it boosts me. And I set my sights on a runner way ahead. He drops his hat. I'm feeling so confident, I ask them to give me his hat so I can give it back to him. I couldn't believe I said that. How cocky to think that I'd just run up to him and give him his hat as I run by, taking his slot he was trying so hard to get. And I haven't even gained on him in the last mile. Guess I was looking for motivation to have to catch him. The spectators kept the hat anyway. Mile 10. He's really tough! Still not gaining. 7:10 pace. Mile 11. Now 7:01 pace, I pass another guy in the process.

Mile 12. Down to 6:22 pace and I finally catch the shirtless guy in front of me. Strategically, I tuck in behind him and try to regain some strength. I see his anxious glances behind to see me. With .5 miles to go, I power by as hard as I can. I do tell him he's doing good as I go by but I also try to break his optimism quickly by getting out in front. He frantically charges with me. I push harder. There's no way I could hold this pace but try to get just far enough ahead that he gives up... and he does, his steps slow back down and I ease back, too, or I'd collapse before the finish. Mile 13. I ran a 5:59! I finish 6th overall in 4:21:08. My run, 1:26:38, was 6th fastest. I'm so excited and thankful for God's grace and closeness! A prayer, and then friends, other racers, supporters...the excitement of the finish.