Hawaii Ironman 08/02/2012

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Hawaii Ironman World Championships
1996    Finish of 95 Ironman    1998

The Ultimate, The Big One, The Triathlon Pinnacle, The Kona Kahuna, The World's Toughest 1-Day Event
In 1995 I stood on Ali'I Drive with a broken elbow and watched in awe as Mark Allen and Thomas Hellriegal did the impossible. And I learned the seriousness of the risks the leaders take as I watched Paula Newby Fraser struggle helplessly on the pavement with the finish line in sight.
    Pictures: Paula, Thomas, The Start
In 1996, with the words "Must Qualify" etched on my retina, I went to Keauhou Triathlon and gave it all on the course. I was awarded 4th place and a prized ticket to the Ironman!
     See the Keauhou Results and Race Story
On October 26th, 1996, I lined up at the swim start of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, surrounded by hundreds of the strongest athletes in the world, and calmly started the longest and final step of my Ironman dream.

See partial results and picture of swim start

In 1997, I took off from running to mend damaged sesamoid bones in my feet.  In August I started training again with my Epic Bike Ride for 1998 Hawaii Ironman.
98teamsoares.gif (19090 bytes)My plan for 1998 was to qualify on the mainland (at Buffalo Springs Lake, Desert Sun Half Ironman, or The MetRx Triathlon).   And to show God my appreciation for healing my injuries, my focus was to let each person who asked about Ironman know that my strength comes from God.
I qualified at Buffalo Springs and headed to Kona with hopes of breaking 10hrs!

On October 3rd, 1998, I walked down into Kailua Bay for my 2nd Hawaii Ironman.  2 days earlier I was baptized in these same Kona waters.  Now I was relaxed at the line of the start of the 20th Anniversary of the Ironman World Championships.   My friend, Kevin, was experiencing his first Ironman Dream.  This time around I was stronger... but so were the winds... read the story
"Survived 50mph winds and nauseous stomach at Hawaii to be 21st Californian and 301st overall"

Sitting 1999 Out.  In order to be in top shape for the next Hawaii Ironman, I'm waiting until 2000.  But I look forward to watching some friends race the 1999 event.  It will surely motivate me for the following Y2K year!