It’s official. With two weeks until triathlon’s big dance slated for Oct. 11, spandex and compression gear have become the fashionable new black. From bike tights to sleek running tops to polka-dotted speedos and neon-compression socks, there’s no escaping the lean, muscular bodies sporting minimal threads that have begun to parade around the streets of little K-town.
It’s official. With two weeks until triathlon’s big dance slated for Oct. 11, spandex and compression gear have become the fashionable new black. From bike tights to sleek running tops to polka-dotted speedos and neon-compression socks, there’s no escaping the lean, muscular bodies sporting minimal threads that have begun to parade around the streets of little K-town.
And the big-name drops have begun as well. Sightings of top professional triathletes have descended upon the island early — Craig Alexander, Luke McKenzie, Natasha Badmann, and Terenzo Bozzone to name a few — for a last chance to enjoy the quiet waters of Kailua Bay and soak in the laid-back island vibes before the mass convergence of endurance athletes begins.
It’s Ironman — and over the coming weeks the world’s best of the best long-distance triathletes will call Kailua-Kona their home. “Welcome athletes” signage and sponsor banners will go up around local businesses marking the beginning of a complete transformation — of life on Alii Drive as we know it — into a world championship venue like no other.
Even Kaiakeakua Beach will get a complete makeover and sport its Ironman nickname — Dig Me Beach – a favorite locale for media and photographers wanting a closer look at all of the action. But for athletes, it’s a place to see and be seen, and an opportunity to size up the competition before the cannon booms just after dawn on race day.
But no need to fret, there’s still plenty of time to join in and be part of the most-talked about triathlon in the world. Whether you are a diehard spectator or volunteer, Ironman plans to offer a parade of fun events during “Ironman week” promising to keep just about everyone entertained.
Local event organizers have also jumped into the spandex spirit with the Hawaii Cycling Club providing a timely aerobic engine check with another one of their signature time-trial events.
Saturday’s Out N Back individual training time trial featured a 22.2-mile leg burner heading north from West Hawaii Veteran’s Cemetery, making a U-turn at Waikoloa Beach Road, and ending with a sprint finish at mile marker 86.
Neutral weather conditions helped Volcano’s Todd Marohnic rip through the course in a blazing time of 53 minutes and 53 seconds, for an average speed of 24.72 miles per hour. What was more incredulous, Marohnic skipped his warm-up and volunteered as “time starter” for 23 riders before hopping onto his bike, becoming the first volunteer in HCC history to outright win an event.
In second was Dave Burger stopping the clock in 57:01, Peter Buehlow in third at 57:22, the always-consistent Adam Ankrum in 58:31, and rounding out the men’s top five was Tim Wiley in 58:56.
Kym Kiser easily won the women’s race in 59:56, with Pamela Harlow adding some zest into her Ironman training with a second-place finish of 1:09:08, and Tammy Huckasun in 1:21:53.
With Kona being one of the most beautiful and challenging venues in the world to host a world championship event, along with a plethora of local multisport races to choose from, it’s easy to see why Kona has become every athlete’s dream of training and racing in paradise.