Why Keep Going Back to Honu?

I participated in Ironman Hawaii 70.3 (aka Honu) on May 31^st this year for the sixth consecutive year. There are currently 72 Ironman 70.3 races (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run) associated with the World Triathlon Corporation’s Ironman brand; I keep coming back to this one. There are Ironman 70.3 races at other alluring vacation destinations like Cozumel and St. Croix; I keep coming back to this one. Why?

It’s definitely not for the run! My coach, who has done this race more often than I and has even won the race outright, gave me this pre-race advice for the run:

“Just keep telling yourself that the heat will end but feeling good about your race result will not - so keep chugging along. Once you hit the road and do the out and back fingers in the lava fields - keep moving and running - just don't stop running. HR is through the roof, body is miserable and pace is out the window - just keep running and getting closer to the finish line. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE PAIN AND HEAT END, IS BY GETTING TO THE FINISH LINE AND YOU DO THAT BY RUNNING, NOT WALKING!! This is a hot and VERY hard run. Keep surviving. There is no reprieve and it just is hard - keep drinking and keep drinking..”

It was oddly comforting to know that my coach felt this way about the Honu run. Every year during the run I say to myself “I’m never doing this race again!” and “Why would anyone want to do the full Ironman here?” It is just so…HOT, HOT, HOT. Then I cross the finish line, cool myself off in a beach side shower of cold water, take in the atmosphere and think “well maybe I should do it again next year and see if I can do better on the run...”



This portion is actually steeper than it looks!

The run course is fairly difficult to describe. About half of the 13.1 miles meander around on a golf course alternating between a squishy thick carpet of grass on the fairways, slightly more solid grass golf cart paths and concrete paths in the steepest areas. The other half is on asphalt roads that run through lava fields. These halves are not first and last half, rather the course goes from golf course to road - to golf course to road - back to golf course. Did I mention that it is HOT? The only shade on the run is when the golf cart path goes through tunnels under a couple of roads. The tunnels provide shade but the air is still and stifling hot. It’s difficult to get into a running rhythm with the changing surfaces and the randomly intermittent steep little hills; especially when all you really want to do is walk and pour ice water over your head.
On the plus side for the run, there are plenty of very well stocked aid stations with fantastic volunteers. The numerous volunteers spend their day in the blazing hot sun and amazingly their encouragement and enthusiasm never waiver.  I’m repeatedly pleased by the abundance of cold beverages, cold wet sponges and ice available at the aid stations even during the later hours of the race.

I signed up for this race the first year because I wanted to experience a taste of what it would be like to race on the big island of Hawaii and ride my bike on part of the course of the Ironman World Championship (aka Ironman Kona.) The second year I raced to redeem myself from the first year. The third year I raced because it was one of only five half ironman races that were offering qualification slots for Ironman Kona. By then I was addicted to this race.

Ironman Hawaii 70.3 is in its 11^th year and is extremely well organized starting with registration and bike services provided on site by Bikeworks http://www.bikeworkskona.com/, which is a dream bike shop for a triathlete.  Registration, the bike to run transition (T2) and the finish line are all at the beautiful Fairmont Orchid Hotel http://www.fairmont.com/orchid-hawaii/ . The accommodations and amenities we have enjoyed in condos we rented at the Fairway Villas and the Kulalani have been luxurious and just a short walk to the Fairmont Orchid.

Shuttle service is provided on race morning from the Fairmont Orchid to the swim which takes place at Hapuna Beach in crystal clear warm water. I LOVE this swim! The water is clear enough that the bottom is in sight even at a depth of 70 feet. The swim starts in waves with the pro triathletes heading out first, followed by the men and then the women who start seven minutes after the men. The bike course is on half of the Ironman Kona course going from Hapuna Beach south to the entrance to the Mauna Lani resort complex, making a u-turn and heading north to the turnaround at Hawi (the same turnaround at Ironman Kona) and back to the Mauna Lani resort and the Fairmont Orchid hotel. The difficulty of the bike portion varies from year to year dependent on the intensity of the wind and the wind gusts. One constant is that there is always a head wind for the 18 miles after the turn at Kawaihae until the turnaround at Hawi. 

 

The run starts and ends at the Fairmont Orchid right on the ocean. The setting is beautiful and they know how to throw a party. There are Hawaiian dancers and music, lunch featuring hamburgers or chicken burgers, and three free beers for athletes. Greg Welsh (Aussie and Ironman Champion) provides commentary at the finish line and the award ceremony, with his witty and entertaining humor.  The competition at this race is fierce. The race attracts a high percentage of top age group athletes who are either looking to qualify for Kona or who are using it as a training race since they have already qualified for the big dance in October.

 

I can’t forget to mention that the Kohala Coast on the big island of Hawaii is just a great place to vacation with beautiful beaches and perfect weather. Sitting at the pool or on a beautiful beach sipping Mai Tais is a relaxing way to recover the day after a half ironman. This is one race location to which my husband actually enjoys going. So WHY NOT keep going back?