Hawaii Ironman 2012 - Race Report by Mitch West

Prior to this year’s race, several people asked me how I hope/expected to do on the Big Island.  They asked me what I thought my finishing time would be.  My answer was always the same “it depends on what the day brings me.”  While you know it is going to be hot, humid, and windy; one does not know just how bad it will get.  This being my 3^rd year racing, I certainly had some idea what to expect.  My Tuesday/Thursday early a.m. crew had been teasing me (and rightly so) about my “acclimatization efforts” prior to this year’s race.  You see, in my mind, this race is primarily about one thing—your ability to “handle” the elements.  You may be the best athlete in the world, but if you don’t manage the elements, it won’t matter.  Since it begins to cool off in the Northeast in September, I needed to do all I could to simulate hot and awful.  That meant biking and running in and outdoors dressed like Nanuk of the North.

I am very pleased to report that my swim in one of the most beautiful places on earth was largely uneventful.  Physical?  Yes.  Choppy?  Yes.  But I did not get kicked in the head and I found many different wonderful pairs of feet to draft off.  In fact, I never found a buoy in the first 1.2 miles and I rarely ever lifted my head out of the water to sight.  Feet were in front of me, so I followed (and drafted) them.  We hit the half way at around 30 minutes and change so I knew I was on course for a one hour (ish) swim.  More of the same on the way back to the pier as things spaced out some and the crowd thinned out.  I came out of the water in 1:03:41 (62^nd in my AG), slower than the previous 2 years, but not by much, and it was certainly choppy so I was feeling good.

In T2 I took an extra couple seconds to put on what I consider a critical piece of equipment for this particular race.  My beautiful Hincapie race kit is comfy, breathable, and feels fast.  What it does not do, is protect my shoulders, upper back, and arms from sunburn.  For that, I wear a product called DeSoto Cool Wings, which is white and covers  my arms, shoulders, and upper back.  For the next 128.2 miles, I made it my job to keep my entire body, arms and shoulders included, wet in order to facilitate cooling and keep my core temperature down.  On the bike, I stayed well “within myself” for the first 40-50 miles, keeping my HR in check and letting lots of folks buzz right on by me.  Ironman and ego do not go well together.

Once I banged the right and began the 18 mile climb to Hawi, I began to pick it up ever so slightly, but remained under control.  Thank goodness, because as we got higher up the wind started to absolutely howl.  Not a straight headwind, but at about 45 degrees to our right, coming down off the volcano.  At one point I began to laugh as I SLOWLY moved buy a guy and told him “this is what we came here for!”  These strong winds made the descent from Hawi nice and fast and a good place to pick off some folks.  I’m heavy enough and comfortable enough at high speeds that I need to take advantage of some of this free time.  Then, a right back onto the Queen K, more wind, and keep battling to T2.  My bike split was 5:16:13 (21.25 mph), and I had now moved up FOUR whole spots on the bike for 58^th place.  6 minutes slower on the bike than 2012, but a tougher day in my estimation.

Into T2 to put on my Newton’s, and it’s time to put up or shut up.  In my opinion, the next 10 miles were, by far, the most important of my race.  The run begins with an out and back on the famed Ali’i Drive.  The best Ironman athletes in the world are ready to go-- and they GO.  Once again, I must have been passed by another 50 people in the first 10 miles.  My plan— run 7:30-7:40 pace for the ENTIRE race.  My buddy Chris Giordano rode alongside me (on a girls cruiser) and gave me splits and distracted me as we maintained a conversation.  Those that were BLOWING by me were “on pace” to run a 3 hour marathon, or better.  If you can do that, I don’t belong in the same race as you!  I had a sneaky suspicion-- most, if not all of them, would blow up.  Sure enough. Once we climb Palani Rd., take the left turn, and are left for dead out on the Queen K, the race would drastically change.  No breeze, no relief, no crowd—just internal dialogue and it’s time to tell the truth.  Did you hydrate?  Did you keep your temp. down?  Did you go too hard?  Did you get enough salt?  Calories?  Reckoning time.  Over the next 16 miles, I managed to pick off 27 guys in my AG (and 125 people overall).  I ran to the half-way point at mile 13.1 in roughly 1:40, and returned in 1:42.  That’s about as even a split as you will find in an Ironman marathon.  While I certainly hurt like hell and had to dig very deep, I definitely saved something for the final 10K.  Walkers and plodders litter the road at this point, and so a 7:45-8:00/mile pace feels blistering!  Psychologically, passing others is a HUGE boost and confidence builder.  Finally, right turn on Palani where I am out-kicked in the finishing chute by a tiny woman named Danielle (the entire crowd was cheering her to wax me—and she did!).  No matter, euphoria always follows this finish line.  Run split, 3:23:04, 7:45/mile pace.  Final time, 9:51:14—31^st in my AG (my highest ever), and 271^st overall (my highest ever).  I finished a whopping 8 seconds slower than in 2010, but given this year’s conditions, I definitely consider it my Kona PR.

Huge thanks to Rick and everybody at TargeTraining.  Huge thanks to my Tuesday/Thursday crew at TT Greenwich that inspired me with their own accomplishments all season long.  I am blessed to have incredible friends to train and race with and a loving family that puts up with all my BS so I can continue to act like a kid well into my forties.  And now… first guy to gain 20 lbs. wins!!