Lavaman Waikoloa 2012 Preview

A week before the race, we decided to practice the entire triathlon. We started a little late, so the wind was already up, and it was extra windy. I had just got off work and met them in Waimea. Chris was kind enough to swap with me so I could ride down with Winona. We were in good spirits and embracing the hard day awaiting us.

The water was murky and choppy but wasn't enough to slow us down. Winona pushed even harder to keep up with Ken, who can easily keep up with me in fins. We didn't waste much time and rushed off on our bikes.

I usually stay with Winona on the bike and try to guide her, but she's improved and was keeping up so Chris and I planned on playing catch up to Winona, Brian, and Ken. I told her to try hard to learn how to grab her water bottle during the slow parts like hill peaks and take sips often. A few minutes in, Winona's bike computer dismounted so she had to turn around to get it fixed. Luckily, Chris and I were taking our time prepping our bikes/gear. We started together and took off into the wind. Chris was gone in no time. My legs/gluts were feeling it from a run three days prior and squats the day before. I couldn't push. Winona had just taught spin/brazilian jump the day before, so she didn't get any rest either. She was right on my tail. We planned on riding to the 89 mile marker, but all did different distances. Ken and Brian were out first, realized the course was shorter and turned around at the 87 mile marker. Chris who was gaining on them, calculated that they couldn't have gone to the 88mile marker, turned around at the 88mm. Winona used her computer, and turned around at half the course distance. I just thought I was being slow, turned around at the 89 and hated myself for it. It felt like the wind had changed directions on us and were facing a headwind the whole way. On the way back, the wind had picked up and we were crawling up hills into it.

I was defeated and was out of the game. When I got back, the rest of the group were anxious to start running. We loaded the biked back into the cars and took off on the hilly, partly-trail run. I kept Winona company for the run. I couldn't really go much faster anyway. 1/4 mile in, she started feeling side-pain but ran through it. She told me she didn't drink at all on the ride and chugged 20 ounces of water as soon as she got back. She gave me an earful about how I forced her to race, buy a bike, with not enough training time. Her body was aching and she didn't believe she could finish the race. Everyone knows her as the cardio Queen. She had to do well. I tried to give her positive support but eventually got fed up with the negativity. We eventually got it together and finished about 4.5 miles of the run. She would later remember how she felt at this moment and how she pushed through.