Every few years, smooth, calm and pristine ocean conditions combined with cooler temperatures of what normally is a sun-drenched Alii Drive, offer Peaman Biathletes the perfect occasion for some blazing fast times and yes, the possibility of setting course records.
On the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, athletes were presented with such an opportunity where three records were set at Peaman’s Post Pig-Out Peamania — a double biathlon consisting of a 1/4-mile swim and 2-mile run, racing first in a clockwise direction, and then doing it again in a “counter clockwise” direction.
Professional triathlete Chris Lieto holds the 2010 men’s course record with a stellar time of 35 minutes and 9 seconds. Since then, only Kona’s Luis De La Torre has come close to beating it, with an overall finish of 36:10 in 2011. Yours truly holds the women’s record with a time of 39:10, also set in 2011.
Yet this year, there was a different feeling in the air. Maybe it was the lasting euphoria from a Thanksgiving week filled with fun, multisport and running events. Or perhaps, overindulging in tryptophan added the much-needed zing and speed for the holiday season.
Whatever the reasons, just a few minutes past 8:08 a.m., a blur of white wash and bubbles filled Kaiakeakua Beach as athletes exploded out in excitement toward the 1/4-mile swim buoy.
Once on the 2-mile run course down Alii Drive, a tightly bunched group made up of teen speedster Cody Ranfranz, Florida’s Andy Farrell, relay runner Adam Ankrum, James Jamison of Indiana, Winona Chen and myself — all gunned it with hopes of minimizing lost time to one another before starting the second loop.
With heart rates soaring and the lactic acid burning through everyone’s legs and arms, the 1/2-mile swim for the second time felt like swimming through a wall of sludge.
After the clockwise and counter-clockwise double swims and runs were complete, 15-year-old Ranfranz proved once again that his 2014 winning streak is no fluke, claiming his fourth Peaman Biathlon victory of the year with an outstanding time of 37:33.
With every win he collects, Ranfranz continues to rewrite the record books and separate himself further from any other. Not only is Ranfranz the youngest victor in Peaman Biathlon history at age 14, he is also the youngest to have multiple Peaman wins. A pretty amazing feat if you ask me, considering the 27-year history of the event.
A few strides back was Farrell as he tried to keep it close, sprinting into second place at 37:40. Rounding out the men’s top three was Jamison in a great time of 38:01.
In the women’s race, I was able to better my 2011 record to claim victory in 37:52. Chen, who saved transition time by running in her swim cap and goggles, followed in second place at 41:46, with Sara Bloom not too far behind at 42:25.
In the Split Pea race, two records were set. The son and father duo of Aiden and Adam Ankrum knocked off the 2011 family relay record of Melissa and Jason Brawell’s time of 38:45 with their combined time of 37:52. While Aimee Kolman and Jacky Vega’s team time of 42:56 beat out Malia Lea Lea and Noelani Spencer’s 2011 record time of 45:00.
Max Masachia was the only individual to swim the double 1/4-mile course in 37:09, and Lava People 1 and 2 crossed the double 2-mile course in 58:42 and 58:44 respectively.
In the Pea Wee division, Lilo Fyrileiv completed just one loop crossing the finish line with her time of 12:24. Jillian Withrow was next in 22:30, followed by Elijah Hall in 25:42.
Archer Ankrum and Karen Bell teamed up to take the Pea Wee Split Peas title with their time of 15:26, Alex Duncan won the short course swim in 4:27, with Mike Schiff topping the 1-mile in 8:08.
Saddle Road 40K
At a much higher elevation of 6,500 feet, the Hawaii Cycling Club hosted its last race of the year, the Saddle Road 40K team training time trial at Mauna Kea State Park.
Although Saturday’s race began with chilly temperatures hovering just below 50 degrees, a spectacular sunrise followed by clear blue skies over Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, made participants feel as if they were viewing the island’s most awe-inspiring natural attractions in high definition.
Five teams made up of 3-4 riders readied themselves to tackle 24.8 miles of varying winds and hilly terrain at an altitude that can cause one’s lungs to burn.
First to cross the finish line in a phenomenal time of 1:04:50 for an average speed of 22.30 miles per hour, was team Kiser Works — Don Baldassari, Richard Bell, Kym Kiser, and Harry “The Hammer” Yoshida.
Just 12 seconds back at 1:05:02 was the Eastside Gang made up of Mason, Patey, Escobar, and Hosley, with The Flying Nones (Lumbads, Erickson, Simon, and Nathan) in third at 1:14:54.
In fourth place was the youngest team — 808 BANG3R$ — made up of Kealakehe High’s trio of Brandon Franco, Thunder Frost, and Malik Mariano who pushed themselves to a respectable finish in 1:31:41.
And the last team to cross was the Wheelin Wonder Duds (Heady, Greenleaf, Garret) in 1:42:00.
With the Hawaii Cycling Club putting a cap on a fantastic season filled with 10 training time trial events, you can bet next year will provide more of the same kind of fun, free, and invigorating challenges.
