In the early 90s, Big Island’s running scene boomed at an all-time high in popularity and quality across all distances. Our island boasted some of the most unique and highly sought after races, attracting competitive runners from across the state and beyond to compete against our island’s best.
The Volcano Wilderness Runs, Waimea’s Mana Road run, Honaunau’s Mac-A-Thon and the Hilo to Volcano 50K Ultra-Marathon were a few of the more popular events on the island penciled into everyone’s race calendars.
Here in Kona, the Competitive Edge 10-Miler became the “must-do” race for local athletes seeking bragging rights on Alii Drive’s scenic course.
“Originally this event was in April, like it is now, and it was named after the Competitive Edge running store in town at the Kona Inn Shopping Center,” multisport enthusiast Peaman said. “After five or six years this event got dropped and (Frozen Pea Productions) picked it up. Back then it was a really competitive 10-miler with guys running really fast times.”
Peaman added that the original intent after revitalizing the event in 1995 was to have a competitive 10-miler leading up to the Keauhou Kona Triathlon — the State’s only qualifier into the IRONMAN World Triathlon Championships in October.
“Since the Keauhou Triathlon was in May, a 10-miler in April fit real good,” he said. “So this is still a good half-iron training run for Honu, and be able to get a good 10-mile run in the heat. And then I later added the shorter runs to honor more of our friends.”
Peaman decided to rename the nostalgic event to the Carboman 10-mile Mosey, in honor of Craig Leeper, the Road Runner 3.5-mile Romp, after myself, and the 1-mile Mighty Mouse Scamper, honoring Linda Jane Kelley.
“It just carried on a tradition of an event that got canceled very much like how many of these races nowadays have carried on,” Peaman said. “We traded off our July triathlon into a swim and run, and now Team Mango puts that on with the Trashcan Triathlon. And like our Thanksgiving Triathlon is now held by the Kiser’s on Thanksgiving weekend.”
This year’s 21st annual event was once again highlighted by Kona’s picturesque weather conditions with clear-blue and sunny skies setting the stage for some fast race times.
In the 10-mile event, Kailua-Kona’s Patrick Stover established a swift pace as he took the early lead leaving Keauhou’s Michael DeCarli, Dan Gampon, Adam Ankrum and Ben Halpern in the chase pack.
As the race progressed and temperatures began to rise on a sun-drenched Alii Drive, Stover began to fade after the 5-mile turn leaving DeCarli an opportunity that he had been patiently waiting for.
“I was in second place at the turn as Patrick had a huge lead all the way out,” DeCarli said. “I knew I was good as I had him within a 25-second range. After the turn I saw that he was not picking up the pace and I felt that I still had plenty left in me. So I decided to set the pace near mile 6 and just kept my pace going while he began to fade.”
DeCarli, who was diagnosed as a borderline diabetic last year, has been on a mission since then to improve his health by cleaning up his diet and shedding some weight.
On Sunday, his persistence toward a healthier lifestyle certainly paid off as being leaner and more in tune with his body has resulted to faster running and triathlon times — and now — his first Carboman 10-mile victory in a fabulous time of 1 hour, 4 minutes and 59 seconds.
“Wow, I knocked off nearly 6-minutes off my time from last year,” DeCarli said. “There was no real plan today, it was just go out there and try my hardest. Every race I do I just do my own race. I was thinking a 6:45 mile pace would have been great — ended up doing a 6:25 so I was very happy about that. I stayed very consistent with every mile being within 5 seconds of my run pace goal.”
Gampon, who trains regularly with DeCarli, also improved upon last year’s sixth place finish by knocking off nearly five minutes to finish in second at 1:06:13. Rounding out the men’s top three was Stover – February’s Turtle Trudge champion — in 1:06:49.
Waimea’s Esra Lynch, who used the event as a training run for June’s Kona Half-Marathon, won the women’s division in a great time of 1:32:25. Katie Rice followed a few minutes back in second at 1:36:34, with Cecilia Woodbury claiming the final podium spot with her time of 1:39:05.
The Road Runner 3.5-Mile Romp witnessed Peaman Biathlon phenom, Cody Ranfranz, tearing up the scene with a speedy 6:10 pace per mile to take the overall win in a new course record of 21:34. Ranfranz’s amazing time eclipsed Ziggy Bartholomy’s 2013 record of 21:54 by 20 seconds.
The race for second turned out to be a good one between Helgi Olafson and the three-wheeling Henderson trio of Cole, T2 and myself. Olafson decided to make his move as we approached the final straight away to sprint past my baby jogger to finish in 25:25.
My trio finished just one tick back in 25:26 and first for the women’s division. Jenny White was next in 26:03, followed by men’s third place finisher, Craig White, in 26:04. Recent Mac-A-Thon 5K winner, Laura Ankrum, claimed the women’s third spot with her time of 28:09.
In the short 1-Mile Mighty Mouse Scamper, Ankrum’s two sons, Alec (12) and Aiden (10), had an exciting race for first with Caleb Westfall, Jr.
By the half way turn near Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Alec, who has been training with the Lavakids How to Run 101 program since January, had already established a comfortable lead over the other two.
As Alec sprinted in toward the finish line to defend his title from last year, he threw out the “shaka” sign and smiled to spectators sitting on the sea wall, finishing with a fantastic time of 6:21.
In second place was Westfall, Jr., in 6:52 with Aiden Ankrum right on his heels in 6:59.
Not too far back was the top female, Lilo Fyrileiv, in a great time of 7:35. Keakoa Pintor followed in a few strides back in 7:44, with Alana Mast in third at 12:00.
“It was really special today as this was the first event we’ve had in many, many moons since my dad wasn’t here,” Peaman said. “This is the first one where I had to walk down to the pier and not see him standing there on the corner. But I feel so blessed that we are able to put on these events especially when I see so many people walking away smiling and having a good time. I especially like seeing how the kids are so excited about the toys we give out at the end of the race. I think it’s a great incentive to get these kids out and be active, and they make their parents stay and be part of the whole thing. It’s a great day for the whole family.”