The aroma of bacon and Portuguese sausage sizzling on the grill alongside scrambled eggs and white rice, permeated the air at the Kailua Pier during Saturday’s Inaugural BioAstin Swim, Run Biathlon & Breakfast.
And all that stood in the way of hungry participants and the mouth-watering temptation awaiting everyone at the finish line was a meager 400-yard swim in Kailua Bay and 2-mile sprint on Alii Drive.
The best part? All proceeds from the fun event went to support a local group of young athletes – the Kealakehe Waverider Triathlon Club.
“We always try to support our local community because they do so much for us,” said Agnes Prehn, Director of Sales for Nutrex Hawaii. “We work with a lot of local companies and we work with the high schools as that is very important to us.”
Prehn, who is employed with Nutrex Hawaii, producers of BioAstin and Spirulina for the last 17 years, said the idea to put on the inaugural event came from Waverider Triathlon Club advisor, Kristin Old, and Nutrex Hawaii’s Eddie O.
“Both came up with this idea and BioAstin really wanted to help support these kids toward having a healthier lifestyle by getting these kids started at a young age,” she said. “And that is very important to us, making sure these kids are headed in the right direction.”
With Prehn’s passion to improve the lifestyle of our island’s youth through BioAstin’s on-going support with various local events in the community, came an epiphany toward taking a closer look at making the needed changes in her own life.
“I started doing cross-fit with Alika Hoomana, a little bit of running, a little bit of biking and it all came together,” Prehn said. “I’ve changed my diet and I just see the difference in myself with the amount of energy that I have. Total weight loss for me is about 60 pounds. I went from being 215 pounds to 155 over the last seven months and I feel like a different person – it’s amazing.”
Prehn says that BioAstin’s support toward community events sends a message that is loud and clear.
“Take care of your body, you only live once so make sure you are healthy and happy.”
Saturday morning’s clear blue skies and tranquil waters was a pleasant change from recent storms wrecking havoc in West Hawaii. Quick to the front of the 400-yard swim was former Hawaii professional triathlete, Tim Marr, followed closely by Kealakehe High School swimming standout, Madeline Foo.
Marr, who is expecting his first baby with his wife next March, recently retired from the sport of triathlon earlier in the year and is currently working full time with Nutrex Hawaii as a sales manager in Oahu.
Although Marr was able to extend his lead from the swim with a quick transition and headed out on the 2-mile run in first, in hot pursuit were professional triathlete Bree Wee, David Wild, and Keish Doi.
Out on the hot and steamy Alii Drive, Marr’s lack of fitness and training began to show as Wild took over the lead – eventually winning in a stellar time of 14 minutes and 34 seconds. Marr hung onto second at 14:53, with Wee topping the women’s podium with her time of 15:10.
Fourth overall and 3rd place for the men went to Doi in 16:15, with Anita Leao and Sara Bloom rounding out the women’s podium with their times of 17:46 and 18:23 .
“It was super fun,” Marr said. “It’s something we’ve been brainstorming for the past couple of years of wanting to put on a fun race, find a good charity to support, and just make it a big community event. This is where my heart lies – in small community events, old school style, not a massive production, with friends and family all having a good time.”
Marr said that although he’s no longer a professional triathlete, promoting health and wellness in the community through his work with BioAstin is something that he’s become passionate about, and it is just as fulfilling as his professional race career.
“A lot of times with being a triathlete, you are waking up everyday and focused on training and racing and it can be a real selfish lifestyle,” Marr said. “Although I loved every minute of doing it, I feel like I’ve done it long enough and now this is my opportunity to give back to help promote health, a healthier living and diet, and not just to athletes, but everyone in the community. With this position that I have with the company, it’s a perfect fit for me.”
Marr added that he feels adamant toward promoting an active and healthier lifestyle to younger generations by offering fun events that will get them off the couch and outside to play.
“I notice that kids who are active and physically challenging themselves at any level are more confident in everything that they do,” he said. “I did the Waikiki Rough Water (2.4-mile) Swim when I was just six years old, and so I have my dad to thank for that. He brought me up to always have fun, be outdoors, go surfing, and just enjoying everything outdoors and that’s how I was raised. So I feel like now it’s my turn to help others do the same.”
Mauna Kea Training Time Trial
While BioAstin Biathletes played in the waters of Kailua Bay, enjoying the cooler temperatures up on Saddle Road were participants of Hawaii Cycling Club’s inaugural Mauna Kea Training Time Trial.
Eight cyclists decided to test themselves over the 6-mile climb that began from the bottom of the Mauna Kea Access road and finished at the Visitors center – a total of 2,500 feet in elevation gained.
Taking a break from his Waverider Triathlon Club duties happening down at the Kailua Pier was Malik Mariano, who pedaled his way up to the top in first with an impressive time of 42:39 – an average speed of 8.16 mile per hour. While Kym Kiser, was once again the only female in the bunch, and finished with a great time of 50:43.
Run for Hope
On Sunday, the action switched to the fleet footed at the Four Seasons Resort at Hualalai for the 18th annual Run For Hope 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash & Run.
The annual race was part of a spectacular weekend filled with first class events that included a Taste of Hawaii Island culinary event on Friday, a golf tournament on the Jack Nicholas designed Hualalai golf course, s tennis tournament on Saturday, and Sunday’s Run For Hope – all to benefit cancer research.
Male and female overall winners for the 10K division were Kenneth Stover and Taylor Carroll. Stover blazed through the 6.2-mile course in 38:12, while Carroll stopped the clock at 44:22.
Zafir Abou-Zamzam was the only athlete to break the 20-minute barrier in the 5K event and finished in a great time of 19:28. For the women, Nicola Rodrigues topped the division with her time of 25:21.
Peaman Biathlon
Meanwhile, churning up the waters at Kaiakeakua Beach were biathletes who gathered for The Wee and DLT Whirled Pea’s Biathlon that featured a 3/4-mile swim and 3.9-mile run.
To the surprise of many, was a bright orange 40-inch swim buoy bobbing in the water to mark the swim turn – a generous donation given to the Frozen Pea Productions event by Jan War, the IRONMAN World Championship Swim Director. The donation was arranged through Bo Pardau who, along with his wife Jamie, has provided water safety for Peaman races for many years and is also IRONMAN’s Kayak Water Safety Coordinator.
Taking advantage of sighting the new and bright orange swim buoy was Konawaena’s teen speedster, Cody Ranfranz, who easily claimed his fourth Peaman Biathlon title of the year with a time of 44:58. Anita Leao decided to do a “biathlon double” by improving her runner up finish the day before in the BioAstin Biathlon with an overall female Peaman win in 50:58.
Taking the short course 200-yard swim and 1-mile run victories were Pea Wee veterans Raka Barrett and Lainey Eckart. Barrett finished with an impressive time of 10:30 with Eckart just over a minute back in 11:35.
It was certainly an amazing weekend packed with fun events, some benefiting local charities, yet all benefiting the community through encouraging healthier, happier, and more active lifestyles.
Coming Up
Saturday: O Kau Kakou presents the second annual Ka‘u Coffee Trail Run ½-marathon, 10K and 5K trail runs on Wood Valley Road in Pahala. Start time is 7 a.m. with morning registration/packet pickup available from 6-6:30 a.m. For more information and registration fees visit okaukakou.org.
Saturday: Hawaii Cycling Club presents the Out N Back Training Time Trial at the intersection of Kaiminani Drive and Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
Sunday: The 5th Annual Bieni 5K Fun Run & Dog Walk begins at the upper campus of Hawaii Preparatory Academy.