Over the past month, Kona’s Erika Larsen has been on a roll – enjoying life to the fullest while celebrating a few milestones along the way.
Larsen turned 18 years of age on May 1, graduated from Kealakehe High School on Saturday, and then hopped on a plane for a short vacation to Arizona the next day. And through it all, she somehow managed to adhere to a training plan in preparation for next week’s IRONMAN 70.3 Hawaii Triathlon.
As the youngest female competitor on the start list for Hawaii’s popular half IRONMAN distance triathlon event — locally known as Honu — Larsen says the butterflies have begun, all in excitement for a day of swim, bike, and run on her home turf.
“I’m excited but I’m a bit nervous. I don’t know what to expect,” Larsen said. “At first I wasn’t (nervous) because I did well at this year’s Lavaman race. But after riding to Hawi with my parents a few times, I realized that the bike course is really hard.”
Next Saturday’s Honu race will attract some of the world’s top age group triathletes and begins with a 1.2-mile swim in the beautiful warm waters of Hapuna Beach State Park.
Racers will then transition onto their bikes for a 56-mile ride along Queen Kaahumanu and Akoni Pule Highways as they climb toward the quaint town of Hawi before returning to the host hotel, The Fairmont Orchid.
From there, a challenging two-loop run course totaling 13.1-miles will wind its way through the grounds of Mauna Lani Resort, past petroglyph fields and ancient fishponds, over perfectly manicured fairways, paved roads and cart paths, then back to a well deserved post-race lawn party awaiting at the finish line.
Knowing there will be inevitable challenges that will arise on race day in addition to what is already considered a tough course, Larsen feels she’s ready to give it a go.
“I’m not afraid,” she said. “I’m going into this race with the best mind possible. I’m just excited to get it under my belt.”
Larsen credits her avid triathlon parents, Morten and Linda, for introducing her to the sport.
“They are really the ones that got me into triathlon,” Larsen said. “Back in Arizona they would always do triathlons. My dad has done IRONMAN Arizona twice (2012, 2013). So I guess I got my inspiration from them and they are also doing (Honu) as well.”
While being on the Kealakehe Waverider Triathlon team over the last two years has helped to develop her triathlon skills, her participation with high school wrestling this past season led to a transformation of her body into a leaner and fitter self.
“I’ve learned so much from being on the Tri Club,” Larsen said. “Basically, I learned everything I know from them and Mrs. (Kristin) Old. But I lost 30 pounds over four months from wrestling. I went from the 184-pound weight class to the 155-weight class. It was a personal choice of mine to lose the weight and I now I feel more fit.”
Larsen entered the triathlon scene last year and finished Lavaman Waikoloa’s Olympic Distance triathlon event with a time of 3 hours and 44 minutes. This year, Larsen crushed her old time with a new PR of 3:05:32.
Yet finding the necessary time to train for a distance that more than doubles that of Lavaman didn’t come easy for the recent high school graduate. Early morning runs between four to six miles with her mother before school became the norm, followed by longer swims, rides and runs scheduled over the weekend.
Larsen says that the swim has always been her favorite leg of the trio as it is what she’s best at, and running is a sport that she has come to enjoy as well. The bike however, still poses the most challenge.
“The bike is still very uncomfortable for me as well as my nutrition,” she said. “I’m not used to eating on the bike and I’m still trying to figure out what works for me.”
Luckily, Larsen has a few role models that she can turn to for advice and motivation.
“I look up to Mrs. Old (Kealakehe Waverider Tri Club advisor) because I’ve seen her transform over the last year with triathlon and she’s so humble about everything,” Larsen said. “Also my parents are definitely an inspiration to me, especially my mom. She’s always waving and smiling when she’s racing and encouraging everyone.”
With just three months away from starting college to major in Biology and Sports Medicine, and play for the women’s Rugby team at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri, Larsen says it will be meaningful just to cross the finish line.
“I’ll probably get emotional because it will mean a lot to me. It will show me how strong I am because sometimes I can get down on myself and think I’m not strong. But mostly, it will be very inspiring to know that I can accomplish something that I’ve set my mind to.”