The individual time trial has long been regarded as one of the most challenging disciplines in the sport of cycling.
In terms of competitive cycling, it is a different type of race specifically designed to test every aspect of a rider’s physical and mental fortitude. Cyclists race along a course of a predetermined length, typically featuring flat to rolling terrain, or sometimes up steep gradients of a mountain.
But what separates this race from all other cycling events is the isolation factor of the rider. Cyclists start individually and at equal intervals that can range from 30 seconds to two minutes. This is a race where team tactics, drafting off another rider, and any outside assistance are strictly forbidden. Cyclists compete against only one competitor – the timing clock.
In the world of cycling, it is known as, “The Race of Truth.”
On Saturday, the Hawaii Cycling Club hosted its most popular event of four time trials scheduled for the year — the Prologue.
The 10-mile point-to-point race began just after the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport intersection on Highway 19, with riders heading north and finishing near the scenic point lookout.
“This race has been going on for at least 15 years,” said event organizer, Tom Solis. “I think people are attracted to this race because for one, it’s short, and two, it’s the beginning of the season. People can come out and just push hard all the way through. They don’t have to worry about having to get off their bikes to start a run like they would need to do in a triathlon.”
Solis added that the Prologue was initially created because the Big Island lacked racing events between the months of December and March. Athletes desperately needed a bike race to help them prepare for the upcoming Lavaman Olympic Distance Triathlon.
While the Prologue was calendared for February, the cycling club then added a second race — a 12-mile time trial called Kua Bay in March. The two races combined became staples throughout the years for those training for Lavaman.
“It’s difficult because you are going almost all out the whole way,” Solis said of The Prologue. “At longer distances, you have to pace yourself a bit more. But for a 10-miler, you start out at almost your top heart rate and you hold it for 10 miles. That’s what makes it so hard.”
There were 21 riders who turned out to test themselves against the clock and were treated to cool overcast skies and a slight headwind.
Keauhou’s Penn Henderson was the first rider out on the course to grit out the fastest time of the morning, finishing the 10-mile race in a time of 23 minutes and 13 seconds, with an average speed of 25.84 miles per hour.
“I knew today was going to be challenging and a bit of a wake-up call in regards to my current level of fitness,” Henderson said after crossing the finish line. “I had my doubts about being able to do well, but somehow squeaked it out. There’s five weeks until Lavaman, so I will try to get some consistent training in beforehand.”
Ben Torres followed in second place for the men with his time of 23:29, with last year’s champion, Volcano’s Todd Marohnic in third at 23:57.
Making an impressive comeback to the race scene after tearing his Achilles tendon last July during a triathlon race was 16-year-old Caleb Barville. The Kealakehe High School junior finished fourth overall in a fantastic time of 24:03, just two seconds ahead of Michael DeCarli’s time of 24:05.
In the women’s race, Laupahoehoe’s Jennifer Real won her first Prologue Time Trial crown with her time of 26:40. The 39-year-old physician, who practices general and internal medicine in Hilo, credited her strong performance to indoor training rides and utilizing a computer bike program called Zwift.
“I’ve been doing a lot riding and racing on Zwift and I got into it after last year’s Sea to Stars race in August,” Real said. “I just wanted to see how much better my cycling has gotten as well as my power since doing all this Zwifting.”
Zwift is an online cycling and running program that enables users from all over the world to interact, train or race together in a virtual world by riding their bicycles on “smart” trainers in their own home.
Through Zwift, Real competes against other top female cyclists from around the world. Her effort has enabled her to win a stylish Canyon cycling jersey, and most recently, an all expenses paid trip to the mainland to do a live Zwift race in April.
And after six months of riding on Zwift, Real was stoked to obtain a new FTP (Functional Threshold Power) from her efforts in Saturday’s time trial.
“FTP is the power output that you should be able to sustain for about an hour,” she said. “And usually it’s estimated based upon 95-percent of your 20-minute power. So I’m really happy.”
Lynette Noble finished in second place with her time of 33:45, with Toni Romp-Friesen in third at 38:10.
Next up for Hawaii’s cycling community will be the Dragon on March 11, followed by the Hawaii Century Ride on April 8.
DeCarli Dip &Dash
Brenda Avery has been coming to Kona with her family since she was 12 years old.
Tired of bundling up during the cold, dark winters of Anchorage, Alaska, it soon became an annual family Christmas tradition in Kona to soak in the much welcomed warmth and sunshine.
“I love Hawaii,” Avery said with a bright smile. “I’ve been coming here since I was 12 but it wasn’t until last June I decided that it was time.”
Once making Kona her home in June, Avery has been a dominant force in all local open-water swimming events.
Some of her more notable performances include topping the 50-54 women’s age group at the King’s Swim and Kukio Blue Water 1.2-mile swim races, and outright winning the women’s solo (non-finned) division at August’s Alii Challenge – a grueling six-mile open water swim race from Keauhou Bay to Kamakahonu Beach.
Ironically, as fast as she is, Avery shared she dislikes racing.
“I don’t like racing at all, it makes me nervous,” said the 52-year-old retired middle school counselor. “But I think Peamans are fun. It’s a community event and people are so nice here. It’s not about signing up and getting awards, it’s not so competitive that way. It’s just a lot of fun.”
And swimming will always be her passion.
Avery has been dabbling in the water since she was 5 years old, but quit at age 17 due to feeling burnt out and ended up missing out on swimming in college.
While she competed in a few marathons and sprint distance triathlons, Avery said she returned to swimming Masters in her 30s, and more recently, began taking part – and winning the popular Peaman swim-run events.
Avery said she had a plan before partaking in Sunday’s DeCarli Dip &Dash that featured a half-mile swim in Kailua Bay followed by a 3.5-mile run on Alii Drive.
“I always want to get out with the lead group and with the kids,” Avery said of the mass swim start. “So I decided to swim with Aiden (Ankrum) because Duke (Becker) wasn’t here today and I usually like to swim with Duke.”
Avery’s plan worked perfectly as she was able to draft off of the fast feet of Ankrum for most of the way until he sprinted away from her on the way back to the beach.
By the time Ankrum — a relay swimmer — and Avery reached Kaiakeakua Beach, their strong swim splits gave them a huge lead from the rest of the chasing field.
“It’s pressure,” Avery said of being in the leader’s position on the run. “Because I’m not so much of a runner, I know that there will be people just wanting to reel me in somewhere along the way. But I just tell myself that I need to do the best that I can.”
Avery was just a half-mile from the finish, in great position to pull off yet another win to add to her growing collection of three biathlon women’s titles, when 16-year-old Josiah Randerson zipped past her.
“I just couldn’t hang on, he was too fast,” she said.
Randerson went on to win his first Peaman Biathlon event of the year, with Avery following behind in second, and first in the women’s division. The dynamic brotherly duo of Aiden (swim) and Alec (run) continued their dominating streak as they topped the Split Peas relay division.
Sunday’s win was just another stepping stone to help boost Avery’s confidence for her upcoming debut at the 2018 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships from May 10-13.
“I’m getting ready now for nationals,” she said. “Steve Borowski talked me into going. I will be doing distance swimming events, the butterfly, 200 fly and 400 IM. I can’t wait.”
Editors note: The Peaman results for Sunday’s DeCarli Dip &Dash were not available at the time this column was submitted to West Hawaii Today. Individual times and overall placing can be viewed when the results are published in WHT.