With feelings of excitement and pure inspiration still flowing strong from watching the previous day’s action-packed Ironman World Championships, the morning after often bears witness to many motivated toward new exercise regimens and for a few others, simply a good ol’ race of swim-bike-run.
Nearly a dozen triathletes turned out for The Morning After Ironman Sprint Triathlon held on Sunday at Laaloa Beach Park. The 6th edition of the event featured a ½-mile swim, followed by an 8-mile bike ride on Alii Drive, and finished off with a 2-mile sprint to the Blue Church near Kahaluu Beach Park and back.
And with so many talented athletes in town over the last few weeks, one never knows who will show up on race day.
“It was pretty exciting to see Todd Buckingham return to defend his title,” said Team Mango Races event organizer Carl “Gecko” Koomoa. “We had a good little crowd and it turned out to be an exciting race.”
Buckingham was not only the defending champion, but also the 2018 USAT National Champion and 2018 ITU World Champion in both sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. At last year’s Team Mango event, the Michigan native set a new course record on a slightly shorter course in a sizzling time of 36 minutes and 31-seconds.
On Sunday, Buckingham easily separated himself from the field and again, claimed top honors with a fantastic time of 44:10. Kailua-Kona’s Peaman was next in 52:54, and followed by the Ankrum family of Aiden, Archer, and Adam with their times of 55:58, 59:15, and 59:30 respectively.
Ulrika Grenholm of Sweden claimed gold in the women’s division with her time of 1:08:30, with Austrailia’s Millie Cook in second at 1:12:01.
The relay division went to the team made up of Anita Henry, Denise Rhodes and Pam Miller with their combined time of 1:00:51.
“The morning after is really the best time to put on a triathlon as people are wanting to get into the sport after watching Ironman,” Koomoa said. “And while it can be a bit tricky to put on an event right after Ironman, I do it because I love it!”
Coming Up
Saturday: LavaKids will host their free Family Fun Runs on the Queen’s Lei Path of Ane Keohokalole Hwy fronting the West Hawaii Civic Center parking lot. Start time is 7:45 a.m. for the Keiki Dash followed by the 1-mile, 2-mile and 5K walk/runs. On-site registration will begin at 7 a.m. for both Keiki and Adults. For more information or to pre-register online visit lavakids.org.
Sunday: Team Mango Races presents the Post Ironman Sprint Tri at the Kailua Pier. Start time for the ¼-mile swim, 10-mile bike, and 2-mile run is 7 a.m. with onsite registration beginning at 5:30 a.m. For more information and registration details contact Carl Koomoa at 324-7252 or visit teammango.org.
Sunday: BioAstin train to the Big Island International Marathon 20K will begin at Bayfront Park in Hilo. Start time for the 20K distance is 7 a.m. For more information and registration details contact Bob Wedeman at biimabob@yahoo.com or visit hilomarathon.org