Peamania — the name says it all. It’s kind of nuts. A little swim, a little run. Then you do it again before calling it “pau.”
Sunday’s Peamania Biathlon event featured a double loop of both the long course, a ¼-mile swim and 1.5-mile run, and short LavaKids Pea Wee course, a 100-yard swim and .5-mile run, attracting biathletes from near and far to Kaiakeakua Beach.
“It’s just fun to change it up and make it a little different,” said Frozen Peas Production organizer Sean “Peaman” Pagett. “Even though its short, it’s the extra challenge of getting back into the water and seeing how it goes the second time around. It’s really about trying to keep your heart rate from exploding out of your chest.”
Peaman added that strategy is key when competing in Peamania as the short distances can be deceiving. Going out too hard on the first loop will more or less end your race before the second loop. The key is pacing, and, not leaving your swim goggles or running shoes back in transition.
“I was chasing the teenagers,” Peaman said. “And then when I jumped into the water for the second time, I realized I forgot my googles. It slowed me down a little but I still tried to chase the kids the best I could.”
Kealakehe’s Cameron Cornforth made quick work out of the double loop ¼-mile swim and 1.5-mile run, winning the Peamania title in a blazing time of 31 minutes and 26 seconds.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Cornforth said of finishing first. “I just came out for a quick, fun swim. I was really stoked that the distances were halved — I liked doing the double loop. I’m much more of a sprinter when it comes to swimming so using the first run as a bit of rest to recover and then sprinting during the second, I really enjoyed that.”
The 17-year old Kealakehe senior who recently finished his cross-country season and is currently gearing up for the first high school swim meet in December, added he wasn’t always in first place.
“Nathan (Coates) was way ahead of me on the first run,” Cornforth said. “I was in third place during the second swim and then I think I had a really quick transition and took over during the second run.”
Coates was the next individual to finish the double Peamania loop in a time of 32:03, followed by Aiden Ankrum in third (32:20), Archer Ankrum (32:39), and Peaman in fifth (33:53).
Fellow Kealakehe senior and cross-country teammate, Jada Keen, claimed the women’s division with her time of 37:35.
“I was really trying to catch up to the guys in front of me,” Keen said. “I just finished high school cross-country and we just finished States on Kauai about a month ago so I haven’t really run since then.”
Midge Kerr was next with her time of 45:56, followed by Marianna Assenholt in third (46:14), Heather Johnson (46:44), and Joanna Coates in fifth (49:59).
The LavaKids Pea Wee course also featured a double loop with biathletes competing in a 100-yard swim followed by a .5-mile run.
Kailua-Kona’s swimming phenom, Amelia Yamasaki, led from start to finish winning in a fantastic time of 15:27. Second overall and first in the boy’s division was Keauhou’s Cole Henderson in 16:54, followed closely by Byron Eads in third (second in the boy’s division) at 17:04.
Following Yamasaki in the female division were Hanna Mimde (19:05), and her younger sister, Norah, in third at 19:10. Gideon Tracy wrapped up the boy’s podium in third place (19:39).
Both Cornforth and Keen stated that it’s the “fun vibe” at Peaman events that keeps them coming back for more.
“The vibe is awesome, it’s fun, and everyone is super friendly,” Cornforth said. “I like that the vibe here is more about to have a good time than about the competition, and that’s what Peamans are really all about.”
Keen added, “It’s great, I really love the Peaman events. It’s free, they are really fun, everyone’s invited to do it, I love the vibe — everyone is welcome.”
For Peaman, it’s the participants who bring “the magic.”
“It’s probably because of everyone who is here. Everyone always thanks me for these races but for me I say, thank you, it’s your race, it’s not mine. It’s really everyone’s event — it’s their energy, it’s their mana, love, and Aloha. I think that’s the magic. It’s everyone combined. The more they realize that it’s their event and that they are a big part of it, the bigger and stronger that energy and magic becomes.”
Coming Up:
Saturday (12/10/22): The Hawaii Cycling Club presents the Big Island Time Trial Championships – the last cycling time trial event of the year. Start time is 7:30 AM for the 15.8-mile race that starts at the bottom of Kaiminani Drive on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy and ends at the Waikoloa Landfill. Morning registration will begin at 6:50 – 7:10 AM on Pukiawe St. off of Kaiminani Drive. Limited to 90 entrants. For more information on registration, volunteering and club fees visit hawaiicyclingclub.com.