2003 Race |
Ultraman World Championships - EpilogueDay four of the Ultraman three-day competition is a day of celebration - a day to share stories, bask in the glow of all that has been accomplished, and begin carbo-loading for next year. The athletes and their friends all gathered for a gala dinner at the Royal Kona Resort on Monday night, dressed in their best lycra formal wear. Awards were given: first and second to Alexandre Ribeiro and Tony O'Keeffe. Woman's championship to Shnna Armstrong, who set a new woman's swim course record, and an overall time that was second best only to Tina Bischoff's 25:45 in 1989. The twelve finishing athletes received a engraved plaque of the Big Island, fashioned from Koa wood by former race winner Gary Shields. Rob Kasper was honored with the Last-One-In-Before-The-Cutoff Award, snatching this much sought-after laudation from the grasp of Cory Foulk. Gordo Byrn and Cowman A-Moo-Ha were given plaques for their own major accomplishments: crossing Friday's start line, and giving the competition their best effort. And then the stories began. Suzy Degazon told us she was planning to do the event for the next 10 years. Gary Wang said that doing Ultraman saved him thousands of dollars in psychiatrists bills. ÊLauren Fithian said that voluntarily assuming the pain of Ultraman reminded her of people in less fortunate circumstances forced to endure pain not of their own choice. Tony O'Keeffe painted an image of athletes waiting at the start line like someone having a needle pushed up their arse with a sledge-hammer - making us all wonder how he spent his time training for the race. Tom Rodgers reminded us of what makes Ultraman so special: an opportunity for friends and family to share and support the athletes through three days of noble effort. The most celebrated person of the day, of course, was Race Director Jane Bockus - bonne vivant, ultraplanner, organizer extraordinaire, volunteer coordinator, Ultramom. She'd pulled it off once again, gallant host of another World Championship. The next event on the schedule is a new Ultraman franchise in Penticton Canada, July 31 to August 2, 2004 (www.peachcityrunners.com). And then the 20th running of Ultraman Hawaii next Thanksgiving weekend, with special events and celebrations in the offing. See you there. Ultraman World Championships - Day Three ReportSunday morning greeted this year's Ultraman triathletes with a soaking downpour. We all put on our rubbers and headed out to the start line just West of Hawi, ready (if not eager) to start the day's festivities - a 52.4 mile double marathon from Hawi back down the coast road to the Old Airport Park in Kailua-Kona. The athletes gathered in a circle to share a prayer of good luck. The rain dissipated to the east, foreshadowing a dry and humid day. Virginia Isbell played the role of Ultraman rooster, blowing a great conch shell to welcome in the pale fingers of dawn, reaching quietly over the mountains. The runners' crews and race volunteers gunned their engines, ready to follow the athletes in quest of the finish line, a long, long way away. And then they were off! Alexandre Ribeiro and Tony O'Keeffe set off on a torrid pace down the highway. Lauren Fithian was the first woman out of the blocks, determined to make up the two hours that separated her from race leader Shanna Armstrong. Yoshihiro Chijimatsu was the best-dressed runner in the crowd, and Cory Foulk showed off his rippling abs in the warm morning light. Cowman A-Moo-Ha was the class act of the show, supported by a crew in a golden Cadillac. Alexandre passed the quarter way mark on a 6-hour pace, followed soon after by Tony. The beauty of the Kohala coastline, grass waving, waves leaping, hills rolling, was a relaxing contrast to the arduous toils to come. Up the hill from Kawaihae at mile 17, and things began to change. The Queen K. Highway was cloaked in a dense, cloying humidity, shrouding the lava rock and blowing grasses of the desert. But Alexandre and Tony continued to push the pace, relentless. Shanna Armstrong, ably coached by former winner and run-course record holder Peter Kotland, began to reel in the runners ahead of her. Parents Bubba and Karen Armstrong took pictures of her each time the van paused, showing her gliding along with apparent ease, while her unnamed pacer became more and more bedraggled in her wake. Fifty two miles is a long, long way, and extracted a more severe toll in the heat of the mid-day sun. A brisk wind increased its tempo from the south, seemingly trying to push the runners back to Hawi. The hills seemed to become steeper, the climate more humid, and the distance to the finish line a bigger and bigger challenge. Still, the mile markers went by, one by one, till the turn down Makala Boulevard to Old Airport Park. Floating down the last mile of the course, to Joe and Sharron Ackles's festive finish line by the seashore. Home, home at last, and a well-deserved reward for a busy Thanksgiving Day weekend. Alex and Tony were first across the line, winning the one-two spots for the day and for the competition. Tom Rodgers fought bravely to an 8-hour run time, to take third place overall. Shanna Armstrong glided to a fourth place finish, her best placing of the three-day competition, giving her the woman's championship. Marty Raymond, who supported Tony O'Keeffe last year, showed that he can do it too by rolling in fifth. Gary Wang successfully battled heat stress, crossing the finish line in just over 9 hours. Suzy Degazon had her best day of the competition, finishing seventh, followed by Lauren Fithian, Yoshihiro Chijimatsu, Jamie Patrick, and Rob Kaspar. As if there wasn't enough drama in the day, Cory Foulk decided that he'd flirt with the 12-hour cutoff time on the last day of the competition. As Hawaii's only entrant still in contention, his broad shoulders bore the hopes and aspirations of the whole state. His swim and bike splits on the first two days of competition were very strong, leaving a number of fellow athletes in his wake. So now, just for fun, he lingered up on the Queen K. highway, teasing us with a nervous and urgent anticipation. And then at last, there he was, with barely two minutes to spare! Tenth overall at a World Championship, his 8th successful Ultraman. So now we have two new world champions - Alexandre Ribeiro, and Shanna Armstrong. Both Ultraman rookies, both with much promise for the years to come. Monday night, the athletes, crew, and volunteers will gather in the fabulous Royal Kona Resort, to share stories and plan for next year. - - - - - - - - - -
Final results: (swim day 1, bike day 1, bike day 2, run day 3, total)
Distances: Ultraman 2003: Day Two ReportAfter a grueling six mile swim and 90 mile bike ride up to Volcano, the athletes in Ultraman Hawaii had revelry this morning at 5:00 a.m. Today was day two of the round-the-island triathlon excursion, and start time was 6:30. And the morning greeted our intrepid athletes with a dank, gloomy drizzle. But this gang still had plenty of spunk. Tom Rodgers led the charge down the hill, cashing in the well-earned potential energy from 4,000 feet of ascent the day before. In hot pursuit were Alexandre Ribeiro, Tony O'Keeffe, and Gary Wang, all eager to claim bragging rights for today's 171 mile bike race. Meanwhile, Shanna Armstrong and Lauren Fithian were the first women, pacing each other in close formation down the highway to the east coast. Along the legendary red road, a twisty turny one-lane drive snaking past the palm trees and leaping waves of the east shoreline. Back up to the eastern city of Hilo, as the sun broke gloriously through the clouds. Tom Rodgers gave up his role as rabbit, being passed first by Alex and then Tony. The vehicle driven by Lauren's support crew ground to a halt just outside of town. So in a spirit of Ohanna which is legendary to this race, Lauren's support was ferried first by Shanna's team, and then by Cory's On the coast north of Hilo, an enthusiastic tail wind urged everyone on towards the town of Wimea. A free ride. There was nothing for the athletes to do but run the spinnaker up the mast, lash themselves to the rudder, steer hard to port, - and enjoy the 30 m.p.h. trip back towards the west side of the island. First crater to the right, and straight on till evening. And soon they were there. Up over the Kohala mountains at 3,500 feet, and then a drenching descent to the day's finish line in Hilo. Alexandre Ribeiro had built his lead to almost an hour, with Tony, Tom and Gary al duking it out for second place. Yoshihiro Chijimatsu winding up another successful day in his quest for a 13th Ultraman plaque. And a full field of other athletes, all celebraing their own victories So what will tomorrow bring? The ultimate stage of this three day journey is the double marathon over the lava-strewn desert that embraces the road back to Kona. When we arrive at the finish line tomorrow, the circle will be complete. But many strange things can happen along the way.
Day 2 results: (swim day 1, bike day 1, bike day 2, total)
Distances: Ultraman 2003: Day One ReportFriday was race morning for the hardy and eager athletes in this year's Ultraman triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. The sea was eerily smooth, and one small cloud glowed like a UFO in the early morning light. Then 6:30 was upon us, and day one of the three-day journey around the island began with a quiet urgency. The gleaming fishes on the coral reef welcomed the swimmers along the way. Suzie Degazon got to play with a friendly family of dolphins, speeding her down to Keahou Bay. A large Portuguese man-o-war, feeling fuzzy and warm in the early morning light, spied a cute triathlete in sexy rubber pants, and fell instantly in love. But love should be a two-way thing, and Gordo Byrn was not in a mood to reciprocate. The embrace she held him in unfortunately ended Gordo day a little too early, sending him to the Kona Community Hospital with a rather nasty love-bite. But Race Director Jane Bockus had arranged for a generous current to shepherd the swimmers down to the finish line six miles away. PRs were set by several swimmers, including many-time ultraman Cory Foulk. Jamie Patrick, an Ultraman rookie, came out of the water first in 2:25. And Shanna Armstrong, Ultraman's youngest competitor, set a new women's swim record of 2:46, erasing the previous best which had held since 1989. The bike course held a breathless calm never seen before on day one. The severe cross winds usually holding force at South Point had blown themselves out to sea, taking with it the usual Big Island heat and humidity. Ulli Winkelmann remarked later that this year's results wouldn't count, because conditions were not as hard as they should be - as they were when he and your humble narrator did this race, a long long time ago. Quiet, Ulli. The climb 4,000 feet up to Volcano National Park is still not an easy one. But Alexandre Ribero made it look easy. 5:04 round the 90 mile uphill bike course, taking first place. Tony O'Keefe pulled into second, and Gary Wang hovered ominously in 6th place with the second fastest bike ride of the day. Shanna Armstrong continued on her winning way, building almost an hour's lead over the next woman. And everyone seemed to be having a good time. So now the athletes lie abed at Volcano, recharging their batteries for day two's 171 mile bike ride to Hawi. What will tomorrow bring? Hard to say. Jane Bockus has promised us that she will sweep the course ahead of the athletes, to make sure that there isn't another enraptured man-o-war, waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting cyclist. Race time for stage two begins again at 6:30, bright and early on Saturday morning.
Day 1 results: (swim, bike, total)
Distances: Ultraman World Championships set to beginThanksgiving Day was more than turkey and a day off work for the brave athletes set to start Ultraman Hawaii in Kona this Friday. Gathered for breakfast at the Royal Kona Resort, the athletes and their crews were briefed by race director Jane Bockus on conditions around the big island, as they prepare to begin their round-the-island three-day tour. Then last minute shopping, and planning, and packing, and plotting, on the eve of the most extreme long-distance road triathlon in the world. Sun sets early in Hawaii, leaving a few red strips of cloud in the sky, and a feeling of inevitability in the hearts and minds of the race competitors. Now they lie abed at the hotel, staring tensely at the ceiling in the dark, wondering what tomorrow will bring.
Distances:
Updates daily by Michael Schiff |
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