ED’S LETTER
Kona. The big race, on the big island. Whether you’re a seasoned age-grouper or just considering your first ever race, there’s something about that name that pricks up the ears and sends a shiver down the spine – and whatever way you look at it, the Ironman World Champs event in Hawaii showcases the very extremes of our sport. It’s the place where the bikes are shiniest, the kit most aero-specced, the athletes most photogenically suited to running up and down wearing nothing but a pair of pants (and if you’re wondering what I’m talking about here, google ‘Ironman underpants run’ and prepare for your eyes to be assaulted!). Admist all the lava, sweat and gears though, it can be easy to forget that underneath it all, Kona is still a triathlon. Competitors take on the three disciplines and battle with exhaustion, heavy legs, bonking and swiftly unravelling race plans just like the rest of us do. There are highs and lows, PBs and DNFs, dreams made and shattered.
So in this year’s race report, we decided to take a slightly different tack and look at what you can gain from studying the performances at this year’s event. Believe it or not there are pro athletes who found their races didn’t quite go as expected – and we asked what you can learn from them. There were also those who did better than they hoped, or defied the odds to compete – and their stories are included in the hope of adding a little iron inspiration to your winter training. Finally, we asked three age-groupers to give us their insight on how to achieve a Kona place and train for the brutal conditions to be found out there. Turn to p38 to find out their thoughts!
However, if you need more inspiration to train through the winter months than even Kona can provide, then our performance section from p91 is the perfect place to start. Inside you’ll find swim, bike and run sets with adaptations for all abilities – as well as a training plan to help you structure your training. Follow the advice in this issue throughout the next few months and who knows, you could find yourself lining up for the big race yourself in 2017!