Well, what an incredible weekend for our sport.
You would have to have your head 6000 feet under to not know our sports biggest race was on the weekend, the Hawaii Ironman World Champs and boy, it did not disappoint. With so much talk about prep and favourites it is such an amazing part of the year when this day finally roles around.
I'm sure everyone knows how the race went, but just in case a short recap. Potts (surprise surprise (ex collegian swimmer)) led the boys out of the water in a slick 48.48. However the introduction of the new swim skin rules didn't break the front pack up nearly as much as some thought it might. Perhaps a sign that the pro's were more concerned about loosing time due to the new rules?
Onto the bike and here is where the decisive move was made - or perhaps not made?? Lieto as expected went out like a bat out of hell with an eventual 4.23, but the big moves came from Macca and Raelert, who put 8 mins into crowie by the start of the run.
From here it became an eventual ironwar between Macca and Raelert. With Macca running a 2.43 for the win, Raelert for a close second and Marino for a strong third. The champ Crowie ran an incredible 2.41 for 4th, he couldn't quite make up the time he lost on the bike.
Call it a bold statement, but i believe today's race has changed the future of Ironman racing forever, for the better. No longer is it safe to swim in the pack, ride the bunch and run away for the win. And before i continue i do not condone this as a bad way of racing, Crowie had a perfected Kona formula with a strong swim and a solid ride where he all ways rode his part, all ways backed up with an incredible run. Crowie is in fact my hero and i absolutely respect the way he races, however it seems as though things have changed.
Macca and Raelert today showed, that wow things are about to change. A ride off the front and a 2.43 marathon!? That is the kind of direction the sport needs to head. If you look at the history of the world champs, it is all ways won by a runner with a stupidly fast run split and a pack bike time or biker who breaks the group and holds on in the marathon, rarely, rarely do they win with a move like today. I am very excited for the future and can't wait to see where the sport heads. Where, we can't be exactly sure but i am sure it will be a positive direction.
As for my week/weekend. I was shattered mon-thurs, before i finally started to come round Fri. Just a lot of feeling sorry for myself, before i snapped out of it and got excited about continuing to plan my season :) after a week off (and a few more days) i am motivated again and am raring to go :) I spent a really good weekend watching big andy t race the sorrento challenge and the champion lakes duathlon, well done mate (videos and photos up soon). I also managed to spend lots of time with my girlfriend, which, i believe was good for the soul :).
Hopefully the next blog will be filled with more training related updates, so until then, stay classy :)
Markus
