This event will go down in History for so many reasons.The first Women's Only Kona, Lucy Charles breaking the Course Record, Anne Haig breaking the Run Course Record, 100% Swim Course completion, and an amazing 98% of Competitors finishing the race. The highest finishing rate in the history of the race. I am elated for former Pro Triathlete @jessjonestri from Tulsa to take the win in my Age Group. Her journey to get here after 16 years is something special. And I am grateful that my Liza Coaching athlete @msultra70 first Kona was successful and a solid race.
For me, after finishing on the Podium in my previous 5 IM World Championships and overcoming any obstacles encountered on race day, I had my first Kona where I struggled to maintain just 85% of my normal pace on both the bike and the body did not have normal sensations on the run. After the energy lab I knew something was about to be very wrong, even though I stayed positive knowing one foot must go in front of the other in order to finish I was forced to walk often. I was desperately grabbing potato chips or broth to get sodium, the muscles in my neck, arm and then my legs began to cramp which limited my efforts. I'm anxious to determine what went wrong but I had been dealing with some odd sensations from GERD (struggled to eat in general outside of training) in the past few weeks and possible electrolyte imbalance even before race day.
The physical preparation for this race was one of the best I have ever had. After winning my AG last year, my Coach Craig Upton formulated a plan that was based upon the same template, but with tweaks and improvements I was able to train with a relaxed mindset. I had a few small set backs around a shin injury that I took 4 months off from running and a conservative return to training post COVID in July. I was able to train in Boise with my friends Kristin and Sarah, Erin @mfeg and my husband Jono. The last few workouts I did with athletes in the Bay Area which was a highlight.
