Kona qualifiers 10+hours

[more 25]

So was just thinking-there are a heap of people who race Kona and finish well past 10 hours, heaps actually went 15 hours plus. How did they qualify, don’t you need to place well in your age group.

 

Or are they all lottery winners, just had a bad day...? 

[RunBrettRun 1,959]

Older age groups, some female age groups as well as people who dont hit the race in "peak" condition.

Also a lot of sponsor spots and legacy/lottery.

[goughy 2,956]

There are hundreds who do Kona without qualifying!  Let alone those that have a bad day!

[Peter 2,338]

56 minutes ago, more said:

So was just thinking-there are a heap of people who race Kona and finish well past 10 hours, heaps actually went 15 hours plus. How did they qualify, don’t you need to place well in your age group.

 

Or are they all lottery winners, just had a bad day...? 

About 600 people this year wont have qualified. Then also anyone over 50 most like won’t break 10 hours. 

Or and Kona is farking hard. 

[Ex-Hasbeen 5,733]

I was probably fitter for Kona than my qualifying race. I had a poor race strategically and went nearly 50 minutes slower. I think if I'd raced smarter I'd have still been 15 minutes slower.

[dazaau 90]

Kona is definately hard. Not many Ironman PBs in Kona! Pro times are longer too.

[FatPom 3,776]

In theory, the best AGers at Kona should be those that KQ'd at IM Wales. They have 13mths to prepare without pressure.

[Ex-Hasbeen 5,733]

6 hours ago, FatPom said:

In theory, the best AGers at Kona should be those that KQ'd at IM Wales. They have 13mths to prepare without pressure.

Though totally different conditions. If you have any issues with the heat (real heat and not what you pommies call a heat wave  ) you'll be found out. That was my only saving grace, that I spent our Winter leading up to it in Nth Qld.

Edited Friday at 08:00 PM by Ex-Hasbeen

[FatPom 3,776]

19 minutes ago, Ex-Hasbeen said:

Though totally different conditions. If you have any issues with the heat (real heat and not what you pommies call a heat wave  ) you'll be found out. That was my only saving grace, that I spent our Winter leading up to it in Nth Qld.

Yeah, 'cos no Brit has ever done well at Kona

[Peter 2,338]

43 minutes ago, FatPom said:

Yeah, 'cos no Brit has ever done well at Kona

Bang 

[Cranky 1,196]

My qualifier wasn't under 10 hrs.

I finished 3rd in my AG.

I went slower in Kona on purpose. I didn't push myself and I enjoyed it. I knew I would not be back again. When I race hard I don't remember the race. I didn't want that to happen with this one.

[Ex-Hasbeen 5,733]

48 minutes ago, FatPom said:

Yeah, 'cos no Brit has ever done well at Kona

I didn't think we counted the women's races here?

[FatPom 3,776]

24 minutes ago, Ex-Hasbeen said:

I didn't think we counted the women's races here?

We're gender neutral these days 

[Cranky 1,196]

1 hour ago, Ex-Hasbeen said:

I didn't think we counted the women's races here?

 You'll keep........ 🤣💪

[dazmuzza 56]

People just racing hard enough to qualify then just taking it easy at Kona?

[AP 2,030]

Kona is a hard day for anyone - the conditions can change from day to day - most other IM races are 20min faster than Kona

My best in Forster was 9.55 at 45yrs - best in Kona was 10.20 at 51yrs 

I don't think any Brit who ever did well in Kona trained in GB - it's also pretty easy to have a bad day in Kona, no matter how well you have prepared - everyone is entitled to one bad day over there - fortunately I have had mine 😏

[willie 1,144]

23 hours ago, dazmuzza said:

People just racing hard enough to qualify then just taking it easy at Kona?

A few people I know struggle with the commitment of the second race and actually do less for the bid dance than what they did to get there. 

[Ex-Hasbeen 5,733]

3 minutes ago, willie said:

A few people I know struggle with the commitment of the second race and actually do less for the bid dance than what they did to get there. 

Especially Southern hemisphere where it means getting out at 4am all Winter. I suppose with all the smart trainers these days it's not as bad, but it was a real long slog for me getting out in there all Winter, after my hardest season of training.

[BarryBevan 731]

2 hours ago, Ex-Hasbeen said:

Especially Southern hemisphere where it means getting out at 4am all Winter. I suppose with all the smart trainers these days it's not as bad, but it was a real long slog for me getting out in there all Winter, after my hardest season of training.

winter in brisbane🙄

[Greyman 405]

Kona is so 2011!

It's a race between Trump and the banks to see who will cause The IM world champs to move.

[Ex-Hasbeen 5,733]

19 minutes ago, BarryBevan said:

winter in brisbane🙄

When you've grown up riding in lovely warm weather, having to ride at zero or sub zero hurts.

I suppose you lot would complain running at lunchtime in 30+. I used to love that.

Edited Sunday at 04:27 AM by Ex-Hasbeen

[softy 157]

7 hours ago, Ex-Hasbeen said:

Especially Southern hemisphere where it means getting out at 4am all Winter. I suppose with all the smart trainers these days it's not as bad, but it was a real long slog for me getting out in there all Winter, after my hardest season of training.

But if you were the cashed up, serious contender triathlete type, wouldn't you do your last training block in Thailand or Malaysia before jetting off to Kona?

[Ex-Hasbeen 5,733]

Yeah, that could be the last training block (I did mine in Cairns as I managed to get sent there for a month with work) but you still have the rest of Winter to get out there in the cold.

[AP 2,030]

13 hours ago, Ex-Hasbeen said:

Yeah, that could be the last training block (I did mine in Cairns as I managed to get sent there for a month with work) but you still have the rest of Winter to get out there in the cold.

The difference between a "good race" in Kona and surviving it is 70% mental - this doesn't just happen on the day - it's built a little with every cold morning when you really don't want to go out in the dark - every session you did but really didn't feel like is an investment in your day in October - the more you invest - the bigger the pay day in October 😎

[MissJess 475]

I was thinking the same thing last week with the ITU sprint distance, plenty of finishers around the 1h30+ mark. That is considered toward back of the pack at the Hills races  I had a look. Mostly older age groups, or people from countries who did not have every man/woman and their dog trying to qualify.