Kona 09 – The Run
The Ironman Hawaii run starts in a windless steam bath during a 9-mile out and back along Alii Drive. This provides a handy opportunity for contenders to see how far they are ahead or behind when they reach the turnaround near the cozy little seaside place of worship called St. Peter’s Catholic Church. With a few places where the run passes open seashore, it’s also a magnet for photographers. Then the course climbs up the half mile hill at Palani before turning left and entering a six-mile stretch on the Queen K Highway which includes the beginning of the signature lava fields – although development has dampened the sense of magnificent isolation that still pervades the bike. Then they hit the 4-mile decent and climb out of the Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii which includes some of the hottest temperatures at a pivotal point in the race. It is also a second significant chance for runners to get a fix on the margins of lead or deficit – just hit your watch when you pass your rival and multiply it by two when you hit the turnaround.
The final stretch is a little over 10k to go. Just under five miles along the Queen K. At Mile 24, everybody knows that is the start of Mark and Dave Hill – the spot where Mark Allen made his move on Dave Scott in their epic 1989 Iron War. At the top of Palani, it’s about 1.2 miles to go. Down the steep declivity of Palani, left half a mile along Kuakini, right on Hualalai where Karen Smyers passed a reeling Paula Newby-Fraser in 1995, right on Alii at Uncle Billy’s (where Julie Moss and Paula stopped dung their meltdowns. Then turn right for a quarter mile or so along magical Alii Drive.
Photo gallery by Timothy Carlson
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Crowie runs to his second win.
More Kona 2009 images from Friday
Kona 2009 images from Thursday
Kona 2009 images from Wednesday
Images from the Parade of Nations
Chrissie Wellington set a Kona run record just a year ago with a 2:57: 44 last year on her way to victory. This year, Wellington made her winning move with a 4:52:04 bike, then ran 3:03:05 run while runner-up Mirinda Carfrae ran a record-breaking 2:56:51 marathon.
About Mile 7 of the run, Andreas Raelert caught Craig Alexander and they ran in tandem for the nest 9 miles until Raelert faded, slightly, to a 2:51:04 marathon.
While Raelert and Alexander were teaming up, 2007 winner Chris McCormack had biked to a 2:30 lead and held firm until he had a mini-meltdown at the top of Palani hill.
Pete Jacobs (8th place – 2:57:13 marathon) and Dirk Bockel (7th place – 2:57:41 marathon) are coming and going at St. Peter’s Church about Mile 4.5 on Alii Drive. They finished just 20 seconds apart
The 2005 Ironman Hawaii champion Faris Al-Sultan started the run in 4th place, ran 3:03:10 and finished 9th.
Al-Sultan’s fluid, muscular stride is a thing of beauty.
Normann Stadler had a 4:30:39 bike and started the run in position to go for the win.
But just a few miles along Alii’s steam bath heat, the 2004 and 2006 champion walked, and then pulled out.
Ironman Hawaii rookie Rasmus Henning of Denmark, a big factor in big-money races, might have finished better than 5th if he hadn’t broken his hand three weeks prior. Still ran 2:55:33 and finished fifth with eyes on 2010.
Andreas Raelert hit his stride early along Alii Drive.
Rasmus Henning looks good striding along Kailua Bay in front of Lava Java.
Terenzo Bozzone played it smart in his rookie debut, ran 3:02:46 and finished 11th.
Australia’s Luke McKenzie had an excellent swim and bike, but faded to 15th with a 3:06:19 run on a hot and humid day in paradise.
Australian Pete Jacobs ran 2:57:13 to finish 8th.
Brazil’s Reinaldo Colucci is just 24, so he will learn from an excellent swim and bike but subsequent fade to 21st with a 3:21 marathon.
Timo Bracht passed last year’s runner-up Eneko Llanos on Alii Drive. Bracht ran 2:56:27 to finish 6th while Llanos faded to 14th with a 3:05:02 run.
Chris Lieto may well be the best cyclist in the Ironman this year. But his eye is on the overall win, so he did a training stint with US marathon champ Ryan Hall at altitude in Mammoth California. At the end, Lieto’s 3:02:35 run fell just 2:35 short.
At this point of the race, Andreas Raelert and Craig Alexander had just passed Faris Al-Sultan and were 5:20 back of Lieto.
Chris McCormack just lost five minutes and his chance of a second win regrouping from a meltdown at the top of Palani. From this point on, he ran the fastest, held on for 4th place, and finished with a 2:55:58 marathon.
Timo Bracht stayed out of trouble on the bike this year and finished sixth with a 2:56:27 marathon.
