Chrissie and Kona 4.0
Chrissie Wellington was about to enter Dig Me Beach for a little warm-up swim when she hugged a journo and consented to a short impromptu Q&A on the eve of her quest for a Paul Newby-Fraser-tying fourth straight Ironman Hawaii victory.
Slowtwitch: You've only done three races this year — Kansas 70.3, Challenge Roth, and Timberman 70.3. All wins, some record times. Are you still recovering from your January 2 bike crash and broken arms?
Chrissie Wellington: Yes, three races. But I have to remember that I have additional commitments now. And some of those have to replace races. I have sponsors that support me, and to them I have obligations.
ST: Any other factors?
Chrissie: I do a lot more media now, and have a lot more obligations, so something has to give. I have to be respectful of how much travel and how much of a toll that takes on me. If you answer every request, you end up doing something every weekend, photo shoots every weekend. You can't do that. Unfortunately for me, you have to cut the racing down a little bit.
ST: Has the rest from competition helped you?
Chrissie: I think breaking my arm earlier this year was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Because it forces you to put things in perspective. It forces you to change your routine and of course we are creatures of habit so to change your routine is a challenge. It was something I had to deal with.
Most important, it enabled me to get a handle on my strength and conditioning and things like that.
ADMIRER, LOOKING AT HER MUSCULAR ARMS: Look at those guns!
ST: Mark Allen said that he had three extraordinary efforts in his career where he tapped the deepest wells of his life energy. He wondered if your effort breaking Paula's record at Kona last year and the 8:19 at Roth weren't two of those life force-tapping moments? He surmised that perhaps you might not have recovered from Roth.
Chrissie: Last year Mark Allen said that I was too lean to be able to perform at Kona. Obviously Mark is so experienced. he knows what he is talking about. But every athlete is different. I prepared as best as I possibly can for this race. I feel stronger than I ever have going into this race.
ST: You don’t feel depleted from Roth at all?
Chrissie: I recovered from Roth the best I ever have. Even though it's the fastest time I've ever done. I think the race that depleted me the most was Ironman Korea. The very first one, which I backed up 5-6 weeks later at Kona. So no, I've had three months to recover from Roth and I definitely took it a lot easier after Roth this year than I did last year. Last year I came back quickly after Roth. This year I have been really sensible.
Also my run training has changed slightly and that's manifested in faster run times. That's where I hope to make the gains this year.
ST: What will be different in the women's race this year?
Chrissie: I think though the dynamics of the race are going to change this year.
ST: You may not be the first woman to T2, even though your 4:36 bike split at Roth was the best in women's Ironman history by far?
Chrissie: I may not. I haven't changed my strategy — which is to go as hard as I can as long as I can, of course. But it is in my mind I need to be able to accept the fact that I may not be in the lead going into the run. I have the utmost respect for Julie [Dibens] and the other girls. Keep in mind she is not the only strong cyclist. There are many other strong bikers out there.
ST: So what will be the key to the women's race?
Chrissie: A lot is going to come down to the second half of the bike and the marathon this year. If you go hard on the bike, it comes back to bite you on the butt. in the marathon. It's just about being consistent in all three.
ST: Do you feel at all that things are a little less new, a little less exciting in your fourth go at Kona?
Chrissie: No, no! the feelings never abate. I love this sport. I love pushing my body and I lobe being able to share it with my friends and family. No. It's great to be back. The magic of this island never abates for me. It gets even stronger.
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