For most, Hawaii conjures up images of an island paradise, a place to go for rest and relaxation.
But this was the hardly the case on Oct. 10 for two Squamish athletes who took part in the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
The course is known for its hot, dry weather, so both Kevin Pickard and Martin Caron had some idea of what they were getting into. Still, the conditions were extreme, with the heat coming off the pavement at a temperature approaching 50 degrees Celsius, making the run portion extra-gruelling.
“It was just brutal,” Pickard told The Squamish Chief on the phone from Hawaii. “I ended up doing the funky chicken.”
If the running portion was where he “kind of blew up,” he was far from alone.
“I’ve never seen so many people walking on the course,” he said.
The water leg was also more difficult than what he was used to, as the open water made swimming an ordeal, as did the prohibition against wearing wetsuits.
Pickard finished the race in 11 hours and 13 minutes, in roughly the middle of the pack for his age group. He was happy with his swim and rode a personal best on the bike, but the run proved difficult in the sweltering conditions.
For Caron, however, the water was the tough part.
“I’m not the strongest swimmer,” he said, adding that he also needs to improve his run. “Those are the two things I have to work on.”
He left the water nine minutes later than he had expected but was able to pick up time when he got on his bike. On that leg, he managed to pass 875 of the roughly 2,300 competitors at Ironman to move himself up and finish 566th overall. He clocked in with a time of approximately 10 hours and 20 minutes.
The event was difficult for many competitors, Caron said, as there were people hitting each other in the head during the frantic swimming leg.
Later, there was the heat. Caron had competed at an event in Cozumel, Mexico two years ago, which was difficult but nothing when compared with the heat and conditions in Hawaii.
“The winds can come from anywhere,” he said.
“Kona is definitely the biggest challenge I’ve had so far.”
The event was a learning experience. Caron said that in retrospect, he needed to cool down in the transitional periods between the stages of the race. Similarly, Pickard said his biggest mistake came during the transition to the run off the bike.
He would also rely on the nutritional resources provided if he did it again, instead of gulping down his own nutritional drink on the course, which he said “was almost like drinking really warm, spoiled milk.”
The two Squamish athletes qualified for the event after competing at the Whistler Ironman this summer, and if Kona proved to be an even bigger test, it was worth every paddle, pedal and plodding step of the way.
“It was a great experience. You’re here with the best in the world,” Pickard said.
