Trudging along with Kona on their minds

27/01/2002

THE Ironman Langkawi Malaysia 2002 begins today at Dataran Lang in
Langkawi, but all the 350 participants will be thinking of Kona, Hawaii as
they go through the most grueling race in the world.
Thirty tickets are up for grabs for the Ironman Triathlon World
Championships in Kona, on Oct 19 and it is a big enough carrot to make the
participants salivate, never mind the heat, blisters, cramps, dehydration
and the agony of not completing the race.
Why Kona? For those who are not familiar with the Ironman, Kona is the
culmination of years of training and dedication. It is the ultimate aim of
every triathlete, whose life is spent in pursuit of physical and mental
preparation, to qualify for Hawaii.
However, each year of the 35,000 triathletes who make the attempt, only
an elite 1,500 get a chance to test their endurance and will in Kona.
The Malaysian leg is the curtain raiser and it has attracted some big
names in the men's category with Bryan Rhodes of New Zealand leading the
pack.
Rhodes holds the Langkawi course record, set last year, of 8:43:54 but
the Kiwi swimming instructor is not necessarily the favourite this year,
because in the Ironman race, it is hard to pick a favourite based on past
records.
The winner is usually one who is hungry enough to forget pain and
tiredness and keeps going.
Lothar Leder of Germany, who has broken the eight-hour barrier in the
triathlon, was the favourite last year but Rhodes pipped him to the title
and they will be battling again today in the 3.8km swim, 180km cycling
race and the 42km marathon but nobody will be surprised if someone unknown
from the chasing pack touches the finish line first.
And the early indications among most athletes, after two days of testing
the circuit, is that the course record will definitely be broken by a
clear 10 minutes.
Or so say Leder and Rhodes.
"I have tried the marathon route and it is quite flat compared to last
year. The new route is definitely going to see a faster finish time,
especially for those who are good in the marathon leg," said Rhodes.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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