Seeing Michelle Tilley’s big smile upon crossing the finish line at Sunday’s Kona Marathon proved she enjoyed every stride of the 26.2-mile distance. Running for most of the race in fourth place, Tilley’s eventual second-place finish in the women’s competition marked an amazing comeback for the 36-year-old who hadn’t competed in a few years because of health issues.
Seeing Michelle Tilley’s big smile upon crossing the finish line at Sunday’s Kona Marathon proved she enjoyed every stride of the 26.2-mile distance. Running for most of the race in fourth place, Tilley’s eventual second-place finish in the women’s competition marked an amazing comeback for the 36-year-old who hadn’t competed in a few years because of health issues.
“I felt pretty good out there,” Tilley said as she waited for the awards ceremony. “I didn’t know what to expect but I’m really happy with my race.”
With eventual winner Yuko Nakai having a firm grip on the lead from the beginning, the Kailua-Kona resident trailed Kona’s Brooke Myers and Jen Tom of Maui by more than 7 minutes at the halfway mark. Yet, Tilley’s steady pacing would pay off, making the last 6.2-miles for second place an exciting race for eager spectators awaiting their arrival at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay.
Tilley said she had wanted to do a marathon for some time but kept it in the back of her mind as she focused on regaining her health. Although Tilley didn’t say what set her back for more than two years, she began to feel better by April and decided to focus on training for her first marathon to prove to herself she could do it.
Tilley said she first passed Tom, then Myers near mile 22.
“It was very surprising for me to pass them,” Tilley said. “It’s been such a challenge and journey to get some fitness back. So many times I thought maybe running is something I wouldn’t be able to do anymore. Doctors told me not to pursue it, don’t expect anything, that I may possibly see a decline. At one point, it got emotionally difficult to deal with.”
Although Tilley wasn’t the first woman to cross the line in her marathon debut, her finish and recognition as the top Big Island female in a time of 3 hours 27 minutes and 18 seconds, was a personal win her books.
“Placing second meant a tremendous amount to me,” Tilley said. “It’s also helped me realize that despite the obstacles that have been placed before any of us, how important it is to keep things in perspective and continually strive for our goals regardless of how challenging it may seem at the time.”
Improving on last year’s 11th-place finish was Myers, who was the third woman to cross the line in 3:29:30.
For the men, Honolulu’s Thomas Sands claimed victory in 2:48:37, with Taiwan’s Tomo Goto in second at 3:02:58. Top Big Island honors went to Kailua-Kona’s Brian Pruitt who placed third in 3:06:57.
With new race routes starting at the Keauhou Shopping Center and finishing on the grounds of the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay because of the closure of the Keauhou Beach Hotel in 2012, course records set just last year were broken by the overall male and female winners in the half marathon and 10K events.
Featuring 561 participants for the popular 13.1-mile race, new Kona resident and defending champion, Chris Gregory, proved his recent cross-island move from Hilo suited him well as he clicked off a sub-6-minute pace per mile to finish well ahead of the field in 1:17:36. Gregory’s swift time eclipsed his old record by 2:49.
Australia’s David Crellin finished a distant second in 1:24:06, with Honolulu’s Thomas Gouard close behind at 1:24:54.
In a friendly battle for fourth overall and a rematch from 2013, were Kailua-Kona’s James Resor and myself. Last year, Resor and I ran shoulder to shoulder until the last mile where he pulled ahead to finish 17 seconds ahead.
This year, it was deja vu as Resor, who has made a strong return to the racing scene after breaking his fibula in March, pushed hard over the last half mile of the race to once again finish ahead in 1:27:57.
I was able to keep it close to finish 9 seconds back from Resor and win the women’s competition at 1:28:06. Wisconsin’s Kristina Rynes was next in 1:37:48, and Laura Hogan of Fort Collins, Colorado rounded out the women’s top three in 1:39:00.
Japan’s Shutaro Kimura won the 10K event with his great time of 37:27. Kimura was pushed all the way by the overall women’s leader, Fatima Ortega Barajas of Washington, who finished a minute back in 38:26. Both Kimura and Barajas set new 10K course records respectively.
Steven Gourley of Captain Cook finished third overall and led the way for the Big Islanders with his time of 41:29. While Kailua-Kona’s Serena Chamberlain, who recently got married and is now Serena Puaokalani, was the top Big Island female in the 10K event finishing with a great time of 50:45.
Although no overall course records were set in the 5K event, Arizona’s Jeff Stelnik quickly separated himself from the field to finish first in a solid time of 17:56. Hawi’s speedy teen, Ziggy Bartholomy, a naturally talented athlete and runner, crossed in second place at 18:49. Rounding out the men’s podium was Holualoa’s Lawrence Barrett in 19:48.
Topping the women’s division was California’s Chelsea Robinson with her time of 21:30. The next two spots were Tessa Brennan and Maggie Ward, both from Illinois, finishing in 22:25 and 22:46 respectively.
After 21 years, another Kona Marathon is marked in the books. Congratulations to all the 1,507 finishers at Sunday’s event.
In a bit of catch up news, Frozen Pea Productions held Papa Pea’s Birthday Biathlon and Celebration of Summer on June 15. The event, which featured a longer than originally planned swim of ¾-mile, and a brisk 2-mile run on Alii Drive, attracted a small but feisty crowd for the laid-back vibe on Father’s Day morning.
Kona’s Karlyn Pipes dominated the field, leading wire-to-wire with a winning time of 32:59. Teen speedster Cody Ranfranz used his quick turnover on the run to make up a lot of time on Pipes but ran out of real estate to finish second overall and first for the men’s division in 33:20.
Coming in third overall and second for the men was James Spencer in 34:50, with Michael DeCarli rounding out the men’s top three with a solid finish of 36:08.
In my attempts to chase down Pipes — a world-class fish in water with an accomplished swimming resume a mile long — it quickly became apparent that I would be racing for second place.
Like a turtle chasing a dolphin, I crossed the finish in second at 35:08. Just 14 seconds behind and sprinting through the finish line in third was Anita Leao at 35:22.
In the Split Peas relay division, Kona’s Don Baldassari and Grant Smith teamed up to take the win in 33:36. Alexis DeCarli topped the field in the swim race at 21:00, and Mike Schiff was the first to finish the 2-mile running race in 18:48.
The Hilo brother and sister dynamic duo topped the male and female divisions for the Pea Wee race featuring a 200-yard swim and 1-mile run. Kanaipono Eckart took the win in 12:11 with his sister Lainey coming in at 12:56.
Race organizers of Frozen Pea Productions and Team Mango Races, Peaman and Gecko, teamed up to take the win in the Pea Wee Split Peas race in 42:41. Ella Musacchia and Katherine DuBose both stopped the clock at 7:25 for the 200-yard swim race, and Teagan DeCarli topped the field in the 1-mile Pea Wee run at 7:45.
Whether it be running a marathon, or participating in a Peaman event, one thing’s for sure, there is no better place to have some fun than this beautiful paradise we call home.