It has become an all too familiar scene. Arrive an hour or even thirty minutes before the start of any Peaman Biathlon race and it’s virtually a ghost town.
It has become an all too familiar scene. Arrive an hour or even thirty minutes before the start of any Peaman Biathlon race and it’s virtually a ghost town.
No fancy event banners draped along the course, no onsite registration booths or live announcements booming in the background. In fact, no sightings of any athlete warming up with race numbers inked or pinned to their bodies.
Yet with just 10-minutes before it’s “go time” one can always bet that over a hundred participants will appear out of nowhere — race ready.
“It’s the best part of it,” said Peaman, the brains behind Frozen Pea Production’s popular — and free — year round events. “You don’t need to do anything beforehand. There are no entry fees, no application, no registration, and no numbers to hand out. Just come down to the pier, get your stuff ready, then when you’re pau we’ll just sign you out. And that way the whole family can just have fun. The idea is to make this as accessible as possible for everybody.”
And that’s just it. The many reasons Peaman’s swim-runs have maintained its popularity for the last 28 years even with some changes along the way.
“I think it was way more competitive many years ago than it is now but we have way more kids participating now and we love it,” he said. “So if our reputation has now become a kids event then that’s good with me. Pea events are for everyone. Whether you are big or small, old or young, fast or slow, it’s for everybody.”
While clear blue skies hovered over the swim start at Kaiakeakua Beach, the waters churning in Kailua Bay were anything but. Large south swells caused bumpier than normal and murky swim conditions for Sunday’s Peaman Thrash and Dash Biathlon that featured a 1/3-mile swim portion followed by a 2-mile sprint on Alii Drive.
On a fast and furious pace to touch the sands of Kaiakeakua Beach in first were Hall of Fame Masters Swimmer of the Year, Karlyn Pipes, and Konawaena High School swim standout, Tori Oshiro, who matched each other stroke for stroke.
“I always get a little nervous before the race,” said Pipes who set the 1/3-mile swim record of six minutes and four seconds in 2004. “I haven’t been swimming a whole lot so I was kind of surprised to be in the lead during the swim. I was with Tori and we went around the buoy together and we were just neck and neck till the very end. So I told myself to put a little sprint on and don’t let this kid beat you.”
Although the duo popped out of the water together, it was Pipes who edged out Oshiro as she sprinted to the top of the Pier’s cement stairs in first. While Oshiro’s race ended there with a fast swim clip of 6:49, Pipes quickly transitioned from swim to run and charged down Alii Drive as the overall leader.
“After transition I was thinking that a few others were not too far behind,” Pipes said. “I kept running and thinking of this mantra ‘soft and easy, soft and easy’ even if I’m out of breath and working hard. I tell myself it’s soft and easy and just try to be steady.”
Danny Becker was next and led the chase pack out of the water that included Chris Chang, Cody Ranfranz, and Sarah Sermons.
Ranfranz, a Konawaena High School junior and defending Peaman Champion, is also one of Big Island’s top cross country runners who placed an impressive fourth overall at Saturday’s BIIF Boy’s Cross Country Championships in Keaau.
Known for his running speed, Ranfranz quickly caught Pipes at the half-mile marker.
“It definitely affected me today,” said Ranfranz of racing two days in a row. “I didn’t have that fiery energy that I usually come with to these events. The swim was a bit slow but my run just boosted it. At the start of the run there were a few people ahead of me, but by Bubba Gumps I kind of knew that I had it.”
While Ranfranz easily claimed his fifth Peaman victory of the year in a fabulous time of 19:48, his primary focus is to do well in Saturday’s Honolulu Marathon HHSAA State Cross Country Championships at Seabury Hall on Maui.
“I’m hoping for at least top ten but I would like a top five (finish),” he said. “Last year I was 32nd overall for my first year of running but this year I feel much stronger and more confident.”
Pipes held onto second and first for the ladies in a great time of 21:40, with the brother and sister duo of Chang and Sermons claiming second place in the men’s and women’s divisions, 21:50 and 22:33 respectively.
Oscar Hennig and Antonio edged out Aiden and Laura Ankrum in the Split Peas relay division 25:50 to 25:59, with Erik Basden topping the 2-mile run in 14:58.
Ciara Blaber easily won the Pea Wee 200-yard swim and 1-mile run in a stellar time of 12:50, with Peaman and Olivia Van Dorn claiming the relay title in 16:18, and “wild man” Brandon Curry blazing over the 1-mile course in 7:34.
After all of excitement from the morning’s fun-filled action was done and over with, Pipes explained why she continues to enjoy Peaman events so much.
“Peaman events are always great and a lot of fun. My most favorite thing about Pea races is when you start looping back on the run, it’s all that encouragement we give each other that just boosts you all the way to the finish line. It’s our own personal mini IRONMAN but it just takes a heck of a lot less time.”
Run for
the Dry Forest
As one of the few off-road running events offered on the Big Island, over 200 eager trail-blazers tested their “goat climbing skills” at Saturday’s 10th annual Run for the Dry Forest 10K, 5K and Keiki runs.
Held on the higher grounds of the Puuwaawaa region that features an exotic native dry land forest home to endangered bird and plant species, many entered the “extreme trail” 10K race that circumvented its most prominent landmark – a majestic ancient volcanic cinder cone where the land derives its name.
Volcano’s Billy Barnett didn’t surprise many as the defending champion claimed his fourth consecutive victory in a great time of 42:20. Not too far behind was Kailua-Kona’s Kenneth Stover in 44:09, with Kamuela’s Nick Muragin in third at 46:39.
Sticking to the tradition of winning opposite of Barnett for the women’s division was Kamuela’s Sylvia Ravaglia. Ravaglia, who competed in her third Kona IRONMAN race just two weeks prior, stopped the clock in 56:32 to secure her third consecutive Puuwaawaa victory.
Next was Honakaa’s Kendra Ignacio in 59:42, followed by Elda Carreon of Kailua-Kona in third place at 1:00:13.
In the men’s 5K-trail race, it was a battle all the way to the finish with Kaysen Santos-Ferreira edging out Elliott Parsons, 21:03 to 21:08 respectively. Hilo’s Alex Wang rounded out the men’s top three in 22:30.
Lauren Dement of Hilo topped the women’s 5K in 25:22, with Lea-Carol Glennon in second at 26:54, followed by Tina Flower at 27:36.
It truly turned out to be a great weekend of racing for everyone and especially for families with young children. And for those venturing out to ‘Trick or Treat’ this weekend, have a safe and happy Halloween.