Fast running and barrels of beer kicked off Saturday’s 9th Annual Kona Brewers Festival Run For Hops 10K and 5K races.
Fast running and barrels of beer kicked off Saturday’s 9th Annual Kona Brewers Festival Run For Hops 10K and 5K races.
The community fundraising event once again attracted a field of nearly 600 participants ranging in ages from babies in jogging strollers to the oldest competitor — 91-year-old Bill Sprangrud of Kamuela.
Yet for those over the age of 21, it was all about getting to the finish line to enjoy a frothy cold one.
“It’s all for the beer,” joked Kona’s Danny Becker who was participating in the 5K event with his son, Duke. “It’s about spending time with family. This is a fun event, lots of kids, and there’s some good competition out there.”
The 5K footrace began fast and furious with defending champion Cody Ranfranz, last year’s runner up, Adam Ankrum, and Kona professional triathlete Bree Wee, all bolting to the front.
Ranfranz, a Konawaena High School junior who was also scheduled to compete at a BIIF track and field meet later that day, decided not to waste any time and sprinted through the finish line in a swift 18 minutes and 6 seconds.
Not too far behind was Wee who claimed the women’s division in a speedy time of 18:40.
“It was a good day chasing down Cody as he is one Kona’s best runners right now,” Wee said. “The plan was just to keep my head in it. I just finished racing the Subic Bay 70.3 last weekend and I kind of fell apart mentally on the run so I just wanted to hold on today.”
Wee said she plans to compete in April’s Hapalua Half Marathon on Oahu as part of Team Hawaii — an elite team made up of Hawaii’s fastest male and female runners who will race against some of the world’s best Kenyan athletes.
“I could tell that I had a lot of long distance miles in me — like I didn’t have that extra gear to go fast,” she said. “I plan on doing all of the local races from now until Hapalua to get some speed back into my legs.”
In third overall and second place in the men’s division was Ankrum with his time of 18:42, with Pahoa’s Jonathan Popejoy taking the men’s third spot in 19:32.
Following Wee in the women’s race was Ankrum’s wife, Laura, in 22:02, and Michigan’s Pina Finazzo rounding out the women’s top three at 23:17.
As runners sized up their competition before the start of the 10K race, many looked toward a bearded Michael Popejoy — a visiting runner from Flagstaff, Arizona who looked primed and ready to roll.
“That guy over there looks fast,” said Kailua-Kona’s James Resor. “I doubt I’ll be able to keep up with him. But I’m just happy that I can fit into these bike tights.”
And sure enough, just after race starter Joe Loschiavo counted “3-2-1-GO!” – Resor’s early prediction rang true: Popejoy was long gone and out of sight.
The 30-year-old philosophy teacher at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff, didn’t seem fazed by the rising humidity and temperatures over the 6.2-mile course as he blazed through the finish line in a new race record of 32:13 — a blistering 5:11 pace per mile.
“My wife and I are runners so we were just looking for local races and found this one and we also happen to love beer,” Popejoy said. “I was hoping to just feel it out to do a harder tempo effort as I just ran a marathon three weeks ago so this was my first hard effort since. I’m also not used to the humidity as we live up at altitude. So the altitude made it easier but the humidity made it harder.”
Popejoy said his favorite races are on the trails, of either a half marathon or 20K distance. Yet running on pavement that looped through the Old Airport Park’s Makaeo jogging path, Old Industrial Area and finishing off with a cold Kona Brewing Company beer in hand made for a nice change.
“I didn’t see the course beforehand so those few hills at Mile 4 were a bit of a surprise, and that last mile was really nice to roll down,” Popejoy said.
Wisconsin’s Sam Keepman was next to cross the line in 36:11, with the always-consistent Alan Ryan of Laupahoehoe rounding out the men’s top three in 37:43.
On the women’s side, I ran without pushing my son in a stroller for the first time in months to win with a time of 40:01. In second was Kealakehe Waverider Triathlon advisor, Kristin Old in 43:40, followed by Stella Gibbs in third at 44:00.
Second Annual Dragon Race
Once again, Kiser Motorcycle and the Hawaii Cycling Club joined forces to gather 50 brave cyclists from around the island for Sunday’s second annual “The Dragon” hill climb bike race.
The dragon slaying event featured nine of Keauhou’s most challenging hills with points awarded to those who reached the top first. Two heats separated the men and women’s fields with the overall winners taking home the title – Dragon Slayer.
Nervous tension circulated throughout the men’s field that gathered at the bottom of the Kamehameha III hill. Among the favorites to win was Keauhou’s Penn Henderson, but it would be 17-year old Malik Mariano of Waikoloa who would strike first, sprinting ahead of Henderson on the initial climb.
From then on, it was a head to head battle between the two, each taking turns on winning a hill climb — with several of the finishes culminating in an exciting crowd pleasing photo finish.
In the end, Mariano would prevail, securing the highest combined points of 85 to earn the title, Dragon Slayer.
“Wow, it feels good because I’ve been training longer and harder,” Mariano said of his win. “The competition was tough. It was always head to head with me and Penn as he is a strong cyclist. But I have to give him a lot of props because I know he hasn’t been training for awhile.”
Mariano, who is a senior at Kealakehe High School and routinely rides his bike to and from school — for a round trip total of 60 miles — said that training over the last year with a cycling coach has helped to improve his speed and strength on the bike.
“As far as training goes, my coach has increased everything for me,” Mariano said. “He’s got me riding three to six hours almost every day including an hour on my track bike to get some strength training. I feel like I’ve improved so much since he’s been coaching me, he knows everything, and I’m so grateful to have Alex Candalerio as my coach.”
Henderson’s combined score of 83 points placed him second, with David Wild taking third with 65 points.
“That was definitely a painful reality check of where my fitness is currently at,” Henderson said. “But Malik rode strong today and he’s only getting faster so I’m excited to see what the future holds for him.”
For the women, Bree Wee couldn’t resist the temptation of riding Keauhou’s toughest and steepest hills — winning all nine hills with a perfect score of 90 points.
Tawnie McDonald, winner of the first two HCC individual training time trials, claimed second place with her combined score of 81, and Jennifer Real securing the third spot with her score of 72.
For Mariano, winning Sunday’s Dragon Race and the previous week’s Kua Bay Time Trial is only the beginning of a great cycling adventure that awaits him.
“I’m actually using this race as training for the San Dimas Stage Race in California from April 1st to 3rd, then I’m doing the Sea Otter Classic as well on April 14-17. So I felt pretty good today because I’ve been training hard and I felt that it really paid off. I’m looking forward to spring break because I will be doing some motor pacing and altitude training.”