Once again Big Island moms were out in full force at the local race scene but this time, for reasons much deeper than just competition.
Once again Big Island moms were out in full force at the local race scene but this time, for reasons much deeper than just competition.
Whether it was celebrating their first Mother’s Day as a new mom, honoring their own mothers, reflecting upon great memories to moms who have passed, or just saying well-wishes to other moms taking part of an active morning filled with fun, participants took to Peaman’s Spring, Sprang, Sprung Biathlon on Sunday to celebrate the holiday.
For Anita Leao, the healthy and energetic start to the daylong celebration was the perfect opportunity to embrace the day with her husband and two young girls.
“We are doing something as a family and that’s the most important thing,” Leao said. “Being out here and actually showing your kids what’s a healthy lifestyle and doing it together I think is really important. And I enjoy it. I love seeing Alex out there running and having fun. We started out years ago in the stroller and now she’s running it. So today is a special day.”
Lynette Randerson, a regular Peaman volunteer and mother to four children ages 3 to 15 years, praised Peaman events toward helping her family be active.
“I think being a part of this community is pretty amazing,” Randerson said. “Being able to celebrate Mother’s Day and watch your kids enjoy the activity, running and health is really exciting to see as a Mom – it makes me really proud. I think it’s healthy for their minds and body rather than just sitting at home with a video game in hand.”
For other moms such as Bree Wee who showed up with son Kainoa, Lori Oka and her daughter Sophia, and Noriko Becker with her children Makena and Duke, the morning was all about spending quality time with their children.
“I’ve been doing Peamans since Makena was seven years old, and Duke was four, so it was something I wanted to do with them and for myself on Mother’s Day,” Becker said.
As for the race, large South swells charged through Kailua Bay that made visibility nearly impossible – both under and above the water – as participants braved murky ocean conditions while attempting to sight the large orange turnaround buoy bobbing at the 3/4-mile marker between surging waves.
Once the initial arm thrashing and splashing of the swim start calmed down, a lead pack of fast swimmers had separated themselves – leaving the rest of the field to navigate the roller coaster-like ocean conditions on their own.
The group included Kealakekua’s Tori Oshiro – last year’s Triple Crown Swim Series women’s winner, Kona professional triathlete Bree Wee, 11-year old Aiden Ankrum, and defending champion Luis De La Torre.
Oshiro, who placed fourth overall at the previous day’s Cinco De Mayo Splash 1-mile swim race, was first to exit Kaiakeakua Beach with a swift time of 18 minutes and 30 seconds.
Wee was next and tagged her son Kainoa for the 1-mile Pea Wee run, while Ankrum (18:59) sent his dad, Adam, charging down Alii Drive for the long course 3.1-mile run.
Meanwhile in the individual race for first, De La Torre remained unchallenged over the 3/4-mile swim and 3.1-mile run course to defend his title in a fabulous time of 39:09.
Sarah Sermons, a mom to an almost 2-year old boy named Colby, also defended her title after combining a speedy swim with a solid run to finish second overall and first for the ladies with a time of 42:00.
“I won it last year which was my first Mother’s Day so I really wanted to come out and do it again even if there were so many fast moms out there,” Sermons said. “It’s really special to win because I’ve been working hard on trying to really pick it up, and now I’m finally seeing the results.”
Not being a swimmer by any standards, I exited the water in what felt like an eternity behind the lead pack and started the run in 16th place. Luckily I was able to make up some ground during the 5K leg of the race to finish third overall in 44:09. Winona Chen wrapped up the women’s top three with her fourth overall finish in 45:17.
Following De La Torre in the men’s competition was Kailua-Kona’s Danny Becker, who is one of the few people I know that can physically race hard while smiling ear to ear. A beaming Becker held off a fast closing 15-year old Josiah Randerson – 45:24 to 45:42 respectively.
The son and father team of Aiden (swim) and Adam Ankrum (run) easily crushed the Split Peas relay division with their combined time of 38:36. Leao (swim) and Erik Basden (run) followed in second place with their time of 46:11, with Ali Steiner (swim) and Melissa &Emily Braswell (stroller) following in third at 53:29.
“Today was actually the first day that I pushed Emily at a Peaman so I guess technically it was her first Peaman race, so that was special,” Braswell said. “Today was about doing something for me that Emily could also participate in with other moms and other people in the community.”
Archer Ankrum topped the short course 200-yard swim and 1-mile run Pea Wee division with his swift time of 10:53. Jada Keen finished a minute back in 11:53 to claim victory for the ladies, and Hilo’s Lainey Eckart rounded out the top three with her time of 13:27.
The Pea Wee Split Peas relay title went to the fantastic duo of Sean “Peaman” Pagett (swim) and Olivia Van Dorn (run) with their time of 16:57. Logan Eckart ripped through the 200-yard swim in 7:30, and the oldest of the Ankrum boys, 13-year old Alec, blazed the 1-mile run course with his fastest time ever in 5:47.
For me, Mother’s Day became a day full of thought and thankfulness. A day to reflect upon many great memories I have of my own mother who passed five years ago, a time to recognize all mothers that have and will continue to influence me in so many positive ways, and to appreciate the opportunity to live this life with two little ones of my own.
Now, back to another 364 days of celebrating Kids Day… Enjoy!