KAILUA-KONA — The VinFast Ironman World Championships returns to Kailua-Kona on Saturday where the best triathletes in the world will face one of the toughest endurance tests on the planet.
This year’s Kona race will feature the men, beginning with a 2.4-mile swim in the crystal-clear waters of Kailua Bay, where athletes will not only battle the distance, but also navigating ocean currents and the pressure of maintaining a strong pace within a pack. The swim, however, is just the beginning of an all-day challenge that pushes even the most prepared competitors to their limits.
Upon exiting the water, athletes will transition to the bike for a punishing 112-mile ride along the famed Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway. The course is notorious for its scorching heat and relentless crosswinds — a brutal test of stamina and mental toughness with little relief from the sun, as athletes pass through barren lava fields which is a signature backdrop of this event.
The final leg of the race is the marathon: a 26.2-mile run under the intense Hawaiian sun. Competitors will run past a spectator lined course on Ali‘i Drive before making their way up Palani Road and out to the HOST Park at the National Energy Laboratory Hawai‘i Authority (NELHA) — an infamous stretch of the run known for its brutal conditions. Athletes will finally be rewarded when the cross the historic Ali‘i Drive finish line to hear, “Congratulations, you are an IRONMAN!”
This year, the professional men will dive into the waters of Kailua Bay at 6:25 a.m., with the physically challenged/intellectual disability and handcycle athletes starting at 6:27 a.m. The first wave of age-group men will begin at 6:40 a.m. as the race gets underway for a full day of intense competition.
Among this year’s male competitors, 11 Big Island residents will take on the daunting challenge. For these athletes, the race has a special significance. Not only do they face the demands of competing in an Ironman, but they will also be representing their home on a world stage. These local competitors have also trained in the very conditions the race is famous for — heat, wind and humidity — giving them a unique understanding of what’s to come on race day.
A week out from the “big dance,” I had the pleasure of chatting with these amazing athletes as they shared some of their thoughts about race day.
Columnist Note: Two other athletes who were listed as Big Island residents competing in this year’s Ironman World Championships but were not present for the interview were: Kaiden Lieto (Bib #182) and Lloyd Gillespie (Bib #1852). Apologies in advance if there were any other athletes inadvertently missed in this coverage.