November 12, 2008

Ironman World 70.3 Champs Race Report

Luke McKenzie

As the sun began to rise on race morning, revealing a perfect clear and calm sky, I could tell it was going to be a very fast day for racing. Before I knew it, we were lined up on the beach facing the Gulf of Mexico, ready to start the World Ironman 70.3 Championships.   I started next to Terenzo Bozzone on the right hand side of the course and was ready for a furious start. I love beach starts, as I am usually very good at them although today I can tell you wasn’t one of my best starts. As the cannon that signaled the start of the race literally blew up right beside us, I think instead of going forward, Terenzo and I were blown backwards, almost stunned before we plunged into the water. For the first two minutes my ears were ringing and I was thinking, “Am I ever going to be able to hear again?” A few dolphin dives got me up to the front of the pack and I swam comfortably near the lead for most of the swim, although Andy Potts and Paul Matthews snuck away from us around half way.

  I was out of the water in the top ten and after a smooth transition was onto the bike in 4th. It didn’t take long for me to realize the pace was going to be on from the get-go. Before we were even five miles into the ride, I had jostled back and forth with more than 15 guys for the lead before we finally settled into a long, strung out line of around 20 to 25 racers. The first 15 miles weaved in and around the neighborhoods of Clearwater and it seemed like it was going to turn into an ITU-type race, rendering the bike useless, but as soon as we hit the open highway sections of the course, the pace hit top speed and guys began to drop like flies.   Around the 35 mile mark, the 25 or so riders in the front had been reduced to around 10 and the group included me, defending champ Andy Potts, Terenzo, Andrew Starykowicz, Richie Cunningham, Oscar Galindez, Joe Gambles, Reinaldo Collucci, David Thompson and Fraser Cartmell. These boys were all riding well and they all went on the post 2:02 or lower bike splits for the 56 miles! With a few miles to ride, Terenzo, Galindez, Colucci and Starykowicz gapped us by about 30 seconds as we entered T2.   I had a great transition and was fifth onto the run course. Richie blew straight by me after just a quarter mile and I didn’t have the speed to match him. I settled into a good pace and after passing Starykowicz I was running in fifth place again. I honestly didn’t expect to feel so good since I hadn’t done much running since Kona. I ran a solid first lap, being passed only by Andy and a flying Andreas Raelert.   Going into lap two, I had a chance to look back through the field and although I was confident I could hang in the top ten, I was wary of Joe Gambles and a hard-charging Brent McMahon behind me. With 3 miles to run, it looked like I had a comfortable 30 to 40 second gap on Joe but the Ironman in my legs really started to bite and I was right on the rivet. Getting over the bridge the last time was a struggle and I was sure one of the guys behind would catch me. Luckily, in the last 2 miles I had lots of support from friends and that carried me to the line for a very pleasing 7th place finish. My time of 3.45.10 was also the fastest I have ever posted over this distance.   I was really pleased to finish in the top ten. While it was my goal, I was thinking it might have been a little ambitious so soon after Kona. There was so much unknown as to how my body would hold up. After having a disappointing day in Kona I was happy to finish the season on a high note.  

I have to congratulate Terenzo for his dominating win. He raced smart and without fear. After spending two weeks training with him in Hawaii prior to the race, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be his year. He is definitely one of the best half-ironman distance athletes in the world but he had so much bad luck in those few weeks prior to the race. He had crashed his bike and broke a bone in his hand and was suffering with the vog – “volcanic fog”, which troubles asthmatics in Kona.  Yesterday he showed just how tough he is, more mentally than physically. It was a great experience for me to watch those few weeks unfold. I think I learned a lot.   I would like to thank all my awesome sponsors that supported me in 2008. Erik, David, Ivette and the whole K-Swiss crew, you have been amazing to work with this year and it is a privilege to be part of the family. Thank you to my good friend and sponsor Adrian of Amalgamated Textiles in Australia who supports Amanda and my journey. We look forward to seeing you next week mate! Big thanks also go to PowerBar, SCOTT, Zipp, SRAM, FSA, Fizi:k, BlueSeventy, Nuun, FuelBelt, Sidi and Smith.   Thanks to mum and dad for their support and to my beautiful, amazing girlfriend Amanda for pushing me to be the best I can be. I love you all!   Check my Blog: www.lukemckenzie.com/blog  I uploaded a five minute video highlight of the race!     RESULTS   WORLD IRONMAN 70.3 CHAMPIONSHIPS, CLEARWATER, FLORIDA   1. BOZZONE, TERENZO 4/3/1 22:17 02:01:28 01:12:57 03:40:10 2.  RAELERT, ANDREAS 7/15/2 22:21 02:03:37 01:10:53 03:40:42 3.  CUNNINGHAM, RICHIE 10/9/3 22:29 02:02:08 01:13:49 03:41:46 4.  GALINDEZ, OSCAR 27/4/4 23:47 01:59:55 01:14:47 03:42:28 5.  COLUCCI, REINALDO 14/5/5 23:03 02:00:34 01:15:47 03:43:22 6. POTTS, ANDY 1/8/6 21:44 02:02:58 01:16:16 03:44:30 7. MCKENZIE, LUKE 8/6/7 22:22 02:02:01 01:17:16 03:45:11 8.  MCMAHON, BRENT 5/13/8 22:20 02:03:56 01:11:36 03:45:43 9.  GAMBLES, JOE 26/10/9 23:46 02:01:25 01:18:05 03:46:22 10. CARTMELL, FRASER 3/11/10 22:09 02:02:24 01:18:21 03:46:34