‘After 4 years of hard training, sacrifice and disappointments I finally qualified for my 2nd Kona World Championships held October 12th 2013. After the initial joy of finally getting that coveted Kona spot, reality set in that I would be faced with my 3rd IM this year and the BIG one would be roughly 8 weeks after UK IM where I qualified.

There’s absolutely no race like Kona though and this was a reward for me and my family who have suffered through all my races the last 4 years!!! I always describe Kona as a ‘moon’ landscape with its barren, desolate lava fields, active volcano, searing sun and ever present winds ( there’s a reason it’s a surfers paradise!!!). Then there are the athletes…..wow! 2,000 of the very best amateurs in the world plus 200 lottery athletes. Everyone here is VERY good. 622 athletes will go under 10 hours in this race!

Each day leading up to the race you can feel the energy building. Every hotel within a 15 mile radius has athletes and family staying and athletes are everywhere training. You feel so special to be part of this, which is probably one reason why everyone wants to go to Kona! Continue reading →