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2017-10-16 8:36 AM

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Niskayuna, New York
Subject: Random Kona Question - Who remembers this?
Years ago (maybe 2013) I was watching Kona to amp myself up for IMLP, and one moment really stuck with me. There was a pro (can't recall the name, or what year) who completely blew up, but rather than drop out, he chose to finish the race, even though he had to walk and was being passed by age groupers. He later said he finished because dropping out would have been disrespectful to the race and the other athletes that day. Does anyone remember who this was, or at least what year it was?


2017-10-16 10:04 AM
in reply to: triguy18

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Niskayuna, New York
Subject: RE: Random Kona Question - Who remembers this?
Nevermind, found it! In case anyone was wondering: Kona 2007, Rutger Beaky. Said after walking the marathon, "I don't think it's very respectful to those age groupers to quit when it's just not going your way". Great sentiment.

https://youtu.be/J5F-XqYGt-k?t=167
2017-10-16 10:06 AM
in reply to: triguy18

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Subject: RE: Random Kona Question - Who remembers this?
2017-10-16 10:52 AM
in reply to: triguy18

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Cypress, Texas
Subject: RE: Random Kona Question - Who remembers this?

The fist Kona that I watched was about 30 years ago.  I remember they did a spot light before the race on the eventual winner.  I think it was about his 3th or 4th win.  They also did a spot light on the guy that was the strongest swimmer.  They did a spot light on the eventual winner in the woman's field as well as her much older sister who was a back-of-the-pack age grouper.  They did a spot light on a competitive young age grouper named Chuchy Chi (Chuckie V ??) who had a mohawk  (how could I for get the name of a guy named after the ShowBiz Pizza mouse)? They did a spot light on an ex-NFL player that was like 300 lbs (Darryl Haley??? He shows to have finished in 1995, but I don't think that year's results match with the #2 runner blowing up.   In that race, the eventual winner took a commanding lead on the bike and the announcers then said that his strength was the run, so it was all over when he got off the bike.  They called the number 2 runner a kid.  he was probably 22 years old and was about 2 miles behind the winner and 3 or more miles ahead of 3rd place.  He however collapsed with in a mile or two of the finish line. He was cared for at road side.  One runner paced him, then two, then ten, and I was thinking to myself with a 2-3 mile gap between you and 3rd place how could you not finish.  I know know that once you go down finishing the last mile or two of a 112 mile race is not more important than your health in those situations, but they did show the kid walking after dark struggling to make it to the finish line.  So he did finish (I think, but am not sure).  I never went back to see what year this was and who the winner was or the kid that collapsed with in a mile or two of the finish.   It may have been later than I remeber with Craig Alexader being the winner and Chris McCorman the kid that clasped. I was thinking it was more the Mark Allen years when I say my first race though.  At any rate there have been a lot of people blow up at Kona.  I have only watch Kona twice.  Once in the early 90's (I think 1993?, 1995?) and in 2014 when the guy that got me into the sport was at Kona.  

2017-10-16 3:09 PM
in reply to: triguy18

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Subject: RE: Random Kona Question - Who remembers this?

When I raced in Western Australia several years ago I ran up alongside a pro who was walking the run course.  It was Courtney Ogden.  I had actually seen him take 2nd at Coeur d'Alene the year before and talked to him there.  So I walked up alongside and asked him what happened and we chatted awhile.  He actually remembered me from Coeur d'Alene and looked a bit shocked that I was over in Australia

He gutted out a 6+ hour walk to finish that race on a very very hot day.  Huge respect for the guy.

2017-10-29 2:55 PM
in reply to: BlueBoy26

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ROTHESAY, New Brunswick
Subject: RE: Random Kona Question - Who remembers this?
Jurgen Zak did the same thing in 1998. Came in first off the bike, and ended up walking. He was actually coughing up blood at one point.
He said "at least I'll get a tan today".


2017-10-31 8:25 PM
in reply to: triguy18

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Subject: RE: Random Kona Question - Who remembers this?
I remember that, too.

I understand that pros have a lot on the line and it really costs them more than it would cost me to walk it in. They could ruin their chances at the next race from getting blisters walking it in or blowing their recovery.

At the same time, it's really cool to see that sentiment. It makes me feel like we are all in this sport together, and that finishing really is a noble goal after all.
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