Come Back Kid KONA 2007

Aloha, Kona 2007 was my 17th Hawaii Ironman World Championships and an experience that I shall always remember as being the “come back kid” race. Eight weeks ago I questioned whether I would make it to the starting line as my torn hamstring was becoming a challenge. Without the help of my P.T. Jodi, massage therapist Garry Adkins, Dr. Steve in Atlanta, Dr. Odin and massage therapist Gary Shields in Kona I would not have been able to start the race. Also, without Steve Born and Brian Franks from Hammer Nutrition, I was able to compete in the race I love. This race was very symbolic for me this year!

Kevin Moats and Laura Sophiea are excited for the big day!

The swim was chaotic as usual. Kevin and I started in the center this year and my plan was to ride his feet to the finish. Well, the best laid plans never seem to work. In quick succession I was swum over by not one, but two big, rude, and mean men! I quickly went into panic mode and stopped swimming.

Unfortunately, that is not a good plan as 1600 other people will swim
over you as well. So, I put my face back in the water and kept swimming
The swim became better and better as I found some quick feet until ¾ of
the way home when I was kicked in the nose and lips with someone’s heel.
I saw stars…lots of stars and it was daylight. But, again, you just keep
going. I checked for blood but did not have any. I was ecstatic to be
out of the water and was three minutes faster than the last two years.
Oh, I did have one of the new Blue Seventy fast suits and I would say
they worked beautifully! Obviously I lost Kevin’s feet as he swam 4 minutes
faster than I did!

The Bike

Once onto the bike I quickly realized that this bike ride would be different
than my training rides as we had headwinds right from the start of the
ride. They were not blowing but you knew that instead of riding 25mph
easily I would work to ride 21 out to the hotel section 25 miles out of
town. When we began the 7 mile climb to Hawi (mile 52-59) the headwinds
really kicked in up to 25mph. It was slow but I loved the challenge and
the beauty of the island. Once to the top it is a blast to ride the 7
miles downhill at 32mph barely pedaling. That would be the only easy section
on that day! The seven mile downhill quickly led us into the infamous
crosswinds of the island. There were times I questioned my sanity as my
bike literally moved all by itself. Again, I just said, “I love these
winds and you can’t slow me down”. I continued to pedal through the gusts
knowing that I was strong in the winds from all my training on the island
and hoping that the other women in my age group were a bit bothered by
the winds! Soon it was back to the Queen K highway and 35 miles back to
town. Again, we had headwinds all the way home. As people would pass me
we would quickly chat about the lack of a tailwind. But on this day, they
were silent. I finished the bike and was grateful as along the course
I had witnessed a man being hit by a car. That was very upsetting but
I heard on Sunday that he was OK and went on to finish the ride with a
new front wheel.

The Run

The run was the big question of the day…could I run. I spent many hours
visualizing my run being pain free and my hamstring completely healed.
Well, that part did work, but my quads decided that they were tired! I
began running well for the first 6 miles. Miles 6 through mile 14 were
mentally the toughest for me in many years. I wondered why I took this
on again, am I certifiably crazy or just mildly insane. Then I decided
to try taking sips of coke and all of a sudden I felt so much stronger
and actually picked up my pace. Well, that and the fact that I knew the
2nd place women in my age group was only 8 minutes back. Once out of the
Energy Lab I had 7 miles to go and each mile felt better and better. My
hamstring worked as it should and I was again enjoying the day. My come
back was completed as I crossed that most famous finish line on Alii Drive
staying under 11 hours, well, just barely in 10:59:31.

I finished the race that 8 weeks ago I believed I would watch and cheer
Kevin on from the sidelines. Thousands of people lined the ¼ mile on Alii
Drive and I had a huge smile, tears streaming down my face as they cheered
all competitors to the finishing line. When Mike Reilly says, “Laura Sophiea,
you are an Ironman”…it was as special as my first finish in 1987.

2007 will be special race as I mentally worked harder than I physically
worked in order to complete my 17th Hawaii Ironman The ability to stay
upbeat and positive works well in an ironman race and as I have learned
even more so this year, it works for everyday living as well!!

Laura