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Former Champion Speaks About
This Year's Race:
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Wenn Sie Mark Allens Bericht in deutsch lesen möchten gehen Sie zu www.3athlon.de
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Pour les reportages de Mark en Français, visitez www.Xtriathlon.com
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Sunday October 17, 2004 -
Race Day Adventures
Undoubtedly you followed your favorites on Ironmanlive.com throughout this great day. Little more needs to be said about how the wind became the most influential element in each athlete’s outcome. Headwinds, side winds, headwinds, tailwinds, more headwinds…it was never NOT a factor. Slow times? Just add wind. Demoralized athletes? Just add wind; ever present pushing shoving wind that forced everyone to concentrate on holding a straight line the entire bike ride. Forget finding the “zone”. Space out for even a moment and a swirling unseen shove can make you look like a drunk trying to tackle a sobriety test. First time champion Nina Kraft of Germany summed it up perfectly just moments after her victory when she said she has never experienced a race this difficult. And she was the best! What about the rest?
But nature has a way of handing balance to even the most intense experiences. And in Ironman terms, that meant an even sweeter taste of success for each and every finisher. We become enriched by life’s tough moments, especially the ones of our own choosing. No one forces a person to do this race. And when crossing the line demands focus of such extreme proportions, that singular task placed finishing on this day squarely in the realm of purely extraordinary.
It only takes a quick glance at the carnage to get an idea of what really went on out there in the closed roads of lava. Two-time champ Luc Van Lierde dropped his dream about 50 miles into the bike. Simon Lessing, one of the most seasoned athletes in the field did the same in his first attempt at this race. It took Cameron Brown, a many time top-three finisher, full throttle will power to come up with a finish that ended just steps ahead of Nina Kraft.
The top of the podium honors belong to two great Germany athletes today. Norman Stadler did what conventional wisdom up until now said could not be done. He took the crown with a bike ride that dug a 22-minute canyon of time between him and his main rivals by the end of it. The marathon became something of an extended play victory lap for Stadler. Nina Kraft did the same, showing the world that yes you do have to be solid on the swim and run, but that if the goods are good enough on the bike, the race can be over 26.2 miles from the finish.
Night has replaced day, yet the finish line shines bright with excitement and about a thousand lights. The grand finishing procession of hearty people willing to take a risk of passion will go on until midnight. The announcers and cheering crowd welcome each of them as they arrive. Ironman is only one day in time, but its touch goes much deeper. Joy, sheer ecstasy laced with relief, pain that stops in the next moment, an embrace from a loved one. This is all waiting to greet you like reassuring parents comforting their child. It’ll all okay. You did it! You’re an Ironman.
I hope you have enjoyed following our view of the world here from Kona. Luis and I wish you all the best in your endeavors, whether they be athletic or otherwise.
So until next year…
Mark Allen
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