Who Will Win Kona?
With the Ironman World Championship upon us, everyone has an opinion on who will win Kona.
Flippantly, the answer is simple: the first person across the finish line.
But I believe the real answer is everyone standing on that start line on race morning. Those athletes are the lucky few.
Lucky to have their health. The health to train, to push their bodies, and to take on one of the toughest endurance events, something many people would dearly love to do but simply cannot.
Lucky to have the means. Triathlon is expensive and time-consuming, and it costs more every year. Being able to devote that much time, energy and money to what is, for most, a hobby is a privilege in itself.
Lucky to have the genes. We don’t all start with the same genetic hand. You can train just as hard, sacrifice just as much and want it just as badly as the next person, but not everyone has the “fast genes” to qualify for Kona.
None of this diminishes the extraordinary work it takes to get there. Quite the opposite. But hard work alone doesn’t guarantee everyone the same opportunity.
So on race morning, before the cannon fires, take a moment. Look around. Take it all in. Smile.
Think of the thousands who would give anything to stand where you are. Those whose health no longer lets them train or race. And those who are no longer with us, who would have loved one more chance to stand on that start line.
Then, when the cannon fires, give it everything you’ve got. Race hard. Chase your goals.
But whatever happens, remember one thing.
You’ve already won.
Trisutto Director of Coaching at Trisutto
All other enquiries robbie@trisutto.com
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