Living a dream
Battling the heat: Derek Woodhurst completes the bike portion of the Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, which took him through lava fields.
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Updated: October 21, 2009 12:23 AM
Salmon Arm’s Derek Woodhurst has lived his dream.
After putting in a phenomenal race in the Penticton Ironman on Aug. 29 that qualified him to compete against the best in the world, Woodhurst has just returned from Kona, Hawaii where he competed Oct. 9 in the Ford Ironman World Championships.
One of his highlights was the atmosphere around Ali’i Drive, as athletes approach the finish line.
“Running the last kilometre along there with the crowd, the lights, the announcer, the music, the wind blowing in from the ocean – it was fabulous. A triathlete’s dream, really.”
It was truly a remarkable experience, he says, which a comment from the world champion from two years ago emphasized during a pre-race meeting Woodhurst attended.
“He said there’s Ironman racing – and then there’s Kona.”
Asked why, Woodhurst explained: “The heat, humidity and wind are the factors, but then there’s just the whole atmosphere around it. It’s an extremely exciting and at times intense event.”
The heat and the wind were memorable, particularly when he was on the bike.
“Especially on the way back. It was really hot on the highway through lava fields and we were riding into a pretty stiff, hot, head wind.”
Swimming in the ocean was a highlight, Woodhurst says, except for the crowding.
“It was really crowded and I got into a lot of traffic. I wish I had avoided that,” he says, explaining it was an out and back course so he chose a better route on the return leg. “I swam back seven minutes faster than going out. The water was beautiful and clear and warm – it was really neat to swim in the ocean. The first five minutes you’re looking down at coral formations and then it gets too deep to see.”
Because Woodhurst had only six weeks to recover between the Penticton Ironman and the Hawaii event, he wasn’t able to match his 10 hour 53 minute time in Penticton. Instead, he completed the Kona race – a 3.86 km swim, a 180.2 km bike and 42.2 km run – in 12 hours and 59 minutes. That put him 37th in his age group of 55 to 59.
“Early on, on the bike, I felt my legs didn’t have an Ironman repeat in them. So I paced myself accordingly and enjoyed the course and the atmosphere. I’d love to do it again with 12 weeks between my races, but that’s definitely not in my plans.”
Instead, he plans to explore other athletic and non-athletic avenues.
“Just other commitments, other things to do. I had terrific support from my wife and my friends; I’m just going to change direction.”
Despite the demands of the course, Woodhurst didn’t suffer any aches and pains afterward.
He emphasizes that he’s pleased he lives in such an active community where people have so many options for getting fit. And he’s very pleased with his Ironman experiences, even though they may have been his last.
“I’m ecstatic with the way it’s gone and, having done four Ironman races, that’s more than I ever expected to do. Then winning in Canada and going to the worlds, it’s more than I ever expected to do. I’m pretty happy with where I am now.”
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