Ironman World Championships 2014

pic from www.telegraph.co.uk

With just under two weeks to go, I'm starting to get excited for the Ironman World Champs.  One day I will race it, but for now, I'm just following.

Click HERE for the pro start list.  There's always good story-lines, but here are a few folks in particular that I'm looking out for.

- Bart Aernouts, a young Belgian who runs like the wind.  He finished 8th in Kona in 2013.  This year he won his first full-distance Ironman in France followed by his first European 70.3 Championship

- Tim O'Donnell, top American at Kona 2013 (5th overall) and getting better every year.

- Bevan Docherty, a Kiwi who's performed at every distance from 2 Olympic medals to winning Ironman New Zealand.  He jumped up to the iron-distance after London 2012, so I think he's just getting started.

- Daniela Ryf, her year in one word... WOW!  Let's see, she won the Zurich Olympic race and Ironman Zurich on back-to-back days, then Ironman 70.3 European Champs, followed by IM Copenhagen and topped it off with a win at 70.3 World Champs.  Wow!

- Rachel Joyce, maybe I have a thing for female triathletes from the UK, but she really put on a performance finishing 2nd in Kona last year and had another great battle with Mirinda Carfrae at Roth earlier this year.  Can't wait to see what's in store for Oct 11th.

To get in the mood, I've been re-watching old Kona races on YouTube.  Actually, I've watched almost every one available, 1989 (The Iron War) through 2013.  They're all great, but below are a couple to get you started.

2002, the last time an American man, Tim DeBoom, won

2004, first time the "big bike lead" strategy worked in Kona

Also, Apolo Ohno has taken Hines Ward's place on the the Got Chocolate Milk Team.  Check out episode 1 of Mission Apolo below.  Click HERE for the website and rest of the episodes.