Today Debbie has a friendly chat with Brock Skywalker Armstrong about his experience of the Kona Ironman competition this year. Brock has previously been a co-host, and this year, he was helping to cover the Kona competition for Endurance Planet. Brock and Debbie discuss the competition from his point of view as a member of the media.
Brock has been to Kona several times before, and they talk about his favorite spots from which to observe the race, the performance of specific participants, and the various conditions that affected the athletes.
They also touch on the kinds of mental space that Mark Allen has talked about. Brock brings up the importance of focusing simply on what’s right in front of you, rather than any other factors. It’s simple and almost a cliché, but it’s also true that you don’t let anything else divide your attention, and the importance of having confidence in your training.
Both Brock and Debbie agree that Kona is won with the run. A great deal of ground can be made up during the run, and Brock makes the point that a decent performance on the bike followed by a good run is a recipe for success. Debbie points out that the fatigue you’ve accumulated through the rest of the competition will hit during the run, so if you’ve been able to conserve your strength a little, then you’ll be able to do well.
They also discuss that the kind of fat burning metabolism that Debbie and Brock take for granted is still less common than it really ought to be. Brock calls the fat burning movement as a “bubble.” He takes for granted that many will have recognized that calories from fat will be the way to go, but he also points out that carbs are still seen as the default form of nutrition for the competition.
The most important innovation that Brock sees is the attachment of GPS units to athletes so their progress through the race is easy to follow. He hopes that improvements in the way Ironman is covered will lead to greater popularity of the event as a spectator sport.