Ironman World Championships 2014: Kona Day 4

Parvilla Cycle and Multisport are fortunate to have two outstanding athletes racing in Kona this year and they are going to be providing their daily updates right here on the Parvilla Cycles Blog!

Leslie DiMichele qualified at Lake Placid earlier this summer by crushing the ladies field and winning the overall age group title. Crissy Fuentes traveled to Lanzarote in late Spring and won her age group to punch the ticket to Kona for yet another year!

Day 4 - Oct 9th

Leslie

Just a couple of days to go and now we start to look ahead to the race day more and more and we especially the weather! As far as race insights, I always expect the worst at Kona, high wind and heat. Other than preparing mentally for the day, I don't really change anything from a regular race! I want to be the fastest I can be (the Guru Cycles CR.901 will make sure of that!) and hope that's enough for a good place. Keep in the zone and the mind on the prize.  

More swimming was done in the Ocean and we made it out to the Coffees of Hawaii floating bar for a quick shot of espresso!

Crissy

This is my 5th Kona and it has been a very rewarding journey! I have finished top 10 in my AG consistently and as high as 7th twice here on the Big Island. In order for me to qualify for the big show, I need to win an Ironman within the same calendar year as slots are at a premium.  This year in Kona will be my 12th Ironman since 2007.

All these IM's and long distance training over the past 7 years have taken a toll, and since mid-summer I find myself with an almost detached hamstring! Ouch, it is preventing me to run like I used to and it will be making me dig deeper than ever on Saturday!

I will keep my nutrition with Hammer Sustained Energy on the bike and Hammer gels on the run. I will concentrate hard on staying in my HR and power zones throughout the ride and hydrate a lot! It will be hot and humid. Hopefully, I will be able to do my best on the run which may well be more of a jog than a run, I will do it all on perceived exertion rather than pace or HR like I did at World's 70.3 in September. Ultimately it will be about  enjoying my day and finish with a smile! (and a top finish!)

More ART today!

Ironman World Championships 2014: Kona Day 3

Parvilla Cycle and Multisport are fortunate to have two outstanding athletes racing in Kona this year and they are going to be providing their daily updates right here on the Parvilla Cycles Blog!

Leslie DiMichele qualified at Lake Placid earlier this summer by crushing the ladies field and winning the overall age group title. Crissy Fuentes traveled to Lanzarote in late Spring and won her age group to punch the ticket to Kona for yet another year!

Day 3 - Oct 8th

Leslie

Hit the pool with my Smashfest Queen training group in the morning. I know I know, who swims in a pool when you have the ocean? But that's what we did and luckily Kona has a beautiful and free community pool.

The awesome Kona Aquatic Center

 After the swim we all headed to athlete check in before the crowds start later in the week. Typically this is a quick process but just as I was about to get my wrist band and pick up my free bag I got ushered away by some volunteers and earned myself a personal escort for the rest of the process, apparently I was getting drug tested. After finishing check in, I was brought to a room where I had to wait in line to have my blood taken. This all would have been fine, but when I heard I was being tested I assumed a urine sample so I started chugging water to  speed up the process, little did I know that it was actually a blood sample and I wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom without a personal escort until it was done. So an hour later I was finally allowed to pee alone. 

By the time this was all done I had less than two hours to get in a 90 minute bike ride on my Guru Cycles CR.901 before we hosted a couple friends for dinner. The ride was great and would be my last longish ride before the race. All good!

My Guru Cycles CR.901 and the Pacific Ocean!

That evening we had some friends over who we haven't seen since last year in kona. It was great to see them again and reminisce about old times swimming in Massachusetts. 

Crissy

I thought I had seen all types of training in my 5 times in Kona.... But this caught my attention this morning! Running down Alli drive in a wet suit!

A little bit of heat training!

At 7:00 AM this was the practice swim today, looks almost like race day! This is still my favorite part of being in Kona such a beautiful swim!

Of course, the traditional Kona banner... Training is done and I feel ready (and so is the Guru Cycles CR.901) and happy to be here!

Ironman World Championships 2014: Kona Day 2

Parvilla Cycle and Multisport are fortunate to have two outstanding athletes racing in Kona this year and they are going to be providing their daily updates right here on the Parvilla Cycles Blog!

Leslie DiMichele qualified at Lake Placid earlier this summer by crushing the ladies field and winning the overall age group title. Crissy Fuentes traveled to Lanzarote in late Spring and won her age group to punch the ticket to Kona for yet another year!

Day 2 - Oct 7th

Leslie

Got my run in early and headed to the swim start to check out the ART tent (ART is a combination of massage and stretching, popular with athletes), fortunately they were open for business! So I got my back and hamstrings worked out which ave been tight since the flight. 

Later in the day we went on a sunset snorkeling cruise to swim with the manta rays. This was insane. They use surf boards with lights attached,  light up the water and the manta rays come straight up to eat the plankton attracted to the lights. These things, which can get up to 30 ft wide, come straight at you with their mouths wide open. We actually got body checked by one. At one point there were so many rays around you couldn't see the lights. Highly recommend this to anyone visiting Kona. 

Attractive wetsuit with leg zipper!

After the boat brought us in, we went straight home to bed. Great day!

 

Crissy

A rest day today and some time for ART (I didn't see Leslie!).  Just a very chilled day on the island and did the admin stuff of athlete check in etc.  I did manage to meet this guy though....he can skate and dance but can he conquer the Big Island?

With Apolo Ohno

Also caught up with some friends at the ART tent....can you guess who they are?

8 Questions with........Crissy Fuentes

Before she raced Kona 2013, Parvilla’s Crissy Fuentes discussed a few pre-race questions with us.

PARVILLA: Was training status quo compared to last year?

Crissy Fuentes: I focused more on specific training. For example, many more bricks, running at least 10min. after biking once a week.. My tempo runs were very well thought out, distance and speed. Nutrition was great. I added juicing to my diet, lots of beets. Also I added lots more yoga this year.

PARVILLA: How was your recent block training after IMMT (in which Crissy won her age group)?

Crissy Fuentes: I recovered for a few days but never stopped training. I raced Worlds 70.3 three weeks after IMMT and that was my speed workout for Kona (Note: Crissy placed 3rd at 70.3 Worlds)

Crissy winning her age group at Ironman Mont Tremblant, 2013

PARVILLA: Do you train with anyone or do you prefer solo?

Crissy Fuentes: I swim with the local ABC masters group. I run solo and I bike once a week with a group or just one other person. I do my long rides solo.

PARVILLA: You changed you bike this year? How has that helped?

Crissy Fuentes: Yes, I was fit for a custom Guru CR.901 by Parvilla Cycle & Multisport. It is a sweet bike, I improved my bike time in Kona 25 min from 2012! 

Crissy's Guru CR.901 on the Queen K in Hawaii

PARVILLA: It seems to be the trend among athletes; if the fitness is equal, fighting for a watt or two through gear is a worthwhile effort it seems, from aero apparel, power meters and wheels to hydration systems?

Crissy Fuentes: Honestly, I raced without numbers this whole season! Not on purpose it just happened, I raced on "perceived effort", it worked pretty well. I have a good feel for long distance, I train long hours so I dial in my nutrition and hydration well. I use heart rate still and I am now, slowly learning about power, 2014 will be the "power year" using my Stages Power Meter!

PARVILLA: You have had a busy schedule this year with a few European 70.3m in the early season and then an Ironman focus late in the year? Do you think an early 70.3 race focus helps later in the season?

Crissy Fuentes: I love doing a 70.3 race early on, it helps me know where I am and what I need to work on for my season.

PARVILLA: How did your Age Group win at IMMT change your strategy/focus leading into Kona? Do you think you can win in 2013 after a podium in 2012?

 Crissy Fuentes: :  I have been able to win on hilly courses as well as flat (IM FL) and each win no matter where, helps your confidence. winning IMMT (North American Championships) was the race I trained for all summer on my new Guru. I felt very comfortable and very much in control, this is imperative to do well in Kona in high

PARVILLA: How important is it to you to block out the final days just for you? Or do you like the Kona festivities?

Crissy Fuentes: I tend to do my own thing yet I participate it what the race offers to us, the athletes. The most important thing about sports, is to meet people from all over the world! Kona offers you this opportunity, exposure to the top triathlon companies, ART, distributors and last minute coaching advice.

Crissy enjoying Kona 2013 at Dig Me Beach!

What were you doing this past weekend?

This past weekend the Parvilla Cycle & Multisport Elite Triathlon Team were busy competing around the US.

Crissy Fuentes, fresh off an age group win at Ironman Mont Tremblant, raced at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas.  How many people can race a 70.3m Worlds races just three weeks after an Ironman and still call it a training race for the Ironman World Championships on Oct 12th?  Not many.......and she still raced to a 3rd place podium spot!

Crissy Fuentes on her custom Guru CR.901 at Ironman 70.3M Worlds

On a regional level, Allison LaRochelle raced in the Elite Women's field at The Nations Triathlon in Washington D.C.  Forgoing her usual age group win and racing the Elite field for the very first time as she trains for Ironman Florida in November, Allison placed a great 12th overall. Everything points to an awesome first Ironman.

Allison LaRochelle at Nations on her custom Guru CR.901

What did you do this weekend?