“Never would have I believed that on 4/15/2011 when I received my email saying I was picked for the
lottery to go to Kona, that it would be such an EVENT.” WOW—double WOW!!!!!!!!”

This was Elaine Dowden’s reaction as she woke for 2011 Hawaii Ironman World Championship.

Will and Elaine took this opportunity of a lifetime and made it a trip to remember.
Spending over a month in Kona Hawaii, they enjoyed the island lifestyle, met the locals, and trained for one of the hardest endurance challenges in the world.

Saturday, October 8th started with a 2.4 mile swim along with 1800 other triathletes.

Elaine finishing in a strong 1 hour 58 minutes & 19 seconds, then took to her bike.

Setting out on a 112 mile bike ride, with Hamburger in mouth, she happily smiles to newscasters!

Follow the rest of Elaine’s epic journey on her own Website.

As for now, Elaine is back on Hilton Head Island with her family, and relaxing IRONMAN style.

Thanks to a great surgery repair of my Broken Clavicle during the July Beach Bum by Dr Dean and Physical Therapy by Carolina Sports Care I was able to compete in the Augusta Half Ironman 72 days after surgery.

I set a PR in both the Swim and Bike for this distance. Unfortuately found out Friday before the race that I had a stress fracture in my left foot so it regulated my run to a shuffle/walk. 6:29 isn’t a great time but I feel fortunate to be able to race again this season!

Each year vacationers from around the nation visit Hilton Head Island, SC. However, one weekend in particular is all about speed & low gears!

The Go Tri Sports Triathlon at Hilton Head was on May 21st 2011, and our local residents crushed it!

We had athletes from all age groups participate in this flat and fast course.

With a 500m ocean swim, a 13 mile bike, and a 5k run, the day couldn’t have been better.

Maggie and I were lucky enough to race together and have our wedding ceremony on the very same day. A great way to start a healthy triathlon lifestyle with each other!

Mags finished 1st in her Age Group, and I finished 2nd.

-Race Report by Ryan Stefonick

Ryan Stefonick & Chip Collins

What a great event, nothing like swimming in the Potomac River sighting by the Washington Memorial, biking thru Georgetown and under the overhang of the Kennedy Center and then running down Pennsylvania Avenue ending at the Capitol!

Time was 2:33:31 a PR for me at Olympic Distance, Placed 17th in Division amongst 56  overall 327 out of 1336 in the race.

Quite a destination race vacation!

-Race Report by Jeff Waddle