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In Depth Product Reviews
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Read My Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
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My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams I Use Daily
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
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The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
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My first memory of Kona was in Leogang. This was my first bikepark and my biggest adrenaline rush ever on a bike. They build such amazing lines there to ride so intense for the first time you don’t know what’s going to happen to you. This was also my first encounter with DH biking. So maybe at bit of a big start, but after that I was hooked on such an adrenline rush.
Thinking to myself, “That’s crazy?! Swim, Bike and Run in one event? I have a hard time just transitioning between biking and walking. And who wants to pedal a bike after being immersed in water? Man, these guys must be really bored.”
Okay, I wasn’t very open minded back then. Pub crawls weren’t a thing back then either.
Don’t remember when it was but it was a seriously long time ago being an enthusiastic, aquaphobic (thus no chance of ever getting close to pursuing an ironman myself) bicycle amateur. Still loves bikes and still loathes water (except rain which I absolutely love, particularly combined with MTB).
Seeing the smile on a female contestant swimming, 2 years ago on youtube.
Count me in. Not sure when I first watched it, but it’s basically the single TV sports event that I watch each year ;)
Team Hoyt – when you are reconsider every lillte problem in your life and just start enjoying what you are able to do, go out and run/cycle/swim/walk…
Watching Seb Kienle in his thirst apperance yet not able to pull Off his Usual bike performance. For me kind of a proof that our sports has clean top athletes
Watching Dave Scott win in 1980 and doing the math on how far an ironman was
Kona .. interesting
Watching it from 7 in the evening, going to sleep while the pro’s were on the bike then waking up like a kid at Christmas to see the end. This happens pretty much every year!
Having hitchhiker from Hilo with my best friend, we sat on the curb eating streetfood and watching the race go off.
Watching Mark Allen and Dave Scott duke it out in the 80’s when I was a young kid. I was forced to wear a speedo by my parents. Watching ironman helped me realize I want the only one ;)
First time I had a fast enough Internet connection to watch it properly was 2010 with Macca v Raelert at the end. I stayed up till something like 3:30am and could hardly look away for the entire race. It also [sort of] banished my memory of the failure and the pain from Ironman Lanzarote that year, and inspired me to enter another one!
First time i watched it on TV i fell asleep – great power nap!!!!
Sian Welch and Wendy Ingraham crawl finish in 1997
Seeing pictures of a strange sport in Hawaii on TV in the 1980s.
Didn’t see it live, but the most marking moment had to be “The Crawl” in ’97
link to youtube.com
I’ve only been doing triathlons for a couple years now, so last year was my first time to watch Kona. It was great, I’ve already been looking forward to watching again this year.
Seeing this race on telly a long time ago. Just thought how amazing these athletes were and the level of endurance they had was unlike anything I had seen.
Last year was my first year watching it. I enjoyed seeing Rinny chase down Joyce the way she did.
A few years ago. Beautiful!
most memorable… Macca Raelert 2010… i just watched it again….
Honestly can’t remember the first time I saw a Kona race but it has been a lot of years. i must admit that the women’s pro racers have gotten a lot more fun to watch and seeing Carfrae run down the leaders last year was pretty amazing. While I already ordered a fire engine red one for the girlfriend, I could always replace my aging 910.
This summer I wachted video’s on YouTube. A great goal in future!!! But for no the olympic-distance triathlon is THE challenge!
Watching it in my motel room in Guymon, OK…while on a break during my cross-country USA bike ride.
Best: Crying like a baby looking at clips with Team Hoyt
I saw chunks of it on YouTube when I first became interested in triathlon.
Staying up late to watch finish in the early hours here in UK, when I had a marathon the next morning.
2008 silver for Eneko
Im in EU timezone and remember falling asleep late at night during watching the race. When i woke up in the morning i turn the trasmission on and some were still on the go. That struck me what effort it is and how much energy you need to put in just to simply finish ( not talking winning here). Unbelievable.
Watched it for the first time 4 years ago. Awesome!
my honeymoon is 2003 was in Hawaii. I didn’t know enough about Ironman then to know it was happening that week. I remember telling my wife on the first morning that I feel really out of shape, because there’s some seriously fit people running on the beach.
The Macca-Raelert battle in 2010 – closest ever finish and Macca took out those sponges before the photo finish! Inspired me on a slow journey to fitness and my first triathlon this year :)
Chrissie Wellington’s 2009 performance…wow
YouTube The Iron Wars: Amazing races!
Sitting on the couch,50 lbs overweight, and watching coverage of the 2012 IM Kona. It inspired me to start running and the following year I ran my first half msrathon
Being amazed at the times of the women finishing the race
Remember Pauli Kiuru reaching the Hawaii podium three times (1990: 3., 1992: 3., 1993: 2.). He’s into politics now.
Watched the ironman lanzarote on livestream this year.
Good that I had not planned any workouts. Watching 9-hours on a screen non-stop.
Many, many years ago when I was a kid I came across some coverage on TV. I was fascinated. I loved swimming and cycling. Not so much running. Not much has changed there but the idea of doing a race combining all three was novel to me. Now several years (decades?) I’m training for my first sprint.
The smile on Chrissie’s face after her first win.
Mark Allen 1989,1990,1991,1992 and 1993 in a row
My first memories of Kona where when a few years back a triathlete friend mentioned Kona, I had never heard about it, now I follow the race everyyear with a mix of envy, since it is an objective too far for me, and happines for not being there suffering in the race ;-)
I was a high school cross country runner at the time. I flipped on the TV to see what an ironman was and couldn’t stop watching. It was one of the few times in my life I skipped a run for something on TV.
Two years ago , after I started to follow your blog!
I’m always most amazed by the athletes who arrive just before the cut-off time. In 2013 that being the oldest female tri-athlete in the field who arrived just a few minutes before midnight with the whole crowd going crazy. Gives me goose bumps every time I think about it.
A program called transworld sport in the early 90s, they had a feature on it, I don’t remember who won but I do remember the setting in Hawaii, just looked amazing. (Wiki tells me it was probably Mark Allen that won it)
A friend joined the im lanzarote a couple of years ago, from that year on i started watching the kona race.
A few years ago, before I was as interested in triathlon or any endurance sports, I saw part of the bike. If I had the opportunity now, I would surely be glued to the screen.
I was injured from running and sidelined for a couple of weeks. I was living on yotube for motivations. I came across first with the 2005 Ironman video when John Blais roll across the finish line. I didnt know how to swim back then but I took classes and now I am 3x ironman finisher!
Watching the athletes train and prepare the day before the race. I was sitting on the side of the road with my kids.
I’ve been following Eneko Llanos. I hope this is his year. Go Eneko go!
I first saw Kona in the German TV in the middle of the 90’s. If I remember correct.
Yes it is a long time ago since then.
Kona, Kona what is this?
Ironman – mayby I’ll try sometime.
I started watching it four or five years ago. Very impressive what they are doing there.
I was very young and caught the race on tv. My dad made a comment on how they are the best athletes in the world. Now that I’m an ironman I can understand that getting to the big island is a huge accomplishment and one day I dream of racing there.
Love watching the race.
Last year was my first time watching when Hines Ward participated in it. I’m a Steelers fan, so I though I’d see what’s up. Now I’m hooked!
Watched it for the first time last year. Since the I also did a triathlon, sprint distace only.
Best memory was last year when the 70+ lady finished just minutes before or a bit after the time deadline. That was inspiring.
First memory is the utter and complete physical exhaustion that resulted in the crawl across the finish line in 1997.
Watching the emotion poor out of Chrissie Wellington when she crossed in 2011
Never watched but will watch the next coming years if I win
First time was when Faris Al Sultan won leading from the beginning to the end of the race. I found that amazing. Now I hope Crowie will do it again. He is a class act.
Watching an awesome start in the warm waters!
Watching the unreal Chrissie Wellington crossing the line first in unbearable amounts of pain. The sheer mental willpower; better than 2009 I think (though maybe not for her!)
Last year, watching the leaders swim along side dolphins
Back in the mid 80s, on ABC Wide World of Sports. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. Thought they were crazy. Still do.
Watching Mirinda Carfrae turn in a 2:50 marathon to win in 2013! Top 3 of times of the day….men or women.
My earliest Kona memories were of short highlight reels on Wide World of Sports (in Australia) in the late 80s. All we got were short recaps but it was enough to leave an impression on my young mind. Really can’t forget the footage of Mike Pigg, Dave Scott, Mark Allen, Scott Tinley…..
At least we still have Faris these days rocking the Speedo!
Really watched the sole thing for the first time last year, but my memory is bad about time. I remember the men’s leader being in the lead during the run by a lot but eventually having to withdrawal because his body couldn’t continue. The only thing I ever remember about the race before then was that there was a dad and his disabled son that had done the most Ironman’s ever. I wish I could remember their names cause I read recently that they will be in the Ironman Hall of Fame. But that might be Ironman in general. For me? Maybe one day. I need one of these watches first… :)
Reading about Kona on dcrainmaker.com – what a day that was.
Two memories actually. The first time I saw it was on TV (NBC?) in the mid-80’s. It was unlike any contest I ever saw and I thought the participants were insane. The, in ’88, I was working for a newspaper and a local person competed in it. I had the chance to interview him the next day (via phone). I’ll never his quote, “that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
good luck to all the athletes this weekend in Kona!
I first saw the old coverage of Chrissie’s race where she got the flat and still went on to win. It remains one of my favorites.
My favorite moment was when Chrissie Wellington won after crash recovery.
My husband (then boyfriend) made me watch an entire NBC presentation a few years ago. I thought it would be really boring, but by the end I was cheering at the screen!
Last year was the first I really followed the event after taking up tri myself. It was great following all the Danish athletes and especially Michelle Vesterby who finished 8.
I’ve seen snippets many times but last year spent a few hours on-line and checking out more specific segments – amazing stuff.
Everytime I watch it during my indoor workouts I find them motivating in whole different way… No matter which KONA I watch.
Julie Moss’ finish in 1982. I was furious that they didn’t stop her and would have been furious if they had. Awesome, horrifying and inspiring. link to youtube.com
Three years ago my friend introduced me to this crazy sport of Ironman via the Kona packaged show. I got so obsessed with each of the stories and athletes that I watched that year each time it was rerun and now look forward to it every year.
i always like to see the mini cannon shooting for the swimming start.
Well, I first came across while watching a documentary about a father finishing the Ironmann in Kona with his son diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Just gave this competition yet another meaning.
Julie Moss
I don’t remember when I first watched Kona but I think it was before I ever became interested in triathlon. I’m a total sap for the regular people stories that they include in the TV broadcast. I also love watching the pros gut it out…truly impressive!
Watching people climb over each other in the swim!
1989, one of the best ever with two legends fighting for first (Mark Allen, Dave Scott), and future winner Greg Welch arriving third. That race made me start running seriously. I was a swimmer and occasional cyclist.
My dad yelled at me to run over to the tv and I found that he was watching the Kona triathlon. He suggested I try it since around that time I did my first duathlon.
Chrissie Wellington on utube. Mind blowing…
When my wife and I first got into Triathlon in 2009 we watched the IM Kona video at a Tri Camp and were completely in awe of the distance – no way, not us! 6 years later – 3x Ironman finishers.
Started watching in the early 90’s. Amazed by those age-groupers taking on the punishing conditions.
When I was young catching a few minutes on TV. That was back when the Tour de France was only aired late at night for 30 minutes, before the internet.
Watching 2 women literally crawl towards the finish line…
The best: seeing Chrissie Wellington come out of nowhere to win
I saw a news clip a few years back and thought it looked painful. Fast forward and now I’m dealing with the pain.
I was probably 8 or 9 and there was a recap (don’t think it was live) on TV. My neighbor from San Diego was in the race that year, so we all watched the show.
Watched last year for the first time. Inspired me to run my first half marathon. Hard to fathom running an ironman.
watching scratchy footage on Saturday afternoon sports with some weird NBC announcer
Offshore on a boat delivery. Miserable conditions……but glad Imwasnt suffering on the lava flats!