Miyakojima, one of the southern-most islands of Okinawa and self-proclaimed “Triathlon Island” hosted a lovely race this past weekend. Miyakojima has ocean like a postcard from Bora Bora, the kindest people I have met anywhere, and some great, empty roads for riding! The race is not quite a full-distance tri – the swim is 3K, the bike 155K and the run 42K. Each year about 5000 people, mostly residents of Japan, apply for 1500 bibs. The population of Miyakojima is only 56,000 and I have no doubt every single resident was out on Sunday, whether it be racing, volunteering or just cheering us all on with “Waido!” & “Gumbate!” – loosely translated Waido is “you can do it” and Gumbate is “go giant blonde girl” or something like that.

This was my second go at a long distance triathlon, and apparently I still have a lot to learn. See race rundown for details:

The swim was a mass start, wetsuit legal in 23 degree C water. It was brutal! I was scared for my life. But I came out alive in 47 minutes, in 5th place among the women, with a bloody mouth and my first wetsuit swim accomplished.

The bike course took us around the island 1.5 times, and across two bridges onto nearby islands. The headwinds and rolling hills made it challenging in places, but the scenery was gorgeous. With 140K down and only 15K to go, I got dizzy and my vision started tunnelling and I suddenly knew the meaning of the word ‘bonk.’ I stumbled (literally) into T2 and ate everything I could get my hands on. I had bumped up two places into third while out on my speedy red Trek, but was unsure that I was going to be able to run in my dizzy state. I vaguely remember being unable to focus on the RD’s face and wondering aloud to him if he was going to find my body on the side of the road somewhere out there.

The out & back marathon took us through the center of the island – downhill on our way out and then on back up. I spent the first 10K jogging, eating, getting my vision back and trying to stay cool in the extreme heat/humidity. Somehow I recovered enough to see straight, but I was still focused on my health and not feeling at all competitive. At the turn around I checked my watch and realized I had managed to maintain the 4 min deficit I had on the leaders at T2. My roommate, German superstar Silvi Czaika, informed me at 25K that I was only 2 min back and that the leaders, Japanese pros Emi Shiono & Naomi Iwaizumi, were running side by side and ‘struggling’ and to GO GET THEM! At the top of a long hill near the 30K marker I caught a glimpse of the press car lights – just the motivation I needed to pick up the pace. At 35K I rounded a corner to find them less than 800m up. I passed with 5K to go as fast as I could and then just held on for dear life. Naomi, an incredible athlete and IM Korea champ, chased me for 2K before falling back, and then Emi, the defending Strongman champ, made a go as well. By now we were climbing towards the stadium where the race finished and I was playing every mind game I could come up with to hold the pace.. all the while cursing myself for passing too early and being stuck with this ungodly pace for an entire 5K.

In the end it paid off and I won, eeking out a 3:23 marathon, a little better than the 6-hour deathmarch I was envisioning when I left T2! Total race time was 8:44 and change, with Emi coming in 1:10 back and Naomi another minute behind her for third.

The Miyakojimans know how to celebrate. The party was awesome and I made many new friends. I was given a return trip as a prize, among other great gifts, and will certainly go back to do it again next year. If any of you are considering a long race that’s off the beaten path, I can’t recommend Strongman Japan enough. I met wonderful athletes from Germany, Austria and Australia, and look forward to seeing Emi & Naomi in Kona this year – they were so much fun.

I have also decided that earthquakes are lucky – we had a rocking 6.0 centered in Miyakojima two days prior to the race while sitting in the mayor’s office on the 5th floor of a building of questionable engineering. Very exciting!

~rr