Pau Hana: 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Daily Recap for Sunday, October 2, 2022

October 4, 2022

KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i / TAMPA, Fla. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Race week for the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship kicked off today in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i and with it, the plethora of activities and events. In the return of world’s most iconic endurance sports event, which is taking place for the first time in a two-day format on Thursday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 8, the excitement is Kona is palpable.

Here is the daily Pau Hana, a Hawaiian phrase meaning “end of the workday,” recapping highlights from the last 24 hours.

Ho`ala IRONMAN^® Training Swim

It was a busy day in Kailua Bay starting with the Ho`ala IRONMAN^® Training Swim. With a 7:00 AM start, athletes took advantage of the opportunity to experience the ROKA 2.4-mile ocean swim course ahead of race day. While some used the morning to get in the race day mindset, others enjoyed their morning coffee in Kailua Bay.

IRONKIDS^® Keiki Dip-n-Dash

The start line on Ali’i Drive near Kailua Pier was buzzing Sunday afternoon, as future IRONMAN athletes lined up to race the IRONKIDS^® Keiki Dip-n-Dash. With three different distances to choose from – a 0.25-mile run, a 1-mile run, and a swim-run combo – there was a race for kids of all ages. The IRONKIDS Keiki Dip-n-Dash offers young athletes the opportunity to feel the excitement of competition while enjoying the outdoors, promoting healthy living, and learning about clean sport. Each athlete received a race bib, finisher shirt, medal, goodie bag and the pride of calling themselves an IRONKID!

Cheers erupted when Mike Reilly, the Voice of IRONMAN, asked, “Who’s gonna run fast today?!” And after some pre-race stretching, 6-time IRONMAN champion Mark Allen offered the young athletes some words of inspiration: “You get to race before everyone else, so show them how to do it! Go hard at the end – that’s where it really counts.”

The kiddos took his advice to heart, giving it their all during the out-and-back down Ali’i Drive and sprinting to the finish line. “Finishing was my favorite part!” said Maddie F., 8, from Colorado. Siblings Grace and Jack C. from Australia also loved the finish line, but for Jack, the aid station was a close second.

The best part for Hanna R was her transition. “It was short!” says the 9-year-old from Connecticut. Spoken like a true triathlete! And as a strong swimmer – she’s on the swim team at home – the salty swim in Kailua Bay, home of the 2.4-mile swim of the IRONMAN World Championship, was also a highlight.

‘I AM TRUE’ DAY

Today marked the 12th I AM TRUE Day. The I AM TRUE initiative focuses on important work with athletes and the triathlon community to promote clean sport and the integrity of IRONMAN racing through outreach and anti-doping activities.

IRONMAN’s I AM TRUE message has always been about protecting the integrity of racing and ensuring that athletes know and understand their rights and responsibilities. Using the hashtag #KNOWTHERULES, the scope of the initiative goes beyond the Anti-Doping Program to include all aspects of fair racing that are part of the IRONMAN Competition Rules, including drafting, personal conduct, and mechanical doping.

I AM TRUE Day also celebrates the next generation of athletes by bringing its message to the IRONKIDS^® Keiki Dip-n-Dash event which took place on Sunday, October 2 at 4 PM at Ka`ahumanu Place.
The IRONMAN Anti-Doping Program partners with National Anti-Doping Agencies worldwide to execute in and out of competition testing and to coordinate strategic testing plans on professional and age-group athletes throughout the year. Participants of the IRONMAN World Championship are a priority focus of the testing program, which includes extensive pre-competition testing program carried out in Hawaii both prior to and throughout race week. Doping Control Officers of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will conduct all testing. WADA Accredited laboratories will analyze both urine and dried blood spot testing to ensure immediate and independent scientific oversight of all results.

To learn more about the I AM TRUE campaign and the IRONMAN Anti-Doping Program, visit www.ironman.com/anti-doping or follow on Twitter at @IMAntiDoping. Visit www.wada-ama.org to learn more about The World Anti-Doping Agency.

Looking Ahead to Tomorrow

The VinFast IRONMAN World Championship’s events continue Monday with Athlete Check-in from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel (KBH) Ballrooms 2, 3, 4. The Parade of Nations will take place at 3:00 PM processing from the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel (KBH) to Hale Hālāwai, Ali`i Drive (athletes gather at 2:00 PM). The Merchandise Tents and Partner Activations will remain abuzz throughout The IRONMAN Village area.

The VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Media Center opens Monday, Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. in King Kamehameha Hotel Ballroom 1. Media can check in until 4 p.m.

For more information about the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship event, please visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

###

About the IRONMAN World Championship

Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu, the IRONMAN World Championship has etched its name in history through stellar performances, inspirational participants and emotional memories. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikīkī to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i where it continues to take place to this day. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots. The 2021 edition of the event took place in St. George, Utah in May 2022, becoming the first location to host the event outside of Hawai`i since its origins in 1978. After a two-year hiatus from Hawai`i due to COVID, the race returns to Kona and takes place for the first time as a two-day event in October for the 2022 edition of the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship. The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship will see the event continue with the two-day format but with a dedicated race day for women and dedicated race day for men. With two days of racing, the event will host approximately 5,000 athletes as they embark on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit to earn the title of IRONMAN World Champion. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events including Haute Route^®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance 

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.