IM World Champ Preview: The Women

Now in Kona, but here’s what I put together yesterday! You’ll hear more from me soon!

II’m sitting on the plane right now geeking out on the week of Ironman ahead, so what better time than to write my Kona preview?! Before I get to that, just a quick note to keep up with my shennanigans over at enduranceplanet.com, and on our facebook page, key word endurance planet. 

So as with Vegas Worlds, I wrote the Official  Ironman World Championships Men and Women's Preview that everyone will get in their Ironman Program over at the race. And, again, I’m left with a ton of stats and notes on the top pros that I want to share in my own race preview.... This time I'm giving you 10 out of the 12 who I featured...

Kona: The Women

Mirinda "Rinny" Carfrae

Notable:

Rinny changed coaches this year, leaving Siri Lindley and working with Matt XXX. ALthough, she said she’s actually doing more self-coaching and has been mostly working with Matt on bike training. Her year has been a bit lackluster in terms of results, but I think she’s the type of athlete who can pull it together when it matters — i.e. Kona. But she’ll have tough competition, especially in Caroline Steffan, who’s already beat her in an Ironman this year, as did Rachel Joyce (Melbourne).

2012 Results:

3^rd Ironman Melbourne 9:04, behind Steffen and Joyce

3^rd NOLA 70.3

9^th St Anthony’s

1^st Rev3 Quassy

DNF Eagelman 70.3

1^st Lake Stevens 70.3, fastest run

DNF Vegas 70.3 Worlds, nutrition issue

Kona Results:

2011- 2^nd with faster run than CW just by about 40 seconds, with a 2:52:09.

2010- 1^st, 2:53:32 run

2009- 2^nd in her Ironman debut; fastest run

Caroline Steffan

Notable:

At IM Melbourne she shattered the course with a 8:34:51, getting close close to Chrissie Wellington’s WTC Ironman record from 2011 South Africa. And she set the fastest bike ever of 4:35:29. She’s probably having her best year ever and is definitely one of my picks for the podium. Maybe it’s her new coach, Brett Sutton.

2012 Results:

3^rd Abu Dhabi

1^st Ironman Melbourne 

5^th May Ironman 70.3 Austria

1^st July Frankfurter Sparkasse IM Euro Championships

1^st ITU LD World Championships

Kona Results:

2011- 5^th

2010-2^nd

Leanda Cave

Notable:

Leanda had a rocky beginning to 2012. A win followed by a couple DNS' due to injury – she tweaked back in a t-run that had her down for several weeks. By Vineman she hadn’t trained well in a month due to that injury so still a great showing all things considered. She showed us she was back to good form, if not better, when she won Vegas Worlds. She’s on my list for the podium, too.

2012 Results:

4^th 70.3 South America Champs in Panama 

4^th Wildflower 4:36:24 May

2^nd Colombia 5150 May

1^st Escape from Alcatraz

DNS Syracruse 

DNS Muncie 

5^th Vineman 

3^rd Boulder 

15^th HyVee 

1^st Vegas 70.3 Worlds

Kona Results:

2011- 3^rd

2010- 10th

2009- 21^st

2008- DNF

Linsey Corbin

Notable:

I think LInsey is ready for another big year in Kona. At Honu 70.3 she set a course record in 4:26:09, on what’s said to be some of the toughest conditions that course has seen. And then at Austria she went 9:09:58, edging out Erica Csomor. To me, she epitomizes someone who has a great mental game, and is willing to work hard to achieve great things. Sounds like she had some bad luck at Vegas with a bike mechanical, so I’m sure she’s even more hungry for a good Kona.

2012 Results:

2^nd Puerto Rico 70.3

5^th Oceanside 70.3

2^nd Wildflower

1^st Hawaii 70.3 

5^th Boise

1^st Ironman Austria 

Kona Results:

2011-16^th

2010-12th

2009-12th

2008- 5^th (first American)

Mary Beth Ellis

Notable:

Not too many people can, or would want to, do what Ellis has done: She’s won 5 of 6 Ironmans she’s done all since her IM debut in 2011, breaking records along the way for rookie, race course, American record. She’s also coached by Brett Sutton. Hm. 

2012 Results:

1^st Ironman Texas 

1^st Alpe d’Huez Triathlon

1^st Ironman NYC 

Kona Results:

2011-15^th

Kelly Williamson

Notable:

Although she’s raced a lot this year, she hasn’t done an Ironman since IMAZ in late 2011. Her secret weapon will be her run, and with a couple years of Kona experience, I expect her to have things figured out more for her best race to date. 

2012 Results:

2^nd 70.3 South America Champs 

1^st Puerto Rico 70.3

1^st Texas 70.3 US Championships

5^th St. Anthony’s 5150 

1^st Rev3 Knoxville Olympic

6^th Rev3 Quassy Half

1^st Muncie 

6^th Hyvee 2:04:26, posting the fastest female run of the day with a 36:14.

2^nd Vegas 70.3 Worlds

Kona Results:

2011-13^th

2010-15^th

Rachel Joyce

Notable:

She beat Rinny at Ironman Melbourne this year, and while that was no Kona, Joyce is showing steady improvement at the long stuff. She’s been on the verge of a Kona podium, and has what it takes. She finished Roth in 8:45:04, making her the ETU European Long Distance Champion.

2012 Results:

2^nd IM Melbourne

1^st IM 70.3 Kansas

1^st Challenge Roth

Kona Results:

2011- 4^th

2010-5^th

2009-7th

Heather Wuertele

Notable:

Won her first Ironman in 2010, and she knows how to race these things well when conditions are at their toughest. She went on to win two IMs in 2011--St. George and Lake Placid. She was on track for another W this year until that fiasco at CdA. Read her blog if you don’t know the story. Trying to do a make-up Ironman right after has its positives and negatives. I’m sure she’s hungry for a great Kona run, but hpoefully she’s rested up enough — mentally and physically.

2012 Results:

2^nd Rev3 Quassy

2^nd Ironman 70.3 New Orleans

8^th Ironman 70.3 Texas, US Pro Championships

DQ Ironman CdA - mechanical issue

8^th July Frankfurter Sparkasse IM Euro Championships (2 weeks post mile 21 run DQ)

1^st Timberman 70.3

Vegas 70.3 Worlds

Kona Results:

2011-8th

2010-

2009-DNF

2008-DNF

Meredith Kessler

Notable:

I think MBK tried to be strong and downplay the broken vertebrae she suffered in a bike accident, but it clearly took its toll as we saw in Vegas. But she’s a trooper and another athlete I consider to have one of the best mental games. No one has results like she’s had this year if they don’t know how to suffer. It’s been her best year ever, and as long as she didn’t do too much, I’m sure she wants to end it on a high note (and being that Dixon is her coach, I’m sure they have it under control so she races well in Kona). Not to mention, I think she’s been one of those who’s been patient about really racing Kona to be at the top, and I think she’s now ready to unleash.

2012 Results:

1^st IM NZ shortened to a 70.3 due to weather 

3^rd Oceanside

1^st Ironman St George (15 OA)

1^st Eagelman 70.3

1^st Ironman CdA

2^nd Rev3 Portland

1^st Vineman 70.3

Vegas 70.3 Worlds

Kona Results:

2010-26^th

2008- 17th

Caitlin Snow

Notable:

Caitlin has two top 10s in Kona so far, and she's one of the few that can master a sub-3:00 run. In 2010 she ran 2:56:04 run, last year she ran a 2:53 I think. I don’t think she’s given enough credit in the media as being one of the big players — she always races well and consistently. I plan on doing a podcast with her after Kona, and I’m excited to find out more about her!

2012 Results:

4^th Texas 70.3

5^th NOLA 70.3

2^nd Ironman Texas

1^st Rhode Island 70.3 RI

2^nd Timberman 70.3

Kona Results:

2011- 9^th

2010- 8^th 

2009- 15^th

2008-12^th