Road To Kona Videos

Chris Lieto had the race of his life at the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship, led for the better part of the day, but ended up second to a fast closing Craig Alexander. He came on to discuss his thoughts on the race and the improvements in his running that came from spending six weeks in Mammoth training with Ryan Hall, Deena Kastor, Josh Cox and New York City Marathon champion Meb Kelflezighi.

Craig Alexander came on with us from Australia after his second consecutive Ford Ironman World Championship.  Alexander made up over 12 minutes on Chris Lieto during the marathon to win a true Ironman Classic.

2007 Ford Ironman Champion Chris McCormack came in studio with us to talk about Ironman 2009.

Chris Lieto has always been considered one of the best cyclists in the sport of triathlon. But to win in Kona, he knew that he had to become a better runner. This summer he spent time up at Mammoth Mountain training with 2:06:17 marathoner Ryan Hall, Olympic Marathon Silver Medalist Meb Keflezighi and the American Record Holder at 50K Josh Cox to hopefully take his running to the next level. With Kona less than two weeks away, Chris Lieto can’t wait for race day!Chris Lieto has always been considered one of the best cyclists in the sport of triathlon. But to win in Kona, he knew that he had to become a better runner. This summer he spent time up at Mammoth Mountain training with 2:06:17 marathoner Ryan Hall, Olympic Marathon Silver Medalist Meb Keflezighi and the American Record Holder at 50K Josh Cox to hopefully take his running to the next level. With Kona less than two weeks away, Chris Lieto can’t wait for race day!

Ronnie Schildknecht from Switzerland took fourth in Kona last year and, at the age of 30, is looked upon as someone who can one day win the Ironman. How about this for a little bit of an athletic pedigree? His grandfather raced in the Tour de France and Schildknecht, since he grew up playing tennis, actually went head-to-head with Roger Federer when they were both teenagers. Federer came out on top 6-4, 6-4.

In 2007 Scott Rigsby became the first double leg amputee to finish the Ironman and he came on THE COMPETITORS to go through his amazing journey. The story of his life is called Unthinkable and the book is available now at www.unthinkablethebook.com .

Yvonne Van Vlerken from the Netherlands took second in Kona last year to Chrissie Wellington. She came on the show with Thomas Vonach to talk about her training up at Lake Tahoe and her plans to one day to move up one spot and win the most important event in triathlon.

On October 10th, Chrissie Wellington will be trying to do something that only Dave Scott, Mark Allen, Paula Newby-Fraser and Natascha Badmann have done before: Win the Ford Ironman World Championship three times in a row.

Kyle Garlett is a living miracle. He has overcome numerous bouts with cancer, had both his hip and shoulder replaced and, most recently, received a heart transplant. So why is this guy on THE COMPETITORS? Because on the three year anniversary of receiving his heart, on Saturday October 10, 2009, he’s going to try and become the first heart transplant recipient to complete the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

Dave Scott came on with us to chat about IronWar, the classic confrontation back in 1989 between himself and Mark Allen. Huddle and I could listen to THE MAN all day long. Epic interview!