Top Hawai'i triathlete training for 'Super Bowl'
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
The world's finest triathletes are returning to Honolulu, and this time, Hawai'i's Tim Marr will be joining them in Saturday's JAL Honolulu International Triathlon Union World Cup in Waikiki.
When: Saturday, World Cup races: women, 9 a.m., men 11:30; next Sunday, age-group race, 6 a.m. Where: Waikiki/East Honolulu Distance: 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10-kilometer run Top Women: U.S. 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Susan Williams, Americans Barb Lindquist, Sheila Taormina, Laura Reback Top Men: New Zealand 2004 Olympic gold medalist Hamish Carter and silver medalist Bevan Docherty. Canada 2000 Olympic gold medalist Simon Whitfield. Top American finisher 2004 Olympics Hunter Kemper.
"It's the biggest race I've ever done, and probably the biggest race I'll ever do," said Marr, 26, who has dominated Hawai'i triathlons recently, winning seven of nine last year, including the Honolulu Triathlon and the Honu Triathlon. "It's like being a University of Hawai'i football player and they call you saying, 'Why don't you play in the Super Bowl in Jacksonville.' It's like, 'wow!' "
WHAT: JAL Honolulu International Triathlon Union World Cup, and JAL Honolulu Triathlon (age-group race)
Marr received an exemption to compete in the Honolulu World Cup. He and Matt Seymour, 20, will be the only Hawai'i competitors in the race that features several of the world's top professional men and women triathletes, including men's Olympic gold medal winners Hamish Carter of New Zealand (2004) and Simon Whitfield of Canada (2000).
The women's race starts at 9 a.m. at Waikiki Beach, followed by the men at 11:30 a.m.
Last year, more than 55,000 spectators watched the United States Olympic Team Trials Triathlon in Waikiki, according to organizers.
Saturday's course consists of two 750-meter swim loops off Waikiki Beach, five bike loops from Kapi'olani Park to around Diamond Head, including the climb up Kilauea Avenue, and four run loops on Kalakaua Avenue from Kapi'olani Park to Ka'iulani Avenue and back to the park.
Marr this month trained with the Canadian national team and gold medalist Whitfield. Marr said he's anxious to meet the star-studded, 75-man field at the Honolulu World Cup.
"I'm definitely going to be awestruck," said Marr, a graduate of Mililani High School and Hawai'i-Hilo, where he was an all-conference cross country runner. "I've trained as hard as I can. I've prepared really hard. I hope it's good enough. Right now it's a big honor to race with those guys."
Marr said he's been training 20 to 25 hours a week in preparation. He swims 15 miles, runs 40 miles and bikes 12 to 15 hours a week.
"He has tremendous ability to stay focused and train harder than any athlete I've ever seen," said friend Raul "Boca" Torres, who runs Boca Hawai'i, a multi-sport training group, and also teaches triathlon techniques with Marr. "He loves what he's doing. He really has a passion for it."
The top triathletes will likely finish Saturday's race in less than two hours, according to race director John Korff. The race is part of the International Triathlon Union tour that includes 14 World Cup races around the world. The Honolulu race is the only one in America.
"I said to Tim, 'If you finish in the top half or top 40, this is like a career-altering move for you,' " Korff said. "He's (26) and (the 2008 Olympics) is just around the corner."
In preparation for the World Cup, Marr has practiced several training scenarios. One such scenario has him riding with groups of bikers to acclimate himself to the draft-legal race.
"They ride very close to each other so he gets used to the jostling within a pack," Korff said.
In addition, Marr has a friend who "rides a motorcycle at 40 mph" with Marr furiously pedaling in close pursuit, Korff said.
"Tim's a very neat guy," Korff said. "He's just a normal guy; he just happens to be really fast."
Marr, who participated in the Waikiki Roughwater Swim when he was 6, has also practiced swimming scenarios.
"He's always been in the front of all his races, but these guys are Olympians," Korff said of Saturday's field. "He's been practicing swimming with other people swimming on top of him almost, so he gets used to swimming in a congested area."
One of the toughest biking sections of Saturday's race is the Kilauea Avenue hill, which runs behind Kapi'olani Community College. Bikers must ascend the steep hill five times. Riders must be relaxed, but push hard enough to stay with the pack, Marr said.
"It's a real wicked climb," Marr said. "You have to be controlled and have success riding that hill."
Marr said he's trained nearly half a year for this race, and he hopes to finish with a strong performance.
"It's going to be a learning experience," Marr said. "I don't want any mistakes. Placing-wise, I can't really say. I'm just going to give my 100 percent."
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
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The JAL Honolulu Triathlon, an event that will span two days, will be held next weekend.
The World Cup, a competition for the world's elite triathletes, will be held Saturday. The age group event will be held Sunday.
Here are the events that are part of the Honolulu Triathlon:
Jamba Juice Rock Around the Park
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles) and 10K (6.2 miles) runs
Where: Niketown and Kapi'olani Park
When: Today, 7 a.m.
What: At each mile marker, runners will be entertained by music and rock and roll tunes performed by live bands. Both races start at Niketown, run down Kalakaua to Kapi'olani Park, with loops around the park.
Hustle Up the Hyatt Stair Climb
Where: Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa
When: Tuesday, 11 a.m.
What: The Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Emergency Medical Service will compete in a race up the staircase within the Hyatt (556 steps).
Note: The top finishers qualify for a spot in the 2006 Empire State Building Run-Up in New York City.
School visit
Where: Honolulu Center for the Deaf and Blind
When: Tuesday, 1 p.m.
What: Disabled triathlete Aaron Scheidies will visit school and share his story. Scheidies is a two-time blind triathlon world champion.
Parade of Nations Ceremony
Where: Hula Mound on Kuhi'o Beach, near Duke Kahanamoku Statue
When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
What: Ceremony to honor the American and international athletes competing in the JAL International Triathlon Union World Cup and the JAL Honolulu Triathlon age group race.
Foodland/Kraft Keiki Triathlon
Where: Kapi'olani Park and San Souci Beach
When: Saturday, 7 a.m.
What: Keiki, ages 7 to 14, take part in event with distances varying depending on age group.
Sign-up: To register: www.honolulutriathlon.com or www.teamjethawaii.com.
International Triathlon Union World Cup
Where: Course includes a 1,500-meter (1 mile) swim in Waikiki, a 40k (25 miles) bike race around Diamond Head (five loops) and a 10K (6.2 miles) run along Kalakaua (four loops), with a finish inside Kapi'olani Park.
When: Saturday Women at 9 a.m.
Men at about 11:30 a.m.
What: The JAL ITU World Cup is one of only 12 World Cup events this year and the only one in the United States. Athletes compete for points that help determine who qualifies for the 2005 world championships.
Notes: The first American male and female automatically qualify for the 2005 World Championships in Japan. ... About 150 male and female competitors expected.
JAL Honolulu Triathlon
Where: Course similar to that of elite athletes.
When: Next Sunday, 6 a.m.
What: About 1,200 participants expected to compete in age group race.
Sign-up: www.honolulutriathlon.com.
