Chasing Kona

Two local doctors reflect on the preparation, training and support that led them to last October’s Ironman World Championship

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The cannon sounded, and a mass of bodies surged forward. Above the water, hundreds of bobbing swimming caps merged into one, while underneath, the battle began. With each stroke, Rob Green and Marion “Moose” Herring battled for position. It was like swimming in a washing machine for more than an hour. But that was nothing compared to the heat from the lava fields and the 140.6 miles ahead.

This was the scene at the Ironman World Championship, held on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kailua-Kona last October. As Richmond-based physicians with a passion for triathlons, Green and Herring knew the 35-year history of the coveted event and what was in store. They had heard tales of running through small villages, traversing scorching lava fields and biking in legendary crosswinds that can reach as high as 60 mph.

Green, a chiropractor, and Herring, a physician focused on sports medicine, both treat sports injuries in the endurance community, so when not competing in triathlons, the duo often works together with the same patients. With a medical background and a deep understanding of the challenges ahead, Herring and Green spent every non-working, non-family hour training individually and together for the biggest race of their lives. Here’s their story of preparation, commitment and teamwork.

Dr. Rob Green of Active Chiropractic

Kona finish: 9:56. Swim, 1:02; bike, 5:12; run, 3:31

I’d like to say my preparation began right before Kona, but that would be a lie. It really started years ago when I moved to Richmond, joined Richmond Tri Club, and met not just one but many people who had raced Ironman — some even Kona. There I was, just thinking about doing sprint and Olympic distances, and, just like that, the impossible became somewhat tangible.

My first Ironman was in Florida, and I was scared to death but blown away by the number of people and support crew, as well as the overall production. There’s something about getting ready to jump in the ocean with thousands of new friends that is humbling and made me appreciate the collective effort behind every single person getting to that starting line.

Shortly after Florida, and still being relatively new to town, my wife decided to set me up on what she calls a “blind date” with a like-minded endurance athlete. This coffee-shop meeting was with Dr. Herring, and was the beginning of what we now call the Steel Hammer training team, a group of some of the funniest and toughest guys in Richmond. We started training together, traveling with our families to races and pushing each other to reach our individual goals.

Between Florida and Kona, there were a few Ironman races, but it wasn’t until Mont-Tremblant, my qualifying race, that things clicked for me. I was logging serious miles on my bike, running during every lunch, and became great friends with the ACAC pool. I worked hard with my coach and pushed myself, and had my best race. Getting that Kona slot was a humbling and amazing moment.

Training for Kona was a whole new ballgame. The ACAC saunas helped train for the heat (the Richmond summer helped, too); talking to past local Kona racers helped get my mind ready, and I continued to log the hours on the pavement and in the pool. The race was legendary.

Richmond has a tremendous amount to offer in the triathlon world, and I’m grateful to be a part of this community. Getting to Hawaii is an accomplishment, but what is even more impressive is the amount of support teams, training facilities and active leadership in our own backyard. Every local 5K could be the start of a similar journey for someone. Or, as my wife says, 5K is plenty.

Dr. Marion “Moose” Herring of Advanced Orthopedics’ Sports Medicine Center

Kona finish: 10:37. Swim, 1:03; bike, 5:50; run, 3:29

Back in the late summer of 2013, I sat in a coffee shop talking with local professional athlete Eric Limkemann. My previous year as an endurance athlete had been a disaster. I had qualified for the Boston Marathon and signed up for Ironman Coeur D’Alene. But during a bike race in Charleston, South Carolina, I suffered a crash that was worse than I first thought. I returned home to Richmond and went back into training without proper recovery. That led to a stress fracture of my femur.

There would be no Boston and no Ironman, at least for a year. I was devastated. My base training group and friends in the Steel Hammer Tri-Club, including friend and training partner Dr. Rob Green, encouraged me to give Ironman another try. To do this, I would have to change my training methods.

At the coffee shop, Eric and I hammered out some ambitious goals for 2014: Run the Boston Marathon; make one of the top three podium spots at the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon; compete at the Mont-Tremblant Ironman; and qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Kona.

After two years of being injured, I realized I might take my own advice as a doctor and try yoga. At Hot House Yoga, I was able to rebuild core strength, increase flexibility and balance, and develop focus and concentration.

After running the Boston Marathon and placing third at Alcatraz, my focus became qualifying for Kona. I trained 15 hours every week, logging in sessions before work on the bike trainer in my garage. For swimming, I hit every early session at the Tuckahoe Y that I could, and worked with Jay Peluso at the Swim RVA complex. I alternated these sessions with open-water swim training in the James River. In the afternoons, I would run the trails of the James River Park System.

The training worked, and I qualified at Ironman Mont-Tremblant with Rob. We pushed each other toward the dream of one day racing in Kona, and we would go together.

Richmond has an amazing endurance community, with triathlon and running training teams for every level — not to mention some great open-water training opportunities. I believe it is the group atmosphere of our area that makes such accomplishments possible.