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Before there was an Ironman...
Click here for our Ironman 2011 photos!
Every October, nearly 2,000 competitors from across the planet gather for what many consider to be the ultimate triathlon, consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike race and a 26.2 mile marathon. Though this event began in the late 1970′s, this sort of physical endurance competition is nothing new to the Hawaiian Islands.
For centuries, extreme sports were the norm for Hawaii's warrior and chiefly classes. For example, it was said that a skilled Hawaiian runner could circumnavigate the Big Island in about 8 days (250 miles across rugged lava coastline). Warriors could travel down steep lava hills at up to 70mph on a holua sled. A visiting chief would be met with up to a dozen spears being hurled at him, requiring catching, dodging and deflecting all of them at once. During the makahiki season (Autumn), warriors would compete in many athletic events that included stone rolling, throwing spears and distance running. Even for normal commerce and communication, men could paddle over 100 miles over the open ocean to the other islands. Of course, the most recognized Hawaiian sport, surfing, was a dangerous and arduous competitive sport.
Probably the one historical figure that epitomized this "extreme" sportsmanship of the Hawaiian culture was King Kamehameha the Great. As a young boy, he was known to carry a large round stone through the valleys of Kohala. When he was about 20 years old, he turned over the massive Naha Stone in Hilo, which weighs about 2 tons (the stone now sits in front of the public library in Hilo). His physical prowess was unmatched during his lifetime.
So whether you are a triathlete or not, remember as the Ironman gets going that our modern competitions here in the Islands are a continuation of centuries of such activities. And also remember, you don't have to be a triathlete to get into the Great Outdoors!
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