Get To Know Our 2018 Team Colorado Kona Athletes

[ps2id id=’hughes’ target=”/]KYLE HUGHES
*What kind of bike do you ride? I ride a dark blue Cervelo P2 with black HED wheels. White Rudy project helmet with visor. Will have white hat on during run.
*Where did you qualify for the Ironman World Championships? I won a spot at Kona through the Ironman lottery drawing. So got super lucky.
*How many Ironman races have you done? This will actually be my first full Ironman. I have done a couple half iron races including the Boulder 70.3 in August.
*How many times have you raced Kona? This will be my first time racing Kona.
*What is your favorite non-race activity on the Big Island – if you have not been – what non-race activity are you most excited about? I Have been to big island several times and really like to go coffee tasting at some of the plantations. Also like to go watch the lava flow into the ocean from Kilauea before the sun comes up, really cool to see. Kona brewery is a mandatory stop as well.
*What is your favorite bike training route? My favorite training ride route is anything on the rural roads outside of Boulder. Great roads with bike friendly drivers.
*What is your favorite post workout/post race treat? Best post race treat is a huge cheeseburger and a beer at Avery Brewery.
*What was one unexpected occurrence on your path to Kona? The most unexpected occurrence on my road to Kona is that I actually get to race Kona! I couldn’t believe my ears when I got the call from Ironman saying I had won.
*Who do you think will win the pro men’s and women’s races this year? Before today’s news that Jan Frodeno was out with a stress fracture I would have picked him to win the men’s race, now I will go with Lionel Sanders for the men Daniela Ryf for the women’s race, but I will be pulling for Mirinda Carfrae.
[ps2id id=’mcrae’ target=”/]BOB McRAE
*What kind of bike do you ride? -Dimond
*Where did you qualify for the Ironman World Championships? -IM-Boulder
*How many Ironman races have you done? -Full IM’s: 16
*How many times have you raced Kona? -4x: 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016
*What is your favorite non-race activity on the Big Island – if you have not been – what non-race activity are you most excited about? -Spending some much needed down-time with the family after
*What is your favorite bike training route? -The IM-Boulder routes
*What is your favorite post workout/post race treat? -Recently, it’s become a warmed cheese danish and two sausage and cheddar sandwiches from Starbucks
*What was one unexpected occurrence on your path to Kona? -Being sidetracked with illness and rediscovering health — a few times! It’s given me a new appreciation for health and hunger for the pursuit of personal perfection
*Who do you think will win the pro men’s and women’s races this year? -Women: easy…Ryf -Men: I hope it’s Sanders