Kona Race Recap 2023

Ironman World Championships - The Women have their day in Kona!

For the first time in the history of the sport, the women had the entire Kona spotlight on them, when they lined up for the Ironman World Championships on Saturday morning. 

An event where 2,200 women put on a show under the scorching Hawaiian sun. In the professional field, most of the sports greats have even admitted that the depth of the field was like nothing ever seen in Kona before.

The bar was raised and as a result we witnessed another historical moment at a World Championships this year, with Briton´s Lucy Charles-Barclay breaking the course record.

Our Lisa Norden in only her 2nd attempt at the Ironman World Championships, after finishing 5th on her debut last year, returned in an attempt to go better this year. 

Exiting the water in 19th position after a very nervous swim with a lot of ´fast swimmers´ eager to give themselves a strong start. Riding out on the Queen K, she positioned herself well in a big group. However, with haunted memories of that 2022 bike penalty, she took caution before quickly doing what she does best, using her bike strength to reel her way back through to the head of a chasing trio. Eventually making her way into 4th place on the road and looking very much in control in her preferred discipline. She managed the 5th fastest split of the day and entered T2 with a 10 minute deficit to Charles-Barclay. However, soon into the marathon she didn't feel at her best…and the sun, the heat and the fast racing started taking its toll.