TEAM CPFU" is a sports community jointly established by Champion's training wear line "CPFU" and "IMPRINT," which is headed by Kosuke Kitajima. The team brought together people from all walks of life with the goal of completing the Honolulu Triathlon, and after about six months of training, they took on the challenge. Here is a report on the race.
One of the most beautiful triathlon races in the world. There is no time limit and the course is flat, so you can reach the goal at your own pace. Relay, 10km run, and kids' races are also held at the same time. This time, TEAM CPFU members entered the Olympic distance (Swim 1.5km→Bike 40km→Run 10km) and Sprint distance (Swim 0.75km→Bike 20km→Run 5km).
Two days before the race. The day before the race, we had a joint training session at Ala Moana Regional Park, the start/finish point of the race. We started with stretching to loosen up the stiffness of the body after a long flight.
Next, a run along the seaside. We run slowly so that our bodies can adjust to the temperature difference from Japan. The sun's rays are sharp, but the low humidity is very comfortable. The solid design of [CPFU] fits well in any situation and is very comfortable to wear. Sweat dries quickly.
During swim practice, participants swim the actual race course. The Honolulu ocean is clear and the waves are gentle, but the sensation of swimming in a pool is completely different from swimming in the ocean. The saltiness of the water is very hard on the body. You lose all sense of direction. And anyway, the sense of openness is extraordinary. By experiencing a race once in advance, you will be able to visualize the race more realistically.
The day concluded with bike assembly and tuning by Hiroki Takamine of the triathlon pro store Hi-Ridge. Bike management and tuning is an important part of triathlon. It is very reassuring to be able to entrust the tuning to a professional.
One day later, the day before the race. The day started with bike practice. We rode in a group along the Honolulu coastline. We rode gently for about 15KM so as not to leave fatigue in the legs.
In between swim practice, there was an accident. TEAM CPFU member Kane Kosugi dared to jump into the ocean and pick up his hat, which had been snatched by a wave during a wedding photo shoot. This is the moment when we witnessed why he is a hero.
Honolulu is one of the world's leading resort destinations. The people who live there all exude a generous mood. The two people in the photo were relaxing at "Ala Moana Regional Park," playing ukulele and guitar and singing. It seemed to convey their attitude of being content with this beautiful nature and life as it is. The idyllic nature of the race is probably unique to Honolulu.
The day before the race, go to bed early. On the day of the race, I woke up at 2:30 AM local time and gathered at the hotel lobby at 4:00 AM. We are sleep deprived, but our minds are strangely clear and our bodies are light. All team members headed for the starting point together. After a quick inspection of our luggage, including bikes, numbers, number/tattoo stickers to be affixed to our arms, shoes, and helmets, we head to the starting point. Before dawn, I feel a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
The triathlon consists of a series of swim, bike, and run events based on a "transition area". You will have your own designated space in the area, where you will set up your bike and running shoes in advance, and use that area as a base from which to switch between the three events!
How accurately and quickly can you connect swim, bike, and run? Advance preparation plays an important role. It is also important to remember your designated position so that you can go straight to your area when you get out of the water.
Bananas, which are easy to digest, are a good source of nutrition right before a race. This kind of support is also a pleasure. Model Loran Takigawa does not look nervous at all.
There is only one hour left before the race start. As for the mental aspect, it can be improved until the middle of the race. Because we are not a group of serious athletes, we need to know how to enjoy ourselves, how to do our best, and how to do our best without giving in to ourselves. Because we are a team, we encourage each other and exchange advice to keep our spirits up. The time for the start is approaching.
Dawn breaks, early in the morning at 6:00 am. The race will be held in wave starts for each age group and gender. Just before the start, a sense of tension fills the air. The countdown rings out.
The race finally gets underway! In the top group, there is a fierce battle for position. It is said that "the swim of professional swimmers is a martial art. They hit each other very hard in the water.
Naomi Takamine, who was in charge of swim coaching for TEAM CPFU, finished the swim with the top women's time. The team's unique appeal is that all participants, from coaches to management to the media, transcended their respective barriers to complete the race together.
Daisuke Hosokawa, a former Japanese record holder in swimming, completed the swim in a quintessential time. The bike and run remain, but at this point, his entire body is exhausted.
After the 1.5 km swim, it's on to the 40 km bike. Anyway, we will continue to ride single-mindedly on the flat road. They say that the 40 km bike ride can be longer or shorter depending on the equipment used. Of course, the better the bike, the more efficient it is, but the most important thing is to choose the right one for you. The occasional rain was nice and the headwind was tough. Personally, the bike was the hardest part.
Talented Wataru Mori is also the former captain of the Nissan University Triathlon Club. Despite having trouble in the swim, he made up for it on the bike. He was passed lightly. Before the race, he said, "I will do my best for my wife, Tomoko Kaneda, and the baby she is carrying in her belly. He said.
The 10km run is a course that circles the outer edge of Ala Moana Regent Park twice. It is not a long distance if it is just the run, but it is hard for the body that is fatigued from the swim and bike. It is a different kind of toughness from the last 10km of a full marathon, but strangely enough, I was able to enjoy it until the end.
What is the general image of triathlon? Until I actually tried it myself, I thought it was a stoic, solitary, and just plain hard sport. It is a highly conscious sport that only a limited number of people engage in. Or should I say, it is a sport that only a limited number of people engage in. However, this image was slowly overturned as I actually got involved. The participating members told me, "Go for it on the run! I was really empowered by the fact that we were able to say to each other, "Go for it!
And the goal. We exhausted all our strength. Although there were a few accidents, all "TEAM CPFU" members were able to reach the goal safely.
High-fiving immediately after a race is an incredibly good feeling. Wataru Mori, who was one of the first to cross the finish line, accompanied his team members just before they crossed the finish line, sharing the joy of the moment with many others.
A sense of accomplishment that lies beyond the pain. Perhaps the appeal of being a team is that we can share various thoughts and feelings because we have been working together since the training stage. I felt the depth of the sport of triathlon when, in addition to swimming and running, two of the most primitive exercises for humans, a bike race that uses tools, a symbol of human evolution, was included. In a sense, it is a very human sport.
Participant Kazushi Watanabe overcame his difficulty in the swim to complete the race. Another unique feature of TEAM CPFU is that it attracts businessmen from various occupations and industries.
As we grow older, it becomes more and more difficult to build simple relationships. However, I was able to build a refreshingly pleasant and flat relationship with the members of the group, who came together from completely different backgrounds with the goal of "finishing the race. I think the magic of Honolulu and the free and neutral mood of CPFU had a lot to do with this.
Set a goal and keep working toward it. What is difficult to do alone, we can continue to do because we work as a team. And the joy of accomplishment is multiplied many times over. TEAM CPFU" will continue in the future.
