Kona Age Group Excellence: Hannah Munday goes from “one and done” to Ironman World Championship

For Welsh triathlete Hannah Munday, Ironman Wales was going to be it. Then her family decided they wanted a trip to Hawaii.

“I was “one and done” then qualified,” Munday said after finishing as the third amateur overall at yesterday’s Hoala Practice Swim. “I wasn’t going to take my spot, then my family convinced me that a family holiday to Hawaii wouldn’t be a bad thing. I didn’t take much persuading after that.”

A former competitive swimmer (she swam butterfly), Munday got into the sport about a decade ago, and struggled initially to master her bike and run skills. We’re not sure we totally believe all that – last year in Wales, Munday didn’t only win the women’s 30 to 34 age group, she finished third overall.

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The trip to Kona almost got put on hold, though, earlier this year when Munday crashed during Challenge Wales.

“I hit a pot hole and crashed,” she said. “I broke my collarbone and lost a lot of skin on my side. The last 16 weeks have been rehabbing. I only started swimming again five or six weeks ago. It was brilliant today (at the Hoala swim) to see where I’m at.”

Even though Munday hasn’t competed in Kona before, she is already enjoying the women’s-only racing that’s on tap here on the Big Island.

“It’s so special,” she said. “The vibe is so different. Everyone is just encouraging each other on. It’s a really nice vibe in the town, and I think it’s only going to get better as the week goes on.”

Coming back from the injury has also put Munday into a different frame of mind as she prepares for Saturday’s race.

“It brings a different vibe to the island – I’m grateful to just be here in one piece and hopefully get another start,” she said. “It makes you appreciate your health. It’s not sunk in yet, it’s so surreal. It’s such a beautiful island – I can’t wait to explore this week and then again on race day.”