Search
shop

The ‘Beast from the East’… wins IRONMAN New Zealand**

While the 'Beast from the East' wind was cancelling races in the UK, the 'original' athlete of that moniker, Ken Glah, was doing what he's done for years in Taupo
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Advertisement

Congratulations to the legend that is Ken Glah!

(** Age-Group 55-59)

If you are relatively new to the sport (as in, ‘only’ been around 15 years or so…!), then the name Ken Glah may not be one you are familiar with. Thankfully, old people like me can help fill you in on some history…

One of the ‘original’ IRONMAN Pro’s back in the day, Ken won multiple IRONMAN races (Brazil three times, New Zealand twice, Canada), and was involved in what was surely the closest finish in IRONMAN history in 1990 – ironically, also at IRONMAN New Zealand, just losing out that day to Finland’s Pauli Kiuri:

Ken also excelled at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, finishing in the top-10 a total TEN times between 1986 and 2000, with a best of third in 1988. He clocked a rapid 8:24:01 way back in 1993, finishing fourth that year.

Ken is still heavily involved in the sport, travelling the world and running his Endurance Sports Travel business (www.endurancesportstravel.com), and I got to know Ken in Kona last year as a client of his – and he cooks awesome breakfast pancakes!

This past weekend Ken (now in the 55-59 category), raced again at IRONMAN New Zealand (for the 21st time) – and won the division by almost 23 minutes, finishing in 10:11:46.

The result? He has now qualified to race his 35th consecutive IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii.

If you are going to Kona and want an all-inclusive package from somebody that knows that place and race better than anyone, Ken is the man you need to speak too. Congratulations on keeping that incredible streak going.

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Julia Skala end of Norseman 2025
“A fight for self-worth, strength and healing,” Julia Skala on world’s toughest triathlon
Steve McKenna got the win at the 40th edition of IRONMAN New Zealand.
Star IRONMAN athlete clocks a sub-2:20 marathon – and says there’s more to come
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Yo Yo Yo – London is calling’ – Sam Long the latest big name added to stellar T100 start lists
Kristian Grue wins Norseman 2025
Norseman 2025: Grue and Skala conquer ‘Zombie Hill’ and the world’s TOUGHEST triathlon
Hayden Wilde happy T100 Singapore 2025
Hayden Wilde – is he BACK for T100 London after injury nightmare?
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...