Ákos Kónya
Encyclopedia
Ákos Kónya is a Hungarian American
ultramarathon
runner from Oceanside, California
.
, Kónya began running at age 12. He ran track in high school and ran his first marathon
at age 15. He has run a marathon in under 2:30, close to Olympic qualifying time.
While attending a teacher's college, Kónya injured his knee playing basketball. He underwent surgery for Patellar tendinitis in 2001, which forced him to stop running for two years. When he began running again, he could not run as fast. This prompted him to run longer distance races in which speed was not as important as endurance.
He has worked on a cruise ship and at hotels. In 2001, he immigrated to the United States as part of a foreign exchange
program at Yellowstone National Park
. He later moved to Oceanside, California and now works as a restaurant manager at Ruby's Diner.
, one of the world's most difficult races. After leading for much of the race at record pace, his endurance was strained by a lack of sleep and he eventually finished second to Scott Jurek
. Although the temperature was above 120 °F (48.9 °C) during the race, he claims that the heat did not bother him. He also finished second at Badwater in 2007 and 2008, though his performance was hindered by a hamstring
injury in 2008. In 2009 he did not compete at Badwater, but instead served on the crew for the youngest ever Badwater finisher.
He won the Lean Horse Ultramarathon
100 mile race in 2007 and 2009, setting the course record in 2007.
In November 2007 Kónya placed first at the U.S. 24 Hour National Championship race, running 146.25 miles (235.4 km). He was not declared the national champion however, because he was not a U.S. Citizen.
Kónya runs shorter distances as well, and finished a close second in the Surf City USA Marathon in February 2010.
Hungarian American
Hungarian Americans Hungarian are American citizens of Hungarian descent. The constant influx of Hungarian immigrants was marked by several waves of sharp increase.-History:...
ultramarathon
Ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of .There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time...
runner from Oceanside, California
Oceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
.
Early life
While growing up in Kecskemét, HungaryKecskemét
Kecskemét is a city in the central part of Hungary. It is the 8th largest city of the country, and the county seat of Bács-Kiskun.Kecskemét lies halfway between the capital Budapest and the country's third-largest city, Szeged, 86 kilometres from both of them and almost equal distance from the two...
, Kónya began running at age 12. He ran track in high school and ran his first marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
at age 15. He has run a marathon in under 2:30, close to Olympic qualifying time.
While attending a teacher's college, Kónya injured his knee playing basketball. He underwent surgery for Patellar tendinitis in 2001, which forced him to stop running for two years. When he began running again, he could not run as fast. This prompted him to run longer distance races in which speed was not as important as endurance.
He has worked on a cruise ship and at hotels. In 2001, he immigrated to the United States as part of a foreign exchange
Student exchange program
A student exchange program generally could be defined as a program where students from secondary school or university choose to study abroad in partner institutions...
program at Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
. He later moved to Oceanside, California and now works as a restaurant manager at Ruby's Diner.
Ultrarunning career
Although he began running ultramarathons in 2003, Kónya emerged from complete obscurity in the 2006 Badwater UltramarathonBadwater Ultramarathon
The Badwater Ultramarathon describes itself as "the world's toughest foot race". It is a course starting at below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California's Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney...
, one of the world's most difficult races. After leading for much of the race at record pace, his endurance was strained by a lack of sleep and he eventually finished second to Scott Jurek
Scott Jurek
Scott Gordon Jurek is an American ultramarathoner. Throughout Jurek's career he has been one of the most dominant ultramarathon runners in the world, winning many of the sport's most prestigious races multiple times, including the Hardrock Hundred , the Badwater Ultramarathon , the Spartathlon ,...
. Although the temperature was above 120 °F (48.9 °C) during the race, he claims that the heat did not bother him. He also finished second at Badwater in 2007 and 2008, though his performance was hindered by a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury in 2008. In 2009 he did not compete at Badwater, but instead served on the crew for the youngest ever Badwater finisher.
He won the Lean Horse Ultramarathon
Lean Horse Ultramarathon
The Lean Horse Ultramarathon is run in August every year in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It was first run in 2005. It features a 100-mile race, a 50-mile race, and a 50-kilometer race. Most of the course is on the George S. Mickelson Trail...
100 mile race in 2007 and 2009, setting the course record in 2007.
In November 2007 Kónya placed first at the U.S. 24 Hour National Championship race, running 146.25 miles (235.4 km). He was not declared the national champion however, because he was not a U.S. Citizen.
Kónya runs shorter distances as well, and finished a close second in the Surf City USA Marathon in February 2010.