Kona - Race Minus 4 Days

KONA! 

How NOT to prepare for the Ironman World Championships.....

Photo - The bike arrived with the derailleur broken off the frame. LBS fixed it no problems. 

Photo - A patched tube! This is what I ran in Ironman Melbourne and Hazelwood. Must have been short of tubes. Now running new tubes. 

Photo - Sunburn from a 2hr ride run. Vitamin E cream to the rescue. 

Photo - Beer and home made fudge. This is a tropical holiday at the end of the day! Blue Moon is my favourite US beer. 

Every challenge had a solution!

The Lead Up Week So Far
Friday night arrival

After the plane was delayed 30 min we eventually left LA. We landed in Kona after a 5.5hr flight and it was raining (I thought it never rained in Kona!?!?). The bike bag arrived on the trolley up side down. We waited about 45min for the transfer vehicle then stood in the que for over an hour to get the pre organised hire car. We decided to go to the shop to pick up some breakfast and other supplies. By the time we got to bed it was past midnight Kona time which was around 4am LA time, we were shattered. 

Saturday

Woke up and had the breakfast we bought the night before - good call. 

Had my first ride on the Queen K. It was hot but the wind cooled it down a bit. It wasn't blowing very hard so it wasn't unpleasant. My first impression was there's not much to look at apart from the occasional glimpse of the ocean. It's mostly lava rock - exactly how it looks on TV. The funny thing was I wasn't overly excited about riding the Queen K. I wanted it to be a great moment but it was just another training ride (sort of but not really). Think I'm still in holiday mode. Saw Natascha Badmann out riding. 

Rode 43km avg 31.5km/hr for 1hr 21min.

 Photo - Going out for my first ride on the Queen K. 

Went for a run after which was bloody hot! The sun was out and I was pouring with sweat. When I got home I kicked the runners off and jumped straight into the pool. Then had a shower but could not stop sweating for about half an hour after. 

Ran 3.7km avg 4:36/km for 17min

Photo - Bike ride on the Queen K. 

It was BBQ chicken, beer and wine for dinner that night. 

Sunday

Met up with Henry to do a 1hr run. After trying to work out where the run course went we decided to hit the Queen K. This started with the steep run up Palani Rd which got the sweat glands going. After about 15min we had been doing what we thought was a reasonable effort. The pace check revealed we were around 5:15/km pace....this is going to be a tough marathon! It's amazing what the heat and humidity can do, add in a few little hills then its a tough run. Saw Leanda Cave out running - last year's winner. 

Run 12km avg 5:00/km for 1hr

We then went for a swim in Kailua Bay. A nice easy 900m. Water temperature was great and the water was crystal clear. Could see the reef and the fish, exactly how I pictured it. 

Photo - Run on the Queen K. 

We then packed the car and headed south to one of the reef beaches to do some snorkeling. Stirling was right into it, loved swimming with the fish. We even saw a turtle. 

For the last few weeks Stirling had a wobbly tooth that was working its way out. When he got out of the water he realised he'd lost his tooth while swimming. This then turned into an emotionally traumatic experience as he lost his first tooth in the water and did not have it for the tooth fairy. We then explained to him that the tooth fairy knew it was wobbly and knows when teeth come out. Also, the fish can help her find it and if he finds money under his pillow in the morning he will know she found it. He bought it! The next morning he was ecstatic to find US$5 under the pillow. The tooth fairy has set the bar high.

Then it was back to the house for beer, wine and hamburgers. 

Monday

Swim - 1.64km for 26min.

Saw Murray Brady at the off shore coffee boat. We chatted while sipping coffee floating in the bay 400m from the coast. So impractical but fun. Powerade are there offering free powerade and sunscreen.

 Photo - Thanks to Coach Sean Foster for the loan of the shark suit.

Photo - Kailua Bay. "No photos please!"

Photo - Swim in Kailua Bay. 

Picked up the Rudy helmet and sunnies. Will give them a test run on Wednesday's ride. We wandered down Ali'i Drive, there's more activity developing now with sponsors and advertising tents being set up. 

Had a massage that afternoon from Patricia Marianno. It hurt but was what I needed after all the travel and intermittent training. 

Then is was back to the house for beer, wine and tacos. 

Kailua Kona is now taking shape for the Ironman World Championships. 

Still feel like I'm on holiday, the event will hit me soon enough so I'll take the relaxed moments for as long as they will last. 

It's now Tuesday - Race minus 4 days!