Day 5 in Kona and the energy is definitely building.  It was quite a sight driving down Ali’i Drive this morning.  It is my first time in Hawaii, and while I am taking in the incredible land and seascapes, I am distracted by the hundreds of incredibly fit bodies into their final preparations; loosening up their legs, making sure bikes are in perfect running order, and acclimatizing to the quite humid 28 to 30 degree heat.   The locals and people who have been here before say that the “vog” which is the volcano fog that has been apparently overhead for the last few months, is actually keeping things cooler than usual…I can’t imagine. 

The swim start area was abuzz with triathletes checking out the course.  LifeSport coaches Paul, Dan, Bruce, and I held a swim clinic, giving out some last minute advice on swim tactics for the open water.  Bree Wee, the women’s all time amateur record holder for Kona, and Olympian and world class swimmer Lisa Mensink were also there giving out excellent, first hand advice on how to tackle the course. The most popular question was where the best start position was.  The answer to this question would be based on your swim ability.  If you are a very strong swimmer, around an hour or less, you would want to start right at the front.  Even if you get passed by a few faster athletes in the beginning, hopefully they are just sprinting the first few hundred meters to get a good position in the water and you will find yourself right on their feet as they settle into a rhythm.  For athletes a little above an hour, you may want to start off on the edges near the middle to front of the pack and then work your way into a good draft as soon as the chaos settles a bit.  If swimming isn’t your strength, and you are just itching to get out on the bike and run, start closer to the back but get right on the feet of those ahead of you to take advantage of that giant draft to pull you along.  Many think they need to wait until everyone is gone and miss out on this great opportunity to take a few minutes off your swim time and save yourself some energy for when you start kicking butt on the next two legs. 

I swam part or the course this morning and I was blown away by how awesome the water here in Kona is.  Crystal clear, warm, blue water with beautiful yellow, blue and striped tropical fish below you swimming in the coral.  Even a sea turtle that lives near the beach.  We are going again tomorrow morning to try and find the dolphins that were spotted by other swimmers earlier in the day.  I also have to get a coffee from the swim up to coffee bar about five hundred meters from the swim start!  Only in Kona at Ironman…I’m sure it will change to Pina Coladas on Sunday.

Lisa and a Dutch Ironman

Bree and Sean Swarmer in the LifeSport Lounge



D'arcey and Jess admiring the Giant Oakley Truck


Lisa, Carol, and Carolyn - 3 great Olympians