Shark Attack

It could have been, but wasn't. Thankfully.

I was pleasantly engrossed in a 45 minute ocean swim this morning, minding my own business, so to speak, when I saw the fin about 15m away. I was about 1.5 km from shore, so running up onto the beach wasn't a realistic option. I was trying really hard to convince myself that it wasn't a shark, but the bugger was just cruising on the surface, and I though dolphins do, you know, dolphin sort of swimming. After a rather anxious 20 seconds or so I saw another 3-4 fins surface, and finally realised that I wasn't about to become fish breakfast after all.

Now I know why the race organisers recommend that you swim in pairs; it would have been nice to have put someone else between me and it.

I'm really enjoying the chance to do the ocean swimming. I'm normally very comfortable on my own swimming away from the shore, and here it is especially enjoyable, as there are a lot of smaller (ie less than shark sized) fish about, and the water is clear and warm - about 28 degrees or so I reckon. I'm reassured that in the history of the race, no one has been shark tucker.

Tonight it was a 75 minute run taking in the section heading into what is called the Energy Lab. I ran between the 18 and 33km points, or there about. The Energy Lab sits down a dead end road, and there is a slight, but noticeable decent down to the turn around point. Reaching this turn around is a key part of the race, as there is a very tangible feeling of heading home to the finish. The 30 km point is also a traditional point in the race where people fade badly, as the accumulated fatigue really starts to be noticed.

Its a lonely bit of road heading out to the Energy Lab - open and exposed. Today I could feel the heat of the road coming up through my shoes after about 5 minutes.

Field report

CNN quality it is not, but I'm looking suitably hot and sweaty...

Myth Busters - Scrambled Eggs

Quite a few years ago I saw some Hawaii Ironman TV coverage where some guy cooked an egg on the black lava. Corrie and I quite enjoy watching the Myth Busters show on Prime, so I thought its was an opportune time to try my own experiment. But first, training.

Yesterday I cycled the other half of the course; Waikaloa-Hawi-Waikaloa. This is the 'notorious' part of the cycle. Most of the landscape is pretty bleak, but in a Waiouru - Desert Road sort of way, quite striking. The lava flow areas are certainly stunning, but up closer to Hawi its ranch country, but very brown and dry.

From Kawaihae to Hawi (a distance of about 30km) its just a gradual climb. That in itself is fine - the gradient is very easy. Its the wind that makes it mark. No longer is there a gentle to moderate on-shore breeze, up here its gale force. From about 10km out of Hawi, there is a wicked gusting crosswind, with enough velocity to move you sideways 2-3 m. Its scary enough to make you get off your aero bars and use the conventional grips for security. Fortunately (?) about 4km out from Hawi you turn into the wind so that it is head on. Whilst its hard work, at least its not intimidating. Turning around at Hawi its great to have the wind behind you, and going down hill its easy to go 50-60 kmh, well, at least for the first 4km. When I hit the crosswinds again, I slowed right down, as I had two scares, nearly leaving the road both times. Bugger that!

I think that the wind is a product of the weather being squeezed between Hawaii (ie the big island) and the next island north of us, Maui. A bit like Cook Straight I guess.

The rest of the ride was great, but obviously hot. After 3 hr 20 min on the bike I got off and ran for 15 min. That wasn't so nice in the heat of the day. A marathon after the bike still feels a bit daunting.

Eggs. Well, I decided to try the experiment on the side of the road, as the tarmac was just as hot as the black lava, and it was hard to find a flat bit that would contain an egg. The egg was duly cracked, and I waited to see what would happen. Not much, actually. Well, if anything, the egg just seemed to evaporate, rather than cook. I decided that scrambled eggs might cook quicker, so I stirred it up a bit. It was definitely cooking, but slowly. The road was certainly hot enough - I couldn't keen my bare hand on it for more than about 20 seconds. I didn't eat the egg.

Back on line

The wifi has been re-established - it just needed rebooting after what was probably a power surge. At least I know how to sort it now.

A good training day today. 3km in the free local pool; hardly anyone there, and it was nice to blast out some 200m and 50m intervals. Tonight I did a 50 min run over the first part of the run course, out along Ali'i Drive towards Keahou. The road hugs the coastline through this part of the town, and so thankfully its a pretty scenic run. 2/3 of the run is out on the Queen K Highway - pretty sparse and boring. I was quite surprised with today's run, whilst I felt pretty hot, I ran at a good pace and it felt very smooth and flowing.

Lodged next to me are a couple of Canadian professional athletes. Trevor and Heather Wurtele have some good race results under their collective belts, Heather has even won one of the Ironman races in the mainland US. She's racing Kona, Trevor missed out on qualifying as a pro, and so is racing the Arazona ironman in November. Check out their website at www.fyzz.ca

Tomorrow its off to Waikaloa by car around 8am, and I'll ride the other half of the course - Waikaloa to Hawi return. This is the part of the course with legendary crosswinds and headwinds. I'm also going to film an experiment involving an egg. Check it out in tomorrow's post.

Technology

It was going so well (the wireless internet connection where I'm staying) but it ain't working at the moment. I'm sitting in the 'Beach Dog' cafe in downtown Kona at one of their internet terminals, sipping away at an iced latte (if I had a hot one I think I'd expire). I've just emailed the owner of where I'm staying asking him if he can sort out the wifi - the signal has been very weak from yesterday morning, so I was unable to post anything until now.

I had a great ride yesterday, biking the first half of the course from Kona out to Waikaloa and back. There is a bit of a loop one does in Kona first, but all up its about 90km. I started around 0830, so a similar time to when I'll actually be doing it. It was windy all the way; mostly a cross wind (on-shore), but it was neither good nor bad on balance.

It was certainly hot, and I was a bit worried that my four bottles of drink wasn't enough. There was a big difference in how it felt depending on whether the sun was masked by cloud. Even with SPF 50 sunblock on, there are tan lines today.

Rightio, off for a pool swim (easier to do intervals), and a 50 min run later today.

No photos/vids until the home connection is re-established.

Thanks to everyone posting comments - its appreciated.

Tripping...down memory lane

After assembling my bike, I went down to Kona Pier about 5pm for a swim. Parking is a nightmare, and then I had the challenge of working out what to do with keys, clothes etc as I went for a swim. In the end I just barrelled up to a shop and asked if they would mind me leaving bag behind the counter while I went for my swim - not a problem. I'd better buy some stuff from them!

Walking to the pier, and its adjacent small beach, took me along Ali'i Drive, which is what we will run along for the final km or so to the finish line. Talk about bring back (happy) memories. Standing on the beach was even better. Its so special being back here 21 years since Teresa and I competed in this race.

The beach is colloquially known as 'Dig Me' Beach. I'm sure you can work that out. And yes, there are some pretty fit looking bodies around.

Coach John had me down for just a small, very easy swim, so I only did 1km, or around 16 minutes. There was a reasonable swell, and quite a current, but the water was very warm and so, so clear. There are plenty of fish to see, and it really was relaxing and quite enjoyable being in warm, buoyant and clear water. Despite thinking about the congestion of the swim start with around 1800 competitors, I'm feeling positive about being in the water.

I really do enjoy flying, but...

Those that know me, are aware that I'm a keen pilot - and dabble in a bit of aerobatics. I don't count sitting in a metal tube for 8 hours being fed plastic food much fun though...so, here's 8 hours condensed into 18 seconds for you:

After overnighting in a hotel about 5 minutes from Honolulu, I boarded a short (40 min) flight this morning, through to Kailua-Kona (normally shortened to Kona), arriving here around midday.

Teresa and I have vivid memories of getting off the aircraft at Kona and thinking just how hot is was when we first raced here in 1988. I wasn't let down today. At least this time I can rest assured that two weeks will see me adjusted.

Anyway; I found my rental car, found my accommodation, bought some groceries, and have settled in. Later this afternoon I'll head down to the Kona Pier (where the race starts) and have a short swim.

Its bloody great being here!

The important, but tedious, task of packing...

I really don't like packing up. It starts of course with a list; categorising items into swim/bike/run gear, along with all the odds and sods that I need for the trip. There is a lingering feeling that I've forgotten something important.

On the plus side, I've had some great training the last two days. As my training volume comes down, I start to feel like I have so much energy. Yesterday I swam 4km straight (well, apart from a loo stop at the 2km point - I just couldn't hold on...) and biked what we call the 'Short bays' circuit in the afternoon. I tacked on an extra 30 or so minutes to make it a solid 2 hour ride, and I pushed it pretty hard. Both sessions felt very easy, and that is great after months of almost deliberate and permanent fatigue. Tonight it was a brisk 11km run in the steady zone. It felt almost effortless.

I fly to Auckland early tomorrow morning, with a connecting flight through to Honolulu. It feels 'real' now. After months of training with the end point so far in front, it was easy to wonder if race day would ever come. It also felt a bit like it was training for training sake. Those feelings are gone now, and my anticipation is well and truly building.

The count down has started...

Well the count down is on. There are two more days before I fly out on Saturday morning, and of course there are a myriad of things that I need to do before I go. I've got to replace an arm rest on my aero bars (which broke 100km into my 200km ride last Saturday, bummer!), I've decided that I really do need to replace the cleats on my cycle shoes, and of course I need to get my head around all the bits and pieces that I need to take with me.

About the blog - friends, colleagues and family can't all come along for the Kona adventure, but I can certainly share a bit of what its all about; why I'm on this journey, and even an insider's view of what its like to be a small fish in a big pool of very talented athletes.

So, you're invited to come along for the ride. Let me know what you think; ask any questions you have and perhaps above all else, start thinking about what your own next personal challenge might be.