Day 10 - Kona - Saturday

Hey Everyone! - While I think of it, please see my survey on the righthand column and cast your vote!  Anyway.....

Up at sparrows' sparrows fart fart today to get to the Kukio Swim race - a beautiful beach north of Kona, opp the Veterans Cemetary.  I have done this race before and loved it, so was back again to give it a nudge without any specific training!  Pam's brief was to practice race starts, fight the fear and do it anyway.  At US$50 entry fee, it was a bg call on my part to have her race it, incase it went belly-up for her and her confidence was shattered.  Fortuneately, she did really well, and smoked the 1.2mile race in 42mins averaging 2mins 11s per 100m - no wetsuit!  that is what she has been training towards and she did it!  We are both stoked, and her confidence has been boosted. The swim on Ironman day is not the main concern now, as she knows she can do a tidy job of it!

I took off at the start like a scalded cat, but sadly watched everybody fly passed me.  I rounded the first buoy to head north up the coast, and suddenly realised that i was passing people like they were going backwards!  Worked my way through to the front of a large pack and stayed there until the last buoy, where we turned into a cove to the finish line.  At this point I thought the after burners had burned out and fallen off into orbit, but on reflection, I think we all just hit a huge current swirling back the other way.  I held my ground and managed to beat a girl that I swam neck and neck with most of the way by 10s.  Sad but true, only managed 5th place in my age group, but had I been aged 30-34 or 35-39 would have won!  Managed 21st out of 120 women, so can't complain - given how slow I have been since my wee hospital visit.  Averaged 1min26s per 100m and finished in 27 mins 48s.  I think the currents up the coast were helpful - I really don't belive I could swim that quick!

It was a magic morning - stunning in fact.  had a la de da breakfast at the venue then chillaxed on the beach until noon when it was time to collect heather and Annette from the Airport!  How cool was that!  Pulling up in the big monster truck like we are locals, throwing the gear in the back and heading off into town.  Checked into their condo, then the four girlies headed off the Lava Java for coffee and lunch.  At this point I must say, there are plenty of other places to eat her in Kona, but Lava Java serves the best coffee, and is basically waterfrontage, and prime real estate for tri-talent spotting.

Dropped the girls up to Borders so Annette could do business on her Epic camp DVD, 'Going Hard, Going Strong', and came home.  Pam did a bike/run and I did a 12 minute run along Alii Drive.  Didn't go so well - the pavement vs archillies equation was not brilliant, so will rest up for a few days, then tackle another 12 min run on grass on Tuesday.

Lovely barbeque dinner as usual, then idle chit chat as usual, and night time falls to allow several tired wee pixies to rest their weary heads!  My body knows it has done 2 high intensity workouts in 2 days - I haven't swam that hard for a very, very long time.

Nice Ass count - possibly should drop this one from the blog as it really is rather predictable 1 week out from race day!

Nice Bike Bling - sorry Wayne, just DROOOOL over these puppies!  (Taken at lava Java)

The Scott Plasma 2 - in Matt Black and Grey

The Scott Plasma 2 - in Shiny White and baby Blue

Famous People Count - Sorry, no famous people today.  I think they have gone into hiding, alothough Bill says he saw Erin Baker today.  Scott Molina is racing as usual.