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Days are pretty short in Kona. The sun comes up at 6 a.m. and goes under at 6 p.m. Just about everybody gets up with the sun and many athletes get together between 7 and 8 on Kailua Pier to go for a swim on (part of) the races swim course. There are even facilities to store your dry clothes, and you can get a taste of Gatorade after (or before) the swim, or cover up with some sunscreen. From monday onwards they keep you busy registering, doing the nations walk, and all the other things which need doing. Wednesday the expo opens, where you could see some of the best triathlon products, and check out the races where you can qualify for the 2000 event. All in all, loads of good fun. Oh yes, one of the best meetings was the briefing. Now these are always very dull gatherings where they tell you for the thirthyseventh time what you should or shouldn't do before, after and during the race. I usually only go because you have to and because, you never know, they might just tell you something important which was not mentioned in the race booklet. As usual they didn't mention anything new, however, it was the best pre race briefing I have ever heard, we were all laughing quite a lot of the time. Especially during the presentation of the menu on race day, with lots of take away restaurants on the course :-) |
The most exciting thing about Ironman
Hawai must be the atmosphere in Kailua (that is where it all happens, Kona is the entire west coast of the Big Island, and Kailua Kona is one of the villages there). From the day I arrived I sensed the
triathlon spirit hanging around the place. In all races I have ever been, you know there are many athletes around, and you may see them working out a bit, but it only turns into
a community a day or two before the race. Not so in Hawai.