I think Hillary Biscay is one of the coolest people alive, and that’s why I got my sore, tired, sunburnt, dehydrated self out of bed early Sunday morning and met Hillary and friend Michelle at the Kona pier to swim the Ultraman course. Smashfest Ambassador extraordinare, Anabel captured the scene quite nicely:
The pier looked very different than the craziness of the Ironman start just 24 hours earlier, and I looked like I was really wishing there was a coffee boat along the Ultraman route!
Hillary is racing the Ultraman World Championship next month and the three day affair goes something like this:
Day 1: 10k swim, 90 mile bike
Day 2: 171.4 mile bike
Day 3: 52.4 mile run
Yes, Ultraman is a whole new level of crazy!
Hillary is actually the Ultraman swim course record holder and Michelle is another super swimmer (she even wears Swedish Goggles), so I thought with some good drafting I might be able to make it through the 10k swim.
WRONG. Just 20 minutes in we were swimming over a reef and a swirling current left me crazy sea sick. I wished Hillary and Michelle my best and headed back toward shore, thankful for the company of Inside Triathlon Editor Kim McDonald. Once back at Dig Me Beach I was doubled over, dry heaving on the same sand I had victoriously charged up the morning before. You win Madam Pele. You win.
VERY Happy to be back on dry land! Thanks for pic Kim! (And for keeping me going!)
Since I’m pretty sure no one wants to replicate that workout, this week’s TYR Swim Set of the Week comes courtesy of Coach Shanks. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I’m sure it’s a great one! Let me know if you like it and I’ll be sure to pass along the good news to Shanks!
