Aloha!

by Haley on October 6, 2011

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Woo hoo! I’m in Hawaii! This place feels like another planet! A planet with perfect weather, ocean breezes, amazing food and coffee, and thousands of people swimming, biking, and running everywhere I look. Definitely my kind of paradise!

Being in Kona in early October is like being in the triathlon version of Hollywood – the former Ironman Champs and current Superstars are everywhere! I’ve had a good time playing paparazzi and snapping photos. I got a pretty good one of 2005 Champ Faris Al-Sultan riding on the Queen K Highway. Apparently helmets are optional for Ironman Champions:

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And I’ve gotten in some training of my own. The swim course in Kailua bay is even better than I remembered. Earlier this week I got to swim with dolphins – a first for me, and hopefully a good omen for fast racing to come!

Coach Diablo and I also took a nice ride up to the turn-around point of the bike course in the small town of Hawi.

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This section of the course is notorious for absolutely terrifying cross-winds, so it’s always worthwhile to practice.

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Today the winds were on the milder side, and the scariest part was definitely Coach’s beard:

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And you may be wondering about any “first out of the water” bets between El Diablo and I this year. Well, fastest swim bragging rights are definitely on the line, but I actually accepted his offer for a far more aggressive wager. I’m not quite ready to divulge all the details, but just know the stakes have never been higher, and I have more motivation than ever to carry through with a ridiculously fast race. And if possible, I would REALLY appreciate knowing his splits during the day, because it’s not just my time that counts! Mahalo!

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Mike B October 6, 2011 at 4:19 pm

By FAR, the scariest beard in all of Kona! Have fun and KILL IT out there you crazy kids.

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Reuben October 7, 2011 at 4:14 pm

Oh no!! You left us in suspense. GREAT tactic to get me to check the blog over and over.

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