It's Monday of ironman week and things are starting to get noticeably busier in town. Anyone who is in the business of selling triathlon-related products knows there is only one place to be this time of the year and they have started arriving in force. Kona is being transformed with banners, pop up shops and various "walks of fame" celebrating previous winners or sponsored athletes.
This morning Tri Travel had their swim course orientation and so a group of around 40 of us met Shane and the rest of the crew at the pier. Shane then jumped on a paddle board and headed out to a boat anchored around 900m from shore and we swam out to meet him. Once there he showed everyone the best way of making some space at the start and the best land markers to sight off when coming back into shore.
Once that was finished I came back in and found St Pete and Coach Dave, with the plan being for D and I to do a light 20min run.
Dave took me on an easy jog around to the old airport and where the free pool is - yes, free! Great facility, although it is 25 yards so about 22m. A bit shorter than I'm used to!
That evening the ironman week kicked off properly with a cultural event welcome, Heroes of Hawaii. It was billed as an opportunity for athletes and their families to experience the culture of Hawaii as well as see some of the legends of the sport.
It was a really relaxed evening with stalls set up for different activities that you could go around and try and/or view, such as lei making, genealogy, weaving, Hawaiian massage and tapa making. There were also traditional dances on the stage and a finger food buffet kept everyone's hunger at bay.
One of the highlights, though, was Mike Reilly (the voice of ironman) introducing and interviewing three legends of the sport: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and Paula Newby-Fraser.
We then got to be groupies as the three of them stayed around and signed posters for us all, although my highlight of the evening was getting a fourth signature on my poster - from Mike Reilly. As the most well known voice of ironman he has called thousands of athletes home with the famous yell "insert name here You Are An Ironman!". Mike called me in on my first ironman in New Zealand and every IMNZ finish since, and he was there to announce my Kona lottery slot and then try to get some sense out of me on stage. So it was great to catch up with him and remind him of that night in Taupo when Leigh and I shrieked the hall down. And he did remember!
All in all it was a great evening and a perfect way to begin ironman week.
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